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THE EARL BROTHERS OUTLAW HILLBILLY No Label No Number The best way to describe the San Francisco-based Earl Brothers is that they are a rough-cob bluegrass band. It is a group that values the old sound, even the pre-bluegrass Charlie Poole-era. Some might say the Earl Brothers are too raw for a few musical taste…

O’BRIEN PARTY OF 7 REINCARNATION: THE SONGS OF ROGER MILLER Howdy Skies RMCD195317 If you’ve never been introduced to the music of the late great Roger Miller, you need to check out his wealth of material. The country singer/songwriter penned many light-hearted tunes such as “Dang Me,” “Chug-A-Lug,” and “Do-Wacka-Do,” but there was much more…

STEPHEN WADE BANJO DIARY: LESSONS FROM TRADITION Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD40208 This is Wade’s third CD and a bit of a departure from the two earlier projects in that this CD incorporates more of a band sound and Wade sings. Earlier projects featured a more bare-bones approach and other performers singing. Wade’s banjo playing and…

THE TIME JUMPERS Rounder Records 11661-9148-2 Classic. That’s what comes to mind with this long-deferred first studio album from the current lineup of the Time Jumpers. That’s not meant that this is an album headed for classic status. It’s an extremely good recording, but it falls a bit short of classic. Nor should you get…

ROBERT HALE PURE AND SIMPLE Pinecastle Records PRC 1179 Robert Hale first caught my attention with Livewire’s Wired! CD around 1990, an exceptional progressive bluegrass release that featured Wayne Benson, Ernie Sykes, and Scott Vestal, and Hale’s powerful and soulful lead vocals. The two decades since have seen Hale perform with J.D. Crowe & the…

THE ABRAMS BROTHERS NORTHERN REDEMPTION United For Opportunity UFO 1025 From opener to closer, we’re on the last sliver of edge here. The title track of this predominantly original-material album begins with a couple of deep thuds, then launches into a medium-tempo country rocker with a likeable melody sung upper-register, emphatically and angst-driven. That vocal…