You Can Learn A Lot From a Song

If you listen to Hammertowne’s latest album and then read that it’s the band’s fifth album in 10 years, you might wonder why you haven’t heard more of their work on the radio.

You Can Learn A Lot From a Song comes in hot and doesn’t let up through the 10 song play list. This Mountain Fever Records effort is one traditional bluegrass lovers will appreciate.

The first track is “I’m Going Sailing,” which might imply something slow and relaxing in other genres—are there many sailing songs in bluegrass?—but sets band’s the hard-driving tempo. “Next to Nothing,” penned by the Grasscats’ Russell Johnson is one of the best songs on the album.

Hammertowne offers a stomping take on the old traditional “Can’t You Hear Jerusalem Moan,” a song that has to be a live show house rocker for them. Guitarist and vocalist Dave Carroll wrote the title track and bass player/vocalist Bryan Russell penned “Take That.”

“I’m Going to Tennessee” offers a little swing feel and the album finishes strong like it started with “I’ll Blame It on the Rain.”

Chaston Carroll (mandolin/vocals), Scott Tackett (vocals) and Dale Thomas (banjo) round out the band with special guest Ron Stewart joining on fiddle.

You Can Learn A Lot From a Song hits the nail on the head for Hammertowne. It’s a great traditional bluegrass album.