Dr. Brett Matheson's Sound Advice

The Steel Wheels

"Lay Down, Lay Low"

www.thesteelwheels.com

The Steel Wheels' new release Lay Down Lay Low is excellent. This roots band from Harrisonburg, Virginia is led by Trent Wagler on guitar, banjo, and lead vocals. These guys are the real deal—passionate musicians who play their own style of string music from their heart. The title track tells of a man standing on the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia thinking about taking his life, but summoning courage to turn around and go home. "Rain in the Valley" is an a cappella gospel tune that will raise the hair on the back of your neck. In "Andrea," Wagler reminisces about an early love, hoping she overcomes her past for a happy future. "Spider Wings" is a bluesy stream of consciousness tune with the observation Spider screaming 'cause he don't have wings / You got too much, you don't have anything. Wagler sings his heart out on these tunes, and Jay Lapp, Eric Brubaker, Brian Dickel, and guest Oliver Craven provide tight picking and great harmony vocals. The Steel Wheels are one of my favorite new band discoveries. I highly recommend Lay Down Lay Low.

Crooked Still

"Friends of Fall"

Signature Sounds Recordings 2043

Boston-based Crooked Still is known for taking traditional folk tunes and giving them their signature treatment with the banjo, cello, bass and fivestring fiddle. In their latest release Friends of Fall they look to more modern songwriters for their inspiration. Included on this seven-song EP are their versions of the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out," John Hartford's "Morning Bugle," and Paul Simon's "American Tune." Illuminating every song is the heavenly voice of vocalist Aoife O'Donovan. Indeed Crooked Still's record label is the perfect description for this neo-folk group: they truly have a "signature sound." And I love it. Don't miss hearing this band on their next Colorado appearance.

The Once

"Row Upon Row of People They Know"
Borealis Records 212

The Once is a fairly new band from Newfoundland made up of three friends who met as actors and discovered their mutual love of singing together. After developing a fervent following after their debut album, they expanded their musical horizons on this sophomore collection of original and traditional tunes. Featuring Geraldine Hollett on vocals, and Phil Churchill and Andrew Dale on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bouzouki, and harmony vocals, the trio has a delicate folk pop sound that I found refreshing. Hollett's voice has an absolutely compelling, clear power that immediately engages you. The most interesting tune on the album is "You're My Best Friend" from the rock band Queen, proving that the most unlikely original material can be transformed into a totally different song by folk musicians. This album has already been nominated for Roots & Traditional Album of the year by the JUNO Awards, Canada's equivalent of the Grammys. Released by the Canadian label Borealis Records, Row Upon Row of the People They Know will surely propel this band's popularity beyond Newfoundland.

Dale Watson and The Texas Two

"The Sun Sessions"
Red House Records 248

Sun Studio in Memphis is the famous recording studio where Johnny Cash, Elvis, BB King, Jerry Lee Lewis and others made some of their records. Musical maverick and Austin Music Hall of Famer Dale Watson recorded 14 original tunes with upright bassist Chris Crepps and drummer Mike Bernal in 2011 when they were bumped from their original gig in Memphis and had to decide what to do with their weekend there. To say Watson sounds like Johnny Cash is an understatement. Watson channels Johnny Cash on this recording. You'd swear he was performing a tribute album singing Cash's lesser known songs from fifty years ago. But Watson wrote every one of these fourteen songs, six of them, in fact, on his way from Austin to Memphis for the recording session. The album has a stripped down honkytonk style. My favorites were the country love song "My Baby Makes Me Gravy" and the opening track "Down Down Down Down Down." If you like the sound of early country legends like Johnny Cash, you'll like Texas Baritone Dale Watson.

Robin and Linda Williams & Their Fine Group

"Stonewall Country"
Red House Records 244

Robin and Linda Williams have been playing "americana" music for over three decades and have appeared on the Black Rose stage more than once. In 1984 they were commissioned by the Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington, Virginia to write a musical about the life and times of Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson, the legendary Confederate general. The play opened in the summer of 1985 and ran for 20 consecutive years. It was retired in 2005, but revived in 2009. In 2011 Red House Records released Robin and Linda singing fourteen songs from the musical with guest Garrison Keillor offering some narration. It is a treat for anyone interested in the Civil War and string music from the era.

Ma, Duncan, Meyer, Thile

"The Goat Rodeo Sessions "

Sony Classical 88697 97901 2

Yo-Yo Ma, the world's greatest cellist, has collaborated with bassist Edgar Meyer on two previous recordings. When Ma approached Meyer about getting together for another project, Meyer suggested they add mandolinist Chris Thile of Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers fame, and Stuart Duncan, one of Nash- ville's most respected fiddlers. These four musicians describe the two days of recording that resulted in this CD as organized chaos requiring every detail to go just right—a "goat rodeo." The eleven tracks on this instrumental album are credited to Thile, Meyer, and Duncan, but Ma seems to have learned how the cello can join in a bluegrass jam. Except these aren't really bluegrass compositions. I like the term "chambergrass" to describe these genre-defying instrumental pieces that evoke emotion and images the way classical music does. There is surprising variety on the eleven tracks. Duncan pulls out a banjo for two of the songs, Meyer plays piano on one piece, and Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan adds vocals to two of the songs. Complex, at times beautiful, at times disharmonic, this CD will take the listener on a journey of evocative string music that grows on you with every listen.

Acoustic Eidolon & Thomas Loefke

"Friends Across the Ocean"

Acoustic Woods Records 910

Colorado's own Acoustic Eidolon, otherwise known as husband and wife Joe Scott and Hannah Alkire, have performed for the Black Rose Acoustic Society several times, most recently December 9, 2011. Their 13-year musical relationship has resulted in nine CDs and numerous invitations to Europe to per- form. During their travels they met and formed a friendship with Thomas Loefke, a German Celtic harpist. In 2010 they collaborated together to record four new compositions, and new "trio" arrangements of previous Eidolon recordings. I found this CD a beautiful collection of Celtic flavored tunes showcasing the pleasant blending of guitar, cello and harp. The most interesting thing about watching Acoustic Eidolon live, of course, is watching Joe play his 14-string double neck guitjo.Fretting on one neck, and plucking on the other, he creates a fullness of sound that has to be heard live to appreciate. For those who haven't discovered this wonderful couple, this album is an excellent introduction to their sound until they come out with their next album, later in 2012.

Putnam Smith

"We Would be Beekeepers"
Itchy Sabot Records

Two years ago I enthusiastically reviewed Putnam's Smith's Goldrush, which reached #5 on national Folk DJ Charts in 2009. His third album, released in 2011, is We Would Be Beekeepers and finds the Portland, Maine musician joined by Seth Yentes on cello and Mariel Vandersteel on fiddle. Putnam is a banjo-playing anachronism. He lives in a cabin in Maine, prints his own CD jackets on a 1901 Pearl Letterpress, and loves to compost. His throaty story telling is compelling yet simple, and I've enjoyed hearing him live on two of his swings through Colorado in the past two years. This album has a mellower, more introspective tone than Goldrush, and showcases his talents on guitar, mandolin, piano as well as banjo. My favorite tracks are the jamming tunes "This Mountain Ain't My Home" and "The Birds Would Understand" where he lets loose on his grandfather's open-back banjo. Putnam Smith is a nineteenth century troubadour stuck in the twenty first century. It's hard not to like the guy.

The Steel Wheels

"Red Wing"

www.thesteelwheels.com

The Steel Wheels were my favorite new discovery when I attended the inaugural Mountain of the Sun Festival in Woodland Park in September. After hearing their set I headed straight to the merchandise table and bought two of their CDs including their 2010 release Red Wing. Hailing from Virginia, this foursome is led by vocalist, guitarist, and banjoist Trent Wagler who sings with a gritty, almost growling, but expressive, emotional voice. My favorite song on this 14-song collection is "Take a Picture, Lose Your Soul" and seems to be Wagler's farewell to his Mennonite upbringing. Another favorite is "Valley" in which Wagler sings longingly of a special place he wants to escape. The Steel Wheels' music has a genuine roots feel to it that ranges from bluegrass to old time string band styles. This album resulted in five nominations from The Independent Music Awards in 2010 and includes "Nothing You Can't Lose" which took top honors as "Best Country Song." I strongly recommend this latest release from a talented roots band.

John Doyle

"Shadow and Light"

Compass Records 7 4562 2

Irish guitarist John Doyle began his professional career as a founding member of the super-group Solas in the 1990s. Since leaving the band he has produced a solo album, two collaborations with fiddler Liz Carroll, and one with my favorite Irish Karan Casey. Now comes Doyle's next solo effort Shadow and Light which showcases his songwriting skills. Ten of the eleven songs were written by Doyle and reveal his appreciation of Irish history. "The Arabic" tells the true story of his great grandfather who left Ireland for the United States on the S.S. Arabiconly to have the ship torpedoed by a German U-boat. "Farewell to All That" tells the plight of Irish soldiers during World War I who fought for England under false hopes that England would grant Ireland "Home Rule." Doyle's voice is pleasant enough, but his spectacular harmonic and rhythmic guitar accompaniment is what really sets his music apart. And in this era of digital downloading of music, I must say that the artistic design of this CD with its excellent liner notes explaining the Irish history behind each song makes this CD all the more special and worth buying as a physical Compact Disc.

Noam Pikelny

"Beat the Devil and Carry A Rail"
Compass Records 7 4565 2

Does Bela Fleck have competition for the title of best banjo player in the world? All eyes are on Noam Pikelny as he emerges as a technically brilliant and creative player on his first solo album since his 2004 debut In the Maze. In 2010 Steve Martin awarded Noam Pikelny the first Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, calling Pikelny "a player of unlimited range and astonishing precision." As the banjo player in Chris Thile's band Punch Brothers for the past five years, Pikelny was challenged and extended as the band tackled complex pieces like their album-length four-movement piece, "The Blind Leading the Blind". This album is much more of a return to bluegrass roots for Pikelny and features an accompanying band with Tim O'Brien, Stuart Duncan, Chris Eldridge, Jerry Douglas, and Mark Schatz. One of my favorite tunes on this album is the traditional "Cluck Old Hen" played as a playful duet with Steve Martin on clawhammer banjo. Two songs feature guest vocalists Tim O'Brien and Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan but this album is all about instrumental newgrass. Most of the songs are complex, melodic pieces, some fast, some slow. If instrumental music and incredible picking is what you're looking for, check out Noam Pikelny's latest CD.

The Honey Dewdrops

"These Old Roots"

www.thehoneydewdrops.com

I picked up The Honey Dewdrops' 2010 release These Old Roots when they appeared on the Black Rose stage July 22, 2011. Husband and wife Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish blend beautiful harmonies and guitar picking in traditional sounding folk with fresh, thoughtful lyrics. Nine of the ten songs on this CD are original compositions that are as true to Appalachian tradition as anything you'll hear by contemporary singer/songwriters. Nobody in the World‖ sounds like a folk standard that could have been written by Pete Seeger or Woody Guthrie. Amaranth compares someone waiting for love to a flower standing for years holding its color. ―Sweet Heaven‖ is another one of my favorites, exploringthe universal search for happiness. These Old Roots is solid, simple, and authentic music from talented and passionate musicians.

Chris Thile & Michael Daves

"Sleep with One Eye Open"

Nonesuch Records 527603-2

Mandolin master Chris Thile has created a lot of music in the past twenty years. Much of his recent stuff explores the fringes of bluegrass, and some of his mournful, moody ballads frankly don't appeal to me. But for bluegrass lovers, Sleep with One Eye Open is a welcome treat. Thile teamed up with guitarist and vocalist Michael Daves to record a rompin' good time traditional bluegrass album. This recording features just the mandolin and guitar andthe two musicians singing their hearts out. With a raw, bare-boned approach, Chile and Daves play sixteen traditional bluegrass songs from the likes of Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, and Flatt and Scruggs. I liked the energy and passion of this recording. It reminded me of an enthusiastic jam session in the campground of a bluegrass festival.

Nu-Blu

"The Blu-Disc"
Pinecastle Records 1176

OK, I have to admit I'm not thrilled with the name of this band. Nu-Blu? Come on. But this quartet, anchored by husband and wife Carolyn and Daniel Routh, has produced a very nice album on the newly resurrected Pinecastle label. Carolyn's crystal clear vocals are one of the strengths of this band, more impressive when I learned she suffered two strokes in 2003 and lost her speech and use of her right side for a while. Levi Austin on guitar and Kendall Gates on mandolin are joined by guest musicians Greg Luck on fiddle and Rob Ickes on dobro for a full- band sound on The Blu-Disc. The band has selected twelve songs from contemporary writers on this enjoyable CD. I especially liked ―Other Woman's Blues‖ and ―That's Who I'm Supposed to Be.

Beoga

"How to Tune a Fish"

Compass Records 7 4561 2

Beoga hails from Northern Ireland, and Compass Records has just released their fourth album How to Tune a Fish. The self-called new wave Trad‖ quintet is rooted in traditional Irish style, but revels in its playful exploration of non-traditional styles like funk and jazz. Their instrumentals are the strength of this album, and may remind some of other Celtic bands like Solas or Lunasa. Fiddler Niamh Dunne sings vocals on four decidedly contemporary-sounding songs that almost seem out of context with the eight instrumentals on this album. But this isn't a band concerned with following convention. The Irish Echo called Beoga perhaps the most audacious Irish band rooted in trad today. Progressive and playful, Beoga's fourth album is worth a listen.

Kasey Chambers

"Little Bird"

Sugar Hill Records 4070

Veteran Australian singer/songwriter Kasey Chambers has released her first solo album in four years on the Sugar Hill Label. Little Bird is a collection of fourteen songs featuring a hot shot band Chambers calls "The Millionaires" which includes husband Shane Nicholson with whom she released my much praised Rattlin' Bones in 2008. The CD includes the tune "Beautiful Mess" which won the 2010 International Songwriting Competition in the folk/singer-songwriter category. "Beautiful Mess" is dedicated to her two sons and describes her observation that parenting is just that sometimes—a beautiful mess. There are a range of styles on this album, from the rocking "Train Wreck," to the simple guitar and vocal "Invisible Girl." I guess you'd categorize this CD as "alternative country." But however you classify it, the music is great. Kasey Chambers' distinctive voice and meaningful lyrics make this album really special. She calls it the best recording of her career and I agree.

Tommy Shaw

"The Great Divide"

Pazzo Music

Yes, we're talking that Tommy Shaw. The long-time singer and guitarist for the rock band Styx has re- leased his debut bluegrass album The Great Divide. Shaw grew up in Montgomery, Alabama and was exposed to bluegrass on AM radio originating out of Nashville. Although his early passion for music led him into a long career in rock n' roll, his love of bluegrass stuck with him and six years ago he started working on the project that would become this album. The CD showcases Shaw's vocal range and guitar and dobro playing on eleven original tunes he wrote or co-wrote. Accompanying him are bluegrass journeymen Sam Bush on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Scott Vestal on banjo, and other Nashville greats. Alison Krauss even sings harmony vocals on the title track. Shaw says he likes the storytelling in bluegrass music and tried to retell stories from several generations in his family in these eleven songs. "Sawmill" tells of his father's experience as a young water boy in the sawmills of Alabama where he saw a man cut in half by a swing saw. "Shadows in the Moonlight" tells of an eloping young couple fleeing the girl's father as they escape across the Big Sandy River. "The Great Divide" tells of a couple near divorce that finds a shoebox of old love letters in their attic written by grandparents years ago. The letters cause them to rethink their decision—"a gift of forever in those letters 'cross the great divide." I confess I was a big Styx fan in my younger days, but I really recommend Shaw's album as a refreshing take on a traditional genre. Most songs include drums (hey, what did you expect from a rocker), but are fairly true to bluegrass in style. The themes are varied, but all the songs are hopeful and positive. The Great Divide is the most interesting surprise in bluegrass of 2011.

The Civil Wars

"Barton Hollow"

Sensibility Music

The Civil Wars is a duo consisting of John Paul White and Joy Williams who create vocal harmonies that have grabbed national attention in their appearances on "A Prairie Home Companion" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." With a minimal amount of guitar and piano backing, their voices weave evocative emotional messages in simple, repeated phrases throughout the twelve tracks on Barton Hollow. "To Whom It May Concern" portrays the longing for a lover not yet found with the haunting refrain "I've missed you / But I haven't met you." "Poison & Wine" questions the dynamics of a relationship with the repeated phrase "I don't love you, but I always will." The title track is an angry, haunting cry of a guilty man condemned by his own conscience wandering as a "dead man walking." The more I listened to this CD, the more I fell in love with it. Their stark, minimalist approach is such a far cry from today's overproduced popularmusic, I'm thrilled that they've been noticed and appreciated in their brief career together. Both married (but not to each other), White and Williams have a musical synergy that is special and worth savoring.

Kruger Brothers

"Appalachian Concerto"

Double Time Music 022

Jens and Uwe Kruger were born in Switzerland to a musical family and began performing at an early age when the bluegrass bug bit them. Now living in North Carolina, they have performed with bassist Joel Landsberg for years as a trio exploring jazz-infused newgrass styles. Appalachian Concerto was commission by the Ashe County Arts Council, which requested a new work based in the musical culture of the Appalachian region. Jens on banjo, Uwe on guitar, and Joel on Bass, are joined by a traditional classical quartet of 1st and 2nd violin, viola, and cello. The composition is classical in its style, with six sections within three movements. Jens' banjo delicately counterpoints the chamber orchestra in the emotive sections 'E Pluribus Unum' and "Gone but Not Forgotten." Elements of Irish, German and Cherokee themes can be detected throughout the movements. The Kruger Brothers aren't the first bluegrassers to explore classical music Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer come to mind--but this recording meshes the banjo, in particular, with a chamber orchestra in a surprisingly delicate, expressive fashion. Althominutes long, this CD is a beautiful little gem.

The Haunted Windchimes

"Live at the Western Jubilee"

Blank Tape Records

Someone called the Haunted Windchimes the best export from Pueblo since steel. Indeed, this band is starting to get noticed beyond Colorado as they continue to tour and gain more fans. A traditional band playing folk and blues, the Windchimes write their own music in a vintage style reminiscent of the 1930s. Accompanied by guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, ukulele, upright bass and concertina, the Windchimes win over most of their fans with their beautiful vocal harmonies. Their latest CD was recorded live at Colorado Springs own Western Jubilee venue and the recording quality is excellent. Featuring twelve original songs, Live at the Western Jubilee is a great introduc-tion to this talented band.

Kasey Chambers

"Little Bird"

Sugar Hill Records 4074

Alison Krauss and Union Station released Paper Airplane on April 12, their first album as a band since 2004's Lonely Runs Both Ways. Krauss' last album Raising Sand was her surprising collaboration with Robert Plant that went triple platinum and won six Grammys including "Record of the Year." Back with her long-standing bluegrass band, she's delivered another masterpiece of eleven songs sharing a common theme of trial and heartache. Alison's angelic, emotional voice and her band's masterful accompaniment synergize into a thing of beauty on every track. The title track "Paper Airplane" was written by songwriter Robert Lee Castleman after he and Alison had a long talk about what was going on in her life. The emotional depth of her singing on this song and the rest of the album are as powerful of anything she's yet recorded. Alison gives up the lead vocals to Dan Tyminski on three of my favorite tracks: "Dust Bowl Children," punctuated by Ron Block's driving banjo, "Bonita and Bill Butler" about a seafaring saga to America, and the great Tim O'Brien song "On the Outside Looking In." This album is everything you'd expect from the consummate professionals that are Jerry Douglas, Ron Block, Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales, and Alison Krauss. Another gem. Highly recommended.

Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers

"Rare Bird Alert"

Rounder Records 11661-06602

Steve Martin made his first CD of original banjo music The Crow in 2008 and thought he'd exhausted his bluegrass energies and would never be able to write another song. But while touring with the talented band the Steep Canyon Rangers he soon found the juices flowing and he wrote enough tunes to fill another album. Rare Bird Alert, the title track, is an instrumental inspired from the set of Martin's forthcoming movie The Big Year about impassioned bird watchers. This album is an interesting hodgepodge of styles. PaulMcCartney supplies the vocals for a pop tune "Best Love" and the Dixie Chicks make guest vocal appearances on the gentle love song "You." Four of the tunes are instrumentals, ranging from the blistering bluegrass banjo tune "Northern Island," to the quiet, emotional "The Great Remember (For Nancy)" performed in a stripped-down, delicate, clawhammer banjo style. Also included are two live cuts: the humorous "Atheists Don't Have No Songs," and a bluegrass version of Martin's signature shtick from the 1980s "King Tut." Martin's creative gifts on and off the screen and on and off the bluegrass tour continue to amaze me. See Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers live at the Pikes Peak Center July 29 or the next day at Rockygrass.

Josh Slone & Coal Town

"Josh Slone & Coal Town"

Rural Rhythm Records 1074

This debut album from Kentucky-based Josh Slone and his band is a solid collection of traditional bluegrass. Slone's soulful, southern baritone is the heart of this band that has selected eight songs from talented writer Michael Wells on this 13-track collection. My favorite song was "Destination Heartache" about a couple destined for a breakup given their completely opposite likes, yet unable to call it off in the early stages of love. "Daddies Don't Cry" is the poignant lament of a divorced dad wondering about his son and his boy's interaction with his ex-wife's new husband. "Mama's Midnight Altar Calls" is a soulful ballad about a man in prison now wishing he had listened to his mother's lessons about God. Slone seems to enjoy slower, mellow, ballads that have a story to tell. This is a young band with a lot of promise.

Sierra Hull

"Daybreak"

Rounder Records 11661-06582PA

It's hard to avoid comparisons with Alison Krauss when talking about Sierra Hull. Like Krauss, Sierra put out her first CD at age 16 and now seems destined for bluegrass greatness. Now 19, Sierra has released Daybreak and it's high time you discovered this talented mandolinist and vocalist. Hull's voice is simply angelic, and the vocal dynamics she exhibits on this CD make it my favorite bluegrass release of 2011 so far. Two instrumentals— "Bombshell" and "Chasin' Skies", demonstrate her mastery of the mandolin which earned her the Berklee School of Music's prestigious Presidential Scholarship, the first bluegrass musician ever to do so. "Tell Me Tomorrow", which Sierra co-wrote with her dad, is my favorite song on this album. You can feel the bittersweet cry of unrequited love in "Tell Me Tomorrow"--"if you tell me goodbye, tell me tomorrow, cause my heart can't take that kind of news today." "All Because of You," is another great song about hurting from love. The emotional quality of her sweet voice transforms each of these bluegrass tunes into something beyond the ordinary. Backed by top-notch bluegrass musicians, Sierra has taken a big step forward with Daybreak. Highly recommended.

Grant Gordy

"Grant Gordy"

Grant Gordy

Colorado guitarist Grant Gordy is a rising star in acoustic music and has twice appeared on the Black Rose stage. Gordy's debut self-produced CD is an instrumental collection of 13 songs with accompanying musicians on mandolin, violin, bass, and occasionally the banjo. Gordy's style is free-form jazz with roots in bluegrass. Those familiar with David Grisman's "dawg" style will have a feel for the music on this CD. The intricate picking and bowing on these complex compositions is best appreciated in a live performance, but for those who enjoy contemporary acoustic string music, this CD won't disappoint. My favorites of Gordy's tunes were "Pterodactyl" and "Channel One.

Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, & Väsen

"The Duo With Väsen"

Adventure Music America

I got a hold of this 2007 CD to prepare for the Black Rose sponsored concert March 13, 2011. Mike Marshall and Darol Anger have been innovators in the folk/acoustic/new age world for decades and the chance to hear them locally is a rea treat. Vasen is a trio from Sweden whom Marshall and Anger met in 2004 at a folk festival. Vasen's Olov Johansson plays the nyckelharpa or "keyed fiddle", a traditional Swedish instrument. Mikael Marin plays a 5 string violino grande, and Roger Tallroth plays a 12-string guitar. Together, the five musicians explore traditional tunes from Sweden and America as well as their own compositions. The CD is entirely instrumental and the music has an "old world" feel.Imagine music from the time of the Renaissance blending elements from classical, new age, and bluegrass genres. A publishing company aptly known as "Adventure Music America" produced this adventurous collection of "world" music in its truest sense.

Positively Pikes Peak

"The Pikes Peak Region Sings Bob Dylan"

Eleven Mile Records

This CD showcases thirteen musicians from the Colorado Springs area each singing their favorite Bob Dylan song. Some, like "Lay, Lady Lay" are among Dylan's most famous. But most are tunes I wasn't familiar with. Some of the artists were recorded live, some in the studio. Dylan fans will likely appreciate this 13 song collection, and anyone interesting in discovering new local musicians can find 13 candidates in this one CD alone.

Punch Brothers

"Antifogmatic"

Nonesuch Records 521980-2

Since leaving the band Nickel Creek, Chris Thile seems to have found a comfortable home with the Punch Brothers, otherwise known as Chris Eldridge on guitar, Noam Pikelny on banjo, Gabe Witcher on fiddle, and Paul Kowert on bass. Antifogmatic is the Punch Brothers second CD and I have to tell you I didn't like it. Yes, these are some of the best pickers in modern newgrass, and I wouldn't miss a chance to hear them live if they came to Colorado Springs. But too many of their tunes emphasize Thile's high-pitched crooning about love and lust, with what I found to be forgettable lyrics. When the boys do get down to jamming, their picking talents shine through, but their need to distort every tune into weird disharmonic directions left me unsatisfied. Talented? Yes. But do I recommend this album? No. Antifogmatic left me in a disappointed fog.

The SteelDrivers

"Reckless"

Rounder Records 1161-0624-2

It is with a mixture of enthusiasm and sadness that I review the Steeldriver's sophomore release "Reckless" that was released in September 2010. Chris Henderson, whose gritty, growling, voice created the signature sound for this bluesy southern bluegrass band, left the band in April 2010 to pursue songwriting full-time. So this album serves as his swan song with the band that earned a Grammy nomination and won Bluegrass Album of the Year at the Nashville Music Awards for their selftitled debut. Every one of the twelve songs on this album was co-written by Henderson and his singing style is unlike anyone else in bluegrass. With bandmates Tammy Rogers on fiddle and harmony vocals, Richard Bailey on banjo, Mike Henderson on mandolin, and Mike Fleming on bass, Henderson delivers a solid performance of blue-collar bluegrass with a distinct, bluesy style. My favorites include the poignant, "Where Rainbows Never Die," "The Reckless Side of Me," and "Angel of the Night." The Steeldrivers are carrying on with new vocalist Gary Nichols, but I highly recommend this dynamite album with the original configuration.

Donna Hughes

"Hellos Goodbyes & Butterfiles"

Rounder Records 11661-0639-2

Donna Hughes' album Gaining Wisdom was my favorite bluegrass discovery of 2007. That album was produced by Tony Rice and incorporated some piano along with traditional bluegrass instruments. For Hellos Goodbyes & Butterflies, Hughes turned to J.D. Crowe to produce her collection of fifteen original tunes. Gone is the piano, but backing her are talented Nashville musicians that tastefully embellish her unique style of bluegrass. Donna Hughes is a gifted songwriter, and the melodies and tempos in her songs are not classically "bluegrass" in style, but accompanied by dobro, banjo, and fiddle, they take on a contemporary bluegrass feel. Although Hughes' voice in not particularly strong, there is an engaging, soft, melancholic strain to her style as she sings her songs, tells her stories. Lost relationships, modern-day tragedies, and unrequited love are common themes in her writing. I particularly liked "Dr. Jekyl, Mr. Hyde" about a former lover, and the "riches to suicide" sad song "Jesse" that reminded me of "Bottom of a Glass" on Gaining Wisdom. I really like this talented singer songwriter.

Blue Moon Rising

"Strange New World"

Rural Rhythm Records

Blue Moon Rising has released their fifth album, and first on the Rural Rhythm label. Despite several personnel changes, Chris West continues to lead the band, and has written seven of the 13 tracks on Strange New World. West's cleverly titled "Never Happy Till I'm full of Sorrow" is the best song on the album and ought to become a bluegrass classic. I also liked "Second Best" about a boy's friendship with a female classmate throughout their lives, his never ending hope to be her man, but ultimately his watching of her wedding from the aisle as "second best." Chris West's vocals are the highlight on this recording, but he allows Brandon Bostic and Tony Mowell to take a few turns on lead vocals. The cover art for this CD is pretty weird, but is meant to represent the themes presented in each of the CD's thirteen songs.

Alison Brown Quartet

"LIVE AT BLAIR with Joe Craven" (DVD)

Compass Records 7 4519 9

Alison Brown is a Renaissance woman. After earning an MBA at UCLA and working in the corporate world, she left that life for professional banjo playing, and later founded Compass Records with husband Garry West. This DVD (packaged like a CD) showcases one of her band's concerts at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music, and captures her exciting brand of bluegrass jazz using piano, bass and drums. This is a lot like an Austin City Limits concert without all the cutaways to audience reaction. Highlights include guest appearances by multi-instrumentalist Joe Craven playing percussion on the drum of Brown's banjo while she picks, and Brown's young daughter Hannah singing and clogging for a couple of numbers. Whether you're a bluegrass fan or jazz fan, it's hard not to be caught up in the exciting instrumental style so nicely showcased on this DVD.

Steve Gulley and Tim Stafford

"Dogwood Winter"

Rural Rhythm Records

Bluegrass veterans Steve Gulley and Tim Stafford have been best friends and writing partners for years despite playing in different bands (Grasstowne and Blue Highway, respectively). The two decided to work together to produce an album of entirely new compositions demonstrating a variety of musical styles. Dogwood Winter has fourteen songs, with both taking turns at lead vocals. Most of the songs are ballads, but there are a few true bluegrass numbers mixed in, like the barnburner "Just Along for the Ride." The liner notes include all lyrics and explanations about the source of the songs' inspiration. None of the songs are individually credited, so it appears that they indeed wrote these songs as a team.

Paul Whitens

"On the Road to An Open Heart"

Holy Smokin' City Music (www.paulwhitens.com)

Local Colorado Springs musician Paul Whitens recorded On the Road to an Open Heart over three years in what he describes as "a joyous, fun filled musical journey of the soul - my soul !" Paul began meditating in 2000 and in the process discovered how to "listen to the voice of his soul", and began seeing more clearly "the beauty around him." Paul's eleven compositions can't really be classified as "Buddhist bluegrass." He's a songwriter with a guitar who surrounds himself with soft touches of drums, electric guitar, accordion, and synthesizer by accompanying musicians. The songs are optimistic and upbeat and Paul's voice has a clear, pleasant quality to it.

Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen

"Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen"

Fiddlemon Music 13003

When Frank Solivan finished a nine-year stint as the mandolinist with the US Navy's bluegrass band Country Current, he formed his own band of super pickers including Mike Munford on banjo, Lincoln Meyers on guitar and Stefan Custodi on bass. Their debut release is dynamite. Every song on this twelve-song collection—including five originals by Solivan—is excellent. Solivan's "Tarred and Feathered" tells of the demise of a bluegrass road musician: I've been tarred and feathered, worn and weathered / put away wet a time or two / traveled around, picked my strings from town to town / feeling like I've paid some dues. Another great song is "Runaway Ramp" which compares love to a big rig heading out of control down a steep grade, "with its brakes a failing, and the road is damp, and you can't find a runaway ramp." This is my favorite new discovery of 2010. Dirty Kitchen is an exciting, energetic band with a gifted songwriter/vocalist in Frank Solivan. Highly recommended.

Balsam Range

"Trains I Missed"

Mountain Home Music Company

I'd never heard of Balsam Range before receiving a copy of Trains I Missed, the band's third album. I guess I need to pay more attention to bands hailing from North Carolina. These guys are hot. The first two songs alone are worth getting hold of Trains I Missed. The title track is a beautiful, soulful ballad with harmony vocals, great picking, and thoughtful lyrics about one reflecting on their roads not taken. The second track is "The Other Side," a blistering bluegrass number that demonstrates the band's picking power and vocal talent. I also liked "Hard Price to Pay," about a man stuck in prison for 21 years just for running moonshine to pay his bills: "I ain't never killed a man /never stole a dime / didn't hurt nobody" he laments as he contemplates his hard life in prison. "The Touch" is a beautiful gospel tune taken from the New Testament's story of the woman who touched Jesus' robe. This album has great song selection, great vocals, and great picking. Now I need to get a hold of the band's first two albums!

The Boxcars

"The Boxcars"

Mountain Home Music Company

Calling themselves "The Boxcars," Bluegrass veterans Adam Steffey, Ron Stewart, Keith Garrett, John Bowman, and Harold Nixon have released a self-titled debut album of contemporary bluegrass on the Mountain Home Music Label. The record label is a division of Crossroads Entertainment, a Christian marketing firm, but this album is not a gospel album. Besides "In God's Hands" which tells of the death of a baby at childbirth and has religious overtones, the tunes are secular. Although I didn't find any of the songs especially memorable, this is a solid album in which all five-band mates contribute to the vocals.

Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

"Legacy"

Compass Records

Peter Rowan's music career has spanned five decades and explored an array or acoustic styles. In the Compass Records release Legacy Rowan returns to his bluegrass roots recording tunes with his veteran touring band of Jody Stecher, Keith Little, and Paul Knight. Special guests Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Tim O'Brien join on some of the album's thirteen songs. Rowan appeared at the inaugural Meadowgrass festival in Colorado Springs in 2009. His lonesome high tenor never gets old, his passion for the music always evident. Truly, Rowan has left a legacy in bluegrass music.

Heidi Talbot

"The Last Star"

Compass Records 7 4545 2

The New York Times said Irish Singer Heidi Talbot "sings in a voice that's both awestruck and tender". Talbot's voice is beautiful indeed and is comparable to that of my favorite Irish vocalist Karan Casey. Formerly the lead singer with Cherish the Ladies, Talbot has released her third solo album. John McCusker, who produced the album, wrote six of the eleven songs. Many of the songs have a contemporary feel, but the instrumentation is traditional, and there are traditional ballads that confirm her roots in Kildare, Ireland.