Gary Louris
Vagabonds
Rykodisc
3.5 stars (out of 5)
Apparently, 20 years with the Jayhawks affords one ample cause for serious self-examination. On his solo debut, guitarist Gary Louris soul searches on ten abstractions connected by evocative imagery and producer Chris Robinson’s well-orchestrated arrangements.
Vagabonds begins with Louris finding spiritual rebirth in “True Blue” and freedom in “Omaha Nights.” “To [...]
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The Band of Heathens
The Band of Heathens
BOH Records
3 stars (out of 5)
The Band of Heathens was born at the legendary Momo’s in Austin, where its singers and songwriters Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi, and Gordy Quist transformed their regular co-billings into on-stage collaborations. The Heathens quickly became heroes in the local club scene and started racking [...]
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Kathleen Edwards
Asking for Flowers
Zoe/Rounder Records
5 stars (out of 5)
Credit Canadian Kathleen Edwards for taking the time after 2005’s Back to Me to not just restock her inventory of songs, but to come up with a magnum opus on her third full-length release stateside. With eleven new masterpieces, affective all-out vocals, brilliant backing, and Jim [...]
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Various Artists
A Bluegrass Tribute to the Stars of Country
Pinecastle Records
2.5 Stars (out of 5)
Well, I guess A Bluegrass Tribute to the Stars of Country certainly sounds better than A Record Label’s Attempt to Boost its Back Catalogue. Pinecastle Records has combed its vaults and come up with fourteen convenient covers for the concept. There are [...]
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Amanda Shaw
Pretty Runs Out
Rounder Records
2 Stars (out of 5)
Whether or not Amanda Shaw’s name has been called when choosing sides for basketball, at 17, the New Orleans fiddler, singer, songwriter, bandleader, and actress already has amassed an impressive resume. She won Offbeat’s 2004 Cajun Artist Award and the 2005 Big Easy Award for Best [...]
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Larry Stephenson
Thankful
Pinecastle Records
4 stars (out of 5)
The opener asks “How High is that Mountain,” but the real question on Thankful might be, “How high can Larry Stephenson’s vocals go?” The 5-time SPBGMA award winner’s trademark tenor is in prime form on his fourth bluegrass gospel album and nineteenth release overall.
Thankful turns out twelve tracks of [...]
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Pat Flynn
reVision
Sony/Thirty Tigers
4 stars (out of 5)
reVision is the second release since Pat Flynn resurfaced as a solo artist in 2004 with reQuest. The guitarist for the legendary New Grass Revival actually hadn’t been missing in action; he’d just been paying the bills by writing, producing, and playing on more than 350 albums. His reemergence [...]
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Posted in Bluegrass, Tim Walsh on April 25, 2008 | No Comments »
Dwight McCall
Never Say Never Again
Rural Rhythm Records
3 Stars (out of 5)
Never Say Never Again is the second solo release from second generation bluegrasser Dwight McCall. The mandolinist for J.D. Crowe & The New South brings bandmates, buddies, heritage, and talent to a predictably solid set of mostly predictable bluegrass.
The fourteen tracks follow [...]
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Posted in Bluegrass, Tim Walsh on March 10, 2008 | No Comments »
Special Consensus
The Trail of Aching Hearts
Pinecastle Records
3.5 Stars (out of 5)
Since 1973, Chicago-based Special Consensus has brought its blue-collar bluegrass to clubs, concert halls, festivals, and theaters throughout the world. Co-founder and banjoist Greg Cahill and company just keep on keeping on with the band’s 13th release.
The Trail of Aching Hearts delivers what longtime followers [...]
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Special Ed and the Shortbus
Ground Beef Patrol
Self-released
1.5 Stars (out of 5)
Political correctness obviously is of no concern to Special Ed and the Shortbus. Insensitivity notwithstanding, the cleverness of the Richmond, Virginia ensemble’s moniker is counteracted by childish track titles like “Trouser Gravy,” “Underpants Rag,” and “Haecceity of Scrotus.” Unfortunately, immature antics ensue accordingly.
That’s too bad, [...]
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