Sweet By and By Bluegrass Show

tUesday Nights, 6:30-9pm with david smith (who is back from A BREAK) and doug!

David's Top Bluegrass Releases of 2009

1.      

1.      Steep Canyon Rangers – Deep in the Shade
It’s a cliché, but this is a band that just keeps getting better.  Now 4 albums deep into being Rebel Record recording artists (a big deal in bluegrass), Deep in the Shade elevates Graham Sharp’s songwriting talents to a whole new level.  The album also solidifies Nicky Saunders as a bluegrass fiddle “Great.”   

2.      David Davis and the Warrior River Boys – Two Dimes and a Nickel
Ranked high due to the straight forward high lonesome ways of the Warrior River Boys.  Nobody sings it like David Davis and nobody plays fiddle as lonesome as Owen Saunders.  This is “real deal” bluegrass with a Hank Williams meets Bill Monroe feel.  

3.      Audie Blaylock and Redline – Self titled
Audie is steeped in bluegrass.  His biography reads like a who’s who within the hard driving traditions of the genre.  He’s keeping the Jimmy Martin style alive with Redline’s 2009 release.  From acapella, to rip-roaring pickers, this is bluegrass music at its best.  Look for Audie Blaylock and Redline in the 2010 Durango Bluegrass Meltdown festival lineup!     

4.      Songs from the Road Band – As the Crow Flies
The second album to showcase the songwriting of Charles Humphrey III.  A great, great album, but I debated where to place it in my top 10 due to a strong folk/rock/country feel to the album, opposed to straight ahead bluegrass.  Songs like, “As the Crow Flies,” “Taxman,” and “Don’t Give up on Me” put this one in the #3 spot.   

5.      Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver – Lonely Street
The “Old school” of bluegrass keeps on shining with this one.  The band lineup seems to change faster than albums come out, but the soaring vocals and solid song selections of Quicksilver never falter.  Plus, there’s a song about a tornado.   

6.      Jeremy Garrett – I am a Stranger
This is probably the most “progressive” album on my top 10, which makes sense coming from the fiddle player of the Infamous Stringdusters.  What “progressive” means I really don’t know – I do know that there are incredible tracks on this album and Jeremy is joined by very talented musicians throughout.

7.      Larry Keel and Natural Bridge – Backwoods
“Jamgrass” makes the top 10 with Larry Keel.  He’s the best – very unique music here.  Though Keel is the name sake of the band, I think that their fearless, rhythmical and driving sound can best be summed up by listening to their mandolin player Mark Schimick.  What a madman (and I mean that in a good way).

8.      Dailey and Vincent – Brothers from Different Mothers
Got to admit, I was surprised to find myself typing this one into the list.  Overall, I’m not a big fan of the ultraclean, super produced and perfectly arranged bluegrass.  But boy oh boy can these guys sing.  The true to heart Gospel numbers and flat-out bluegrass numbers put the album on the list.

9.      Hard Pressed – From a Different Time
Colorado makes the list!  And out of Paonia no less.  Corey Obert has been playing old time and bluegrass in Colorado for a good spell now.  He’s the fiddle player for Sweet Sunny South.  I few years back Andrea Lecos and Corey were wed and Paonia old time music was born.  This album is great, not only for the old time numbers such as, “Hangman’s Reel,” but also for the many originals that feature Andrea’s many talents. 

10.   Spring Creek – Way Up on a Mountain
Back to back with Colorado!  Out of Lyons, Spring Creek has been working incredibly hard at bringing original, traditionally minded bluegrass to western audiences.  I like this album because it has that “Texas sound.”  That’s a hard thing to describe, but bands like Two High String Band and early Country Gazette have it.  There’s some swing and a lot of rhythm going on.  The band is out of Lyons but years back many of them called Texas their home.  I like that they have a unique sound that holds to their roots.   

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