Search - Modern Hicks :: Out Among the Stars

Outstanding songs, great vocals, excellent instrumentals.

11/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Who are these guys (and gal)? And where have they been all my musical life? This album gives a very generous fifteen (15!) song selections; but WHAT great songs. Gillian Welch, Harlan Howard, Guy Clark, Jesse Winchester...songwriters just don't get any better than this. And if you like what Maura O'Connell does with a Henry Hipkens song, you will LOVE Gina Blaber...smooth, smokey, and swingin'. Kevin Russell sounds like James Taylor and Hank Williams, blended together, with a dash of Ricky Skaggs. These guys are definitely not your typical bluegrass or newgrass band. The harmonies are clean and sophisticated (Layne Bowen, the mandolin player, adds some great harmony lines, in addition to playing some really tasty licks on his mando). There is nothing fancy or tricky about this music. You can tell these folks really love the songs they do, and it shows. If you like the "sound" of bluegrass and or swing, and you're tired of "Uncle Penn" and "Sally Goodin", try this CD. I don't think they will make Top-40 radio, but they are definitely among the Top-40 coolest albums of '99. I dig it. Bet you will too."