Search - David Grisman, John Hartford, Mike Seeger :: Retrograss

Old-Timey

Dennis Ladd | Los Angeles, CA USA | 01/06/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Caveat emptor - I b'lieve you must love old-timey music to love this CD. It's very low-key and almost lackadaisical in execution. No hot solos, no impassioned singing so country or bluegrass only fans should steer clear. That said, it has much charm and humor. My favorite: Seeger's version of Dylan's "Maggie's Farm.""

I prefer my 'grass newer, thank you.

Kevin Cook | McDonough, Georgia USA | 02/01/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The idea of covering folk/country/bluegrass standards and classic rock-era songs, using vintage string instruments and a free-form approach, is an excellent one. Regrettably, Messrs. Grisman, Hartford and Seeger don't quite pull it off. As you'd expect, the musicianship is beyond reproach, but the guys are guilty of straining their artistic license to the max.The trio fares best with reverent versions of "Uncle Pen," "Windy Mountain" and "Blue Ridge Cabin Home," among others. It's when they put their tongues in their cheeks that the trouble begins. I love John Hartford, but I'm sorry, his eccentric phrasing and vocalizing on "Memphis" and "Maybelline" is hard to take. Chuck Berry is rolling over, and he ain't even dead. And what Hartford does to the sacrosanct bluegrass anthem "Rocky Top" is nothing short of criminal.There are some outstanding tracks, notably Mike Seeger's stark vocal/banjo arrangement of Dylan's "Maggie's Farm," which Seeger sings like an angry, desperate man with no hope left. He is utterly convincing, also, on the Ralph Stanley mainstay "Room at the Top of the Stairs.""

The Grass is Gold

James D. Ahrens | Minneapolis, MN USA | 05/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A wonderful collection....a little strange at first listening, perhaps, but entertaining. Then it grows on you, and you begin to feel the genius behind it. It's a quirky concept, but flawlessly executed with lots of humor and warmth. A wonderful addition to any collection."