Strong solo debut; a great listen!
Craig Fisher | USA | 02/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In 2002 the outlook for the now-on-hiatus Leftover Salmon seemed uncertain; however its co-founder, the great multi-instrumentalist Drew Emmitt (backed by the John Cowan Band), put out this wonderful album, Freedom Ride, in the wake of Salmon's unknown future. I immediately liked this album, and over time have started to really appreciate the subtleties that lie in its tight arrangements and mostly mid-tempo tunes; of course the title track and cover of J.J. Cale's "If You're Ever in Oklahoma" are total upbeat barnburners! Standout numbers also include "Valley of the Full Moon" and the traditional "Memories of Mother and Dad," on which they nail down a real old-timey sound. And there is a lot more to like on this album, including the familiar "Bend in the River," "Lonesome Road," and "Tangled Up in Blue" (all great), as well as a slew of guest performances from luminaries such as Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, Randy Scruggs and Vince Herman. After recently catching a stunning live performance by the Drew Emmitt Band (with guitarist Ross Martin, bassist Greg Garrison, and the awesome Matt Flinner on banjo), whether or not Leftover Salmon has run its course, Drew Emmitt shows no sign of slowing down. Hopefully, his new quartet heads into the studio soon to cut some new tracks and potentially show off the jams and frenetic instrumentation that we have all come to love!"