About the most important question a young bluegrass band faces right out of the gate is whether they can play. The Infamous Stringdusters wasted no time in providing their answer--an emphatic "yes"--winning IBMA Album, Son... more »g and Emerging Artist of the Year the very same year they released their debut, Fork In the Road. On Things That Fly, their third album on Sugar Hill, they venture into virtually uncharted territory for an acoustic group: a sonically and thematically expansive album that lends itself to absorbed listening from start to finish, much like the great rock albums do.« less
About the most important question a young bluegrass band faces right out of the gate is whether they can play. The Infamous Stringdusters wasted no time in providing their answer--an emphatic "yes"--winning IBMA Album, Song and Emerging Artist of the Year the very same year they released their debut, Fork In the Road. On Things That Fly, their third album on Sugar Hill, they venture into virtually uncharted territory for an acoustic group: a sonically and thematically expansive album that lends itself to absorbed listening from start to finish, much like the great rock albums do.
"The Stringdusters have managed to put out another amazing album in their third release 'Things That Fly'. If you are not familiar with these guys and you are a fan of acoustic music, you have missed the boat! While keeping a traditional bluegrass sound that even the most old school 'grass fan will do backflips over, they are diverse enough to catch the ear of the teenager who is listening to mainstream radio and have yet to figure out what good music is all about. Each member of the sextet is at the top of their game as musicians. From Andy Falco's guitar licks which ranks with the likes of Tony Rice to Jesse Cobb's at times jazz induced mando runs - these guys are both innovators and traditionalists, which is a fine line to walk! Their previous two albums have never fallen out of my CD rotation and I am glad to have another to add to the mix. And as a side note, their live shows have more improvised jams than most Dead shows ever thought about having, yet I see the traditional bluegrass fans at the shows sitting with a look of amazement on their face as the 'Dusters take bluegrass to a new level.
I give the album three thumbs up!"
Forceful contemporary acoustic and bluegrass sounds
hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 04/20/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"There's a power to this sextet's progressive acoustic and bluegrass sounds that leans into the listener like a poke in the chest. The instruments are mostly the standard acoustic assortment, but the verve with which they're picked, and the group's punchy vocal harmonies are heavier than one might expect from a contemporary acoustic outfit. As on their previous self-titled album, the band writes many of their own songs, generally avoids the standard bluegrass canon and stretch their genre with an acoustic reworking of U2's "In God's Country." The latter amplifies the song's force in group harmonies and a propulsive arrangement, but weans it from the original's anthemic emotion. The group's originals weave folk and country sounds with progressive arrangements and hot-picked strings. There are bluegrass intervals in their harmonies, but otherwise their melodies are quite progressive. The instrumental "Magic #9" suggests both - a melody with downtown jazz complications picked on acoustic string instruments from the hills.
"Another great album from the Infamous Stringdusters, building on the previous two.
These guys make a great band in addition to being simply brilliant individual players."
Great effort by the Stringdusters
Richard Rogers | Castle Rock, CO | 05/22/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I saw them live about a month ago, and became intriged with their classic approach to bluegrass. Their CD exceeded my expectations with its depth. Don't miss out on this one if you are an acoustic music fan."
Fantastic newgrass!
Pirate Fan | Santa Clarita, CA USA | 04/23/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As I was listening to this album again, I realized, if Cadillac Sky is the New Grass Revival for this new decade, The Stringdusters are the Seldom Scene. I could give no higher compliment.
This is wonderful, rich new bluegrass which is true to its roots but fresh and vital. Really fantastic."