Search - New Grass Revival :: Best of

Anything But Ordinary

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 04/02/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is all that's left of the three albums the final incarnation of the New Grass Revival did for Liberty in the second half of the Eighties. Founding members Sam Bush (fiddle, mandolin) and John Cowan (bass) are joined by Bela Fleck (banjo) and Pat Flynn (guitar) for some of the most innovative and inventive bluegrass committed to disc. The dynamics of the new band made a profound impact on the band. Bela Fleck is the premier banjoist in the world. Instrumentals like his "Metric Lips" and "Big Foot" blended bluegrass and jazz into an amazingly original sound. Pat Flynn, in addition to being an expressive singer, was also a talented songwriter ("Sweet Release", "Do What You Gotta Do").The band flirted with Top 40 succes with songs like "Can't Stop Now," "Unconditional Love," "Friday Night in America" and "Callin' Baton Rouge." But the band was not going to pigeon-holed into a restrictive format, which won them critical praise if not commercial success. [But how can you not love a band who covers an obscure Beatles' B-side ("Im Down")?]This disc represents the New Grass Revival at their peak. By the end of the decade Sam Bush called it quits to pursue a solo career (as well as frequent session work and a stint in Emmylou Harris' Nashville Ramblers). Fleck would form the Flecktones and continue his bluegrass/be-bop/jazz hybrid. [This configuration of the band also recorded the equally exceptional On the Boulevard on the Sugar Hill label.] But this nearly 70-minute, 18-song collection does an excellent job of representing one of bluegrass music's best progressive bands. As it was stated in the liner notes, "New Grass Revival will never be accused of being ordinary." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"

BUY THIS CD AND SAVE MONEY !

06/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You like Jon Bon Jovi's voice? This guys better! You like smoking instrumental leads? You'll love this. You like bluegrass,r&b, reggae and jazz? Save money and just but this one cd. I can't tell you when the last time I sat down and listened to a cd...AND I AM A PROFESSIONAL DJ. It's fun, bouncy, cheerful, soulful, great harmony and wonderful American roots music."

You can't appreciate it until you have heard it.

Debi Roy | Sunny Florida | 05/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think that I have said it all with "You can't appreciate it until you have heard it". Between John Cowan's voice and the talents of Sam Bush on mandolin and violin, Pat Flynn on Rhythm and lead guitar and Bela Fleck wailing on the banjo, this is a can't miss for those lovers of contemporary Bluegrass or Dawg music! To see John Cowan in concert, well, you'll be blown away! The CD's don't do justice to John Cowan LIVE! You can visit John's web site....."