Packed with tradition...
Brian DeBlanc | Gales Ferry, CT USA | 01/04/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The old guard can't go on forever, and for this reason alone, thank heaven for Open Road!If you can't imagine bluegrass music without the likes of Bela Fleck or Leftover Salmon, you may not be completely enthralled by this disc. However, if the Stanley Brothers, Del McCoury, or Bill Monroe is more to your taste, you MUST get this album! We're talking roots bluegrass here, folks. Brad Folk is the ringleader of this bunch; with three Folk originals on this album fitting beautifully between Carter family and Stanley brothers tunes, you'd think the boy was an ex-member of one of the old-style bands. Listen to the samples at their site - openroadbluegrass.com - you'll be shocked at Folk's classic hillbilly sound. His original, "45 Miles" just hollers Appalachia. Ballhorn, the fiddler, adds an excellent tune to the mix as well. So 4 of the 13 songs on this album are excellently written, played, and produced originals. If I had any complaint about this recording it would be that there are not enough original tunes on it - a minor complaint indeed, and one which will undoubtedly be fixed with future recordings.The production of the album is first-rate. The simple fact that Sally Van Meter produced this album says a lot for the quality of the band: she's one of the very best. The fact that they've opened for Del McCoury and played the Rockygrass Festival in Colorado last year are additional sure signs of a great thing.Taken as a whole, this is a must-own for any lover of the true bluegrass sound. You can be the first on your block, and a couple years along, you'll say, "Yep, I've been listening to them since before they were cool." As cool as a traditional bluegrass band will ever be, anyway."
One of the best bluegrass CDs I've ever heard!
Brian DeBlanc | 06/06/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is excellent! Lead singer Bradford Lee Folk's voice with nasal overtones is outstanding and representative of traditional bluegrass music. I've seen this band perform and plan to buy every CD they ever cut. You won't be disappointed if you like traditional bluegrass!"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
