Originally posted July 5, 2000

Well, I was a little slow on the draw getting this review out (sorry), but this is a great recording. The instrumental work, selection of songs, and styles will have you spinning.

The CD starts with a haunting yet aggressive version of the Gillian Welch tune Stillhouse. This song has a very "mountain" sound. This is followed by the Wendy Waldman and Don Lowery tune "You Plant Your Fields." I was a little disappointed that this version wasn't significantly different from the New Grass Revival recording of the same song, though it is flawlessly performed.

Next we have the traditional "Gone, Gone, Gone" which is the last song on the CD before typical bluegrass protocol is thrown out the window. From here on out the CD is a fantastic mix of Bluegrass, Swing, old Jazz, traditional Country, and even a little hippie-grass (Friend of the Devil).

Of particular interest is cut 6 "Annabelle." I have always liked this Gillian Welch song and Modern Hicks do a great version. "Isn't That So" is a nice swanky, funky jazz tune that will have you bobbing your head like a chicken before it's over. There is some great instrumental work on this song as well.

Gina Blaber really shines in the guitar and vocal only version of Henry Hipkens jazz ballad "Love To Learn." I was truly astonished that this woman who does such great authentic bluegrass harmonies can really break free and do the complex melody lines in the traditional jazz style and perform it beautifully.

I could praise every song on this disc, but I'm going to recommend that you get it yourself and see. Modern Hicks is right down my alley as far as bluegrass goes. They push the envelope of what is bluegrass and what's not. They truly support my theory that everything is bluegrass (or could be.) There is a beautiful blend of several different styles of music and vocal colors. The instrumental work is flawless though less flashy than many people enjoy. I find the instrumental a perfect complement to the vocal-based music.

The only real downside to this recording is the lack of original tunes. I admit that this is a personal preference, but I feel that original tunes are good for bluegrass in general and that people should write new material. This is almost made up for on Modern Hicks' "Out Among The Stars" by the selection of some pretty obsure tunes and an original approach to most of the songs.

Usually I recommend who should and should not get a particular recording. Well, I'm going to recommend that everyone who likes bluegrass get this CD. The recording is definitely rooted in Bluegrass, but there's alot more in there. If you're a little afraid of swing, jazz, and old country, then you need to broaden your tastes anyway so get this CD. "Out Among The Stars" gets 4 purple picks! For more information contact Modern Hicks via e-mail at autumnsu@aol.com or at the following address:

Modern Hicks
Jackalope Records
3385 Dartmouth Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Originally posted March 11, 2000

  Well, the first thing I have to say is that Strings of Fire’s “Over the Blue Ridge” was a pleasure to listen to and to review. The songs on this cd (8 original and 2 traditional) hail back to the roots of folk and bluegrass music. With Shawn Craver on guitar, banjo, and vocals and Matt Pederson on mandolin and guitar (that’s right, there’s only two of them), these accomplished musicians have chosen to keep their style simple and pure. Shawn (who wrote the bulk of the lyrics) grew up listening to traditional Appalachian mountain music in Garrett County, Maryland and you can definitely hear the influence.

Shawn and Matt play this music like it really means something to them. All tracks were recorded live with no overdubbing lending to the true sound of their music. About the only real audio engineering feat was a fade out at the end of one song.

“Joshua” is a great arrangement of this traditional tune. “Wild Dove” is a slow lonesome mountain song of lost love with Shawn singing a sorrowful interlude after each verse. Matt does some beautiful Mandolin work on this song. “Barbed Wire” is the only instrumental on the CD. Written by Matt Pederson, this tune demonstrates instrumental virtuosity with minimal instrumentation. One thing that really struck me was the beautiful tone of the instruments. “She Might’ve Been and Angel” was co-written by Craver and Pederson and has some of the most intense, heart-felt mandolin work you will hear. The clawhammer banjo work on the bluesy song “I Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” is a fresh departure from the usually heard three-finger Scruggs style.

These are only a few of the cuts from “Over the Blue Ridge” and the rest are equally well-executed. If you enjoy Tony Rice’s “Church Street Blues,” Norman Blake, Doc Watson, old Ralph and Carter Stanley, and Mountain music with a Celtic flare, then you will love this CD. If you are looking for banjo driven modern bluegrass in the vein of IIIrd Tyme Out, The Lonesome River Band, Blue Highway, etc then you might be better served going somewhere else. “Over the Blue Ridge” gets 4 of 5 picks.

For more information on Strings of Fire, visit their website here. To buy "Over the Blue Ridge" direct from the artists send $15.00 to PO BOX 89533 SIOUX FALLS, SD 57109.

Originally posted March 11, 2000

Bull Harman's CD Bull's-Eye announces its presence with authority from the first song, Fighting Irishman. This CD has some of the best instrumental work you will hear. Bull's-Eye is an instrumentally driven cd with only 5 of the 13 tracks being vocal numbers, although the vocal numbers do showcase such talent as Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss.

Bull Harman's guitar playing is absolutely flawless. His phrasing is full of character and style and, of course, plenty of hot licks. My favorite cut on the CD is the last one. A guitar solo written by Bull Harman entitled "Another Time". It is beautiful. Mixing chordal style and melody, this instrumental makes me think of a quite contemplative late summer evening.

There is a great version of Tennessee Flat-top box. It is really nice to hear Bull change styles completely to the strum and hammer-on style true to the original which is complemented by great 40s style vocals. This is quickly followed by the true-blue Bluegrass instrumental Shenandoah Breakdown. If you have a tendancy to move when you listen to Bluegrass, this will have you jumpin'. A point of note, this tune has a great bass fiddle break. "Gypsy Dream" is a very cool instrumental. It's like lonesome fiddle blues crossed with Flight of the bumble-bee with a really tight aggressive meandering head.

"How I Long to be in the Mountains" is one of the best progressive bluegrass songs you will hear. This track is very much in the vein of Blue Highway or the Lonesome River Band, tight and perfect.

I would highly recommend this CD to anyone looking for exquisite instrumental work, great arrangements as well as great engineering on the recording. I give this CD 4 1/2 picks. It really only loses the 1/2 pick because I would have liked to have heard more vocal numbers, but then you would have to lose some of the terrific instrumentals. Just buy it. . .you won't be sorry.

For information on purchasing this CD goto http:www.bullharman.com.