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Various Bluegrass, Blues and
Jazz Albums
Review By Steven Stone
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Grant-Lee Phillips
Little Moon
Most adult pop is fluffier than a new angora sweater. Grant-Lee manages to create effervescent yet moody music that combines a sense of musical history with addictive melodies. It doesn't hurt that his voice has a mellifluous yet gritty lilt that will stop you in your tracks. I dare you to play this just once.
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Monroe Crossing
Heart Ache & Stone
This Minnesota bluegrass band features rich female alto lead vocals by fiddler Lisa Fugile. The Band's more laid-back "folkgrass" approach to bluegrass stands in stark contrast to many contemporary hyper kinetic bands such as Kentucky Thunder. Their novel, soulful, and musically satisfying cover of Prince's "Purple Rain" demonstrates their unique bluegrass style.
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Steve Stills and Manassas
Pieces
Steve Stills with Manassas Pieces proves that Stills was doing more in the early 70's than just hanging out in Colorado and shooting holes in his walls. This country-rock foray, with strong bluegrass overtones, offers more than merely oddball outtakes for a completist's CD shelves. This CD proves that in the day Stills could really pick.
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Madison Violet
No Fool For Trying
Ever since the Indigo Girls made it big I've been wary of female duet bands, but Madison Violet almost makes up for the IG's sins. With precise two-part lead vocals, rich organically acoustic arrangements, and tight yet old-timey feeling instrumental parts, Madison Violet creates modern folk-pop with deep roots.
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