Customer Reviews

Brand New Strings

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The day after Ricky Skaggs' "Brand New Strings" arrived in my mailbox, I tuned in to PBS' Evening at Pops to see Ricky and Kentucky Thunder featured with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Conductor Keith Lockhart introduced Skaggs as "a true county and bluegrass music legend." Celebrating his 50th birthday in 2004, the Cordell, Kentucky musician was on stage with Bill Monroe by age five. Skaggs went on to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1982 and was named the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year in 1985. He's also won nine Grammy Awards, and he and his band have taken the IBMA's "Instrumental Group of the Year" Award for four of the past five years.

This album opens with a Doug and Rusty Kershaw piece, "Sally Jo," a forceful and emotional plea for a departed love to return. "Sis' Draper," interweaves the fiddle tune "Arkansas Traveller" with cute lyrics sung solo by Skaggs, in a lower register, about a mountain gal and travellin' arkansawyer with lightning on her fiddle strings and magnolia in her hair. The title cut, appearing at track six, is a high-stepping song that really allows the rest of the band to shine instrumentally with some jaw-dropping performances. There's even some of Ricky's mandocaster and Johnny Hyland's electric guitar in the mix. "Spread a Little Love Around" has a beautiful message, and Harley Allen's and John Wiggin's song is the perfect one to follow snappy "Brand New Strings."

The project includes four originals from Ricky - "My Fathers' Son, " (co-penned with George Green), and three lively instrumentals, "1st Corinthians 1:18," "Appalachian Joy,"" and "Monroe Dancin'." Two originals from Shawn Lane include "If I Had it All Again to Do" and "Why Did I Wait so Long." Shawn Camp wrote "Sis' Draper" (with Guy Clark) and "Lonesome and Dry as a Done" (written with Matthew Adrian Lindsey and Lonnie Melvin Tillis Jr.). All of the songs are masterfully crafted, and their genesis illustrates very astute interpretation and arranging. With fast and slow numbers, vocals and instrumentals, and varied meter, this album conveys many musical moods.

On "Brand New Strings," Ricky Skaggs plays guitar, mandolin, and Danelectro on most tracks, clawhammer banjo on "Sis' Draper" and "My Fathers' Song", and Mandocaster on "Brand New Strings." On "Love does it Everytime," Ricky also plays papoose and Hi-Strung guitar. The other musicians include Mark Fain (bass), Cody Kilby (guitar, banjo on three tracks), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Andy Leftwich (mandolin, fiddle), Jim Mills (banjo), Sam Bacco (spoons, percussion, church bells on one track each), Molly Skaggs (dulcimer on one track, clawhammer banjo on one track), Bryan Sutton (guitar on two tracks). Besides Rick and Molly Skaggs' clawhammer banjo noted above, Mike Snyder does the banjo honors on "Appalachian Joy" and "Monroe's Dancin'." These two numbers also include Jeff Taylor's accordion in the mix, an instrument also played by Tim Laure on "Love Does it Everytime" and "Why Did I Wait So Long." Laure even adds missionary organ to the latter. Harmony vocals are provided by Ricky Skaggs, Paul Brewster, Jamie Daley, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Keith Sewell, Darrin Vincent, Sharon White, and Shawn Lane.

Ricky Skaggs' bluegrass is full of heart, soul and passion. Skaggs once described bluegrass as "clear as the driven snow, hot as a Texas chili pepper, but as lonesome as a whippoorwill." This album fully demonstrates his continuing vision for the music. As a bandleader, he's found phenomenal musicians who share his vision in true artistic partnership. Kentucky Thunder is comprised of members who are professional, competent, committed and passionate about what they do. The result is a chemistry that defines a monumental and legendary band with bluegrass magic. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs has always featured hot guitarists and monster mandolin, banjo, and fiddle players in his legendary roots-country and bluegrass ensembles. Skaggs' current lineup features Cody Kilby, who won the 1998 National Flatpick Guitar championship at age 17. Wielding a Bourgeois flat-top, Kilby lays down clean, fast lines and outrageous solos that push the envelope of acoustic lead guitar. His clarity, power, and dexterity are matched by an ability to spin melodies that sound delightfully free, yet artfully composed. Bryan Sutton -- Skagg's previous flat-top virtuoso -- adds his magic touch on two songs, and Tele terror Johnny Hiland burns on the title track. Mandolinist Andy Leftwich deserves special mention for his rippling, warp-speed phrases. Even if you're not drawn to bluegrass, this album's state-of-the-art picking will mess you up.

It's a tricky balance to keep a traditional form from turning into a dormant shelf decoration. On the one hand, you need to keep to the tradition's roots, but on the other, you can't follow your forbearer's paths so closely that you do nothing more than wear ruts into the ground. Skaggs continues to successfully navigate this skyline path by matching top-notch instrumental skills and elements of traditional bluegrass arrangements with newly penned songs and inflections that expand upon the foundation laid down by Monroe, Stanley and others.

Skaggs' latest release actively seeks out contemporary material from some of country music's finest writers, including Guy Clark, Shawn Camp and Skaggs himself. At their heart, these songs share a thematic sensibility with the bluegrass classics, and when given over to Kentucky Thunder's traditional fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin - not to mention the tight harmonies of Skaggs, Paul Brewster, Darren Vincent, and Rebecca Lynn Howard - the result is truly 21st century bluegrass.

These studio productions don't generate the high-voltage band interplay found on the live performances like 2003's "Live at the Charleston Music Hall," though a few spark up some hot picking, such as Keith Sewell's title track, and several instrumentals penned by Skaggs. The latter's vocals are especially moving a pair of Shawn Lane tunes, "Why Did I Wait So Long?" and "If I Had it All Again To Do." No doubt the newer tunes waxed here will mix nicely with the classics as the band takes them out on the road.

The past few years, country music stars have either visited or returned to bluegrass and when they get there they often take their country music "pop" sensibility with them. It must be especially tempting given Allison Krauss' sales figures. Many of the returnees don't know how to use bluegrass instrumentation, though: they'll use fiddle players as if they were steel guitarists and keep the guitars and mandolins to playing riffs, not allowing them to cut loose.
Ricky Skaggs does bring a lot of that pop feel to this record - more so, I think, than on any other of his bluegrass albums. If you want nothing but straight ahead bluegrass, this may be a disappointment to you.
That said, there are many rewards to this CD. Skaggs knows bluegrass and he knows how to turn his musicians loose on the good stuff. Plus there are three (count `em, three!) instrumentals here that make the CD a keeper for me. My candidate for instant classic is "Appalachian Joy." Andy Leftwich kicks it off on the fiddle - it reminds me of the way Kenny Baker kicked off the Monroe instrumentals and brought them to life.
My favorite instrumental flash moments come during the song "Sally Jo." Andy Leftwich again, this time on mandolin, doing three breaks that go from wicked to wickedest and then back to wickeder. Ow! Hot! His fingers just slip and slide like fingers aren't supposed to be able to do. Time to pull out the half-speed tape player and check this out.
On balance a keeper CD and I am sure that some of the pop stuff will grow on me.

This is an excllent effort that reaches back into the roots of Bluegrass music, touching love, life & God. Bluegrass isn't just music to Ricky Skaggs but an expression of who he is and how he feels. Once again, he makes this clear.

"Enjoy the Ride" contrasts with "Sis Draper" moving us from party to church. Instrumentals are something we seldom get but the 3 here are excellent, showcaseing the talent of the band and setting off the songs. "Brand New Strings" is just a joy! If you don't tap your feet, lay down you might be dead! The insturmental "Appalachian Joy" is one of the strongest songs on the CD. Complex and layered, full of sounds it pulls us in to a land of wounder.

All of Skaggs' CDs are worth the price and again we get more than our money's worth.

Brother Ricky and Kentucky Thunder have launched a real winner with this wonderful collection of Bluegrass music. It really covers a lot of ground with a tune for everyone, even though every listener will love all the music on the CD. This album proves to me that God has a real soft spot in his heart for Bluegrass - the underlying theme of hope and promise that runs through this music really grabs you as it humbles you and then lifts your spirit, (and pulse), just like it has to some of us in real life, huh Ricky? Through it all runs that sweet, heart lifting sound of Bluegrass, music rooted deep in the backbone of our country, and who could put it all together in a more "thunderous" knee slappin' package better than Ricky and this incredible band? Get this CD for yourself, and maybe a couple more for those you care about - you won't be sorry.

If you are a Skaggs fan this is a must have. Wonderful choice of songs, and as usual superb musicianship.

While one is never surprised with the one or two (usually) out of place and sub-par "message" songs Ricky likes to throw in each album, the overall lack of passion on this CD is a great surprise and disappointment.

Looking for a first time Skaggs bluegrass purchase? Consider Ancient Tones or Soldiers of the Cross. Both exemplary.

This is an incredible collection of new music and standards done with incredible love and energy. An amazing spectrum of music done by arguably the best overall bluegrass band in the world. Sis Draper is my favorite.

Played this new CD on a recent car trip with my wife. Told her "if someone doesn't like this music, they must need medical attention". Good foot stomping beat with a great mix of vocals and instrumentals