Customer Reviews

Family

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

 

 

The Del McCoury Band is a force to be reckoned with! Anyone that thinks traditional bluegrass is stale should hear these guys! As much as I love newgrass (Bela Fleck, Sam Bush) and slamgrass (Leftover Salmon) this is the real thing. They even play around a stading microphone in concert. McCoury's voice is one in a million...the best bluegrass voice I've ever heard. This album is smoking from start to finish. From the opening gallop of "A Far Cry" to the good humour and strut of "Nashville Cats" to the Bill Monroe classic "Get Down On Your Knees and Pray" this album covers all things great about bluegrass. Great playing, great singing, songs about real life, humor, and songs you wouldn't be afraid to let your kids hear. Its true family music (Del's two sons are in the group.)

Guitar, violin, bass, banjo & mandolin = true bluegrass perfection.

The fiery instrumental "Red Eyes on a Mad Dog" will almost make you tired just sitting there. I don't typically like to go overboard with superlatives, but this is just the way it should be!

Buy this immediately, you won't be sorry.

Del McCoury has such a unique and powerful voice. And these songs showcase just how good he can be. In addition, the band, with sons Rob and Ronnie, is faultless. There are some great bluegrass bands out there, but these guys may be the best. And Ronnie could well be the world's most talented madolin player.

There is not a bad song on the CD, but their version of "Nashville Cats" followed by Bill Monroe's "Get Down on Your Knees and Pray" is a notable high point. There is so much life, love and passion coming from every voice and every instrument. So, like the image on the disk suggests, lets raise our glasses and toast a living ledgend of bluegrass... Ladies and Gentlemen... Del McCoury.

After listening to this cd several times,I have concluded that it is similar to all of Del's cd's-pretty darn good.Red Eyes On a Mad Dog is an excellent song featuring Ronnie McCoury on mandolin.This cd(as most of Del's cd's) includes good deathgrass songs like Henry Walker.I have seen this band live on several occasions and believe that anyone who sees this band will leave with a smile on their face wandering when they will be able to see another show.The only thing keeping this band from "stardom" is the lack of exposure because ther is NO better band in the WORLD.Bill is smiling in heaven with the direction this band has taken bluegrass.

Forget about Eric Clapton; Del McCoury and his sons are music's God incarnate!!! On stage, they work through a sole microphone, and it's pure ballet! They never miss a note---instrumental, nor vocal, and Del's "high,lonesome" sound is at least comparaable to, if not better than, Master Monroe's. This CD,as well as "The Cold Hard Facts", "A Deeper Shade of Blue", and "The Blue Shade of Town" are all top-shelf. Check out the murder ballads, especially "Henry Walker"! They all take me home to Harlan County, KY!!!

This record is fantastic. I believe it is as strong as the band's last couple of efforts, which are great, and can't imagine it rating any less than 5 stars. The band is in marvelous form. It's all here, great melodies, outstanding musicianship, daring and interesting song selections, beautiful vocal harmonies. The songs range from hard-driving to stirring and soulful, and are always quality performances. Plus, nobody puts the blue in bluegrass like Del McCoury. The music is true and pure and should and send a chill up your spine more than once. This record is a home run from the best band in bluegrass.

This is truly a great bluegrass cd.Buy this one,stick it in the cd player and take a ride with Del and the boys you want forget.I promise you will find it hard to take out! My fav's are back slidin blues and Nashville cats.5 Stars*****

Folks, if you like Del music, this one is gonna knock your socks off...or your vocal cords hoarse. Pure, classic, tight McCoury harmony and instrument work makes this one the best one since...well...the last CD!

The Family (why they keep listing it as "Family" I don't know) is truly a modern bluegrass classic. With the range of its compositions, the precise execution of the McCoury boys and the genuine emotion pouring from each track, The Family matches and even surpasses the best bluegrass recorded to this day. I find it strange that not too many people have latched on to what a perfectly balanced and exquisite piece of music "A Far Cry" is. I would like to nominate it as the new state song for Virginia. As for "City Of Stone," it is as moving a song of soul-searching and redemption as you will hear in any genre---not to mention a clever metaphor. The only thing that can top listening to this disc is seeing The Del McCoury Band live.

This was a long time coming. After Del's previous two hot releases I was sure this would at least match them in intensity. If you are a true Del fan, you'll want this if only for a couple of tracks. Perhaps they were out of breath after the effort with Steve Earle.

Best dang show I have ever seen. Steve Earle and the boys at the Variety Playhouse left a scar. Run, don't walk, to see these fellows. Drive to Tennessee if you have to. You'll be glad you did.