Force of Nature

Mountain Heart | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Skaggs Family
• ASIN: B00022LJM4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,192 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mountain Heart is a defining bluegrass voice of our time, May 16, 2004

By 

J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Force of Nature (Audio CD)

In 1998, Mountain Heart formed with Adam Steffey, Steve Gulley, Barry Abernathy, Jimmy Van Cleve and Johnny Dowdle. When Steffey left, Alan Perdue took over mandolin duties. Since their award-winning Gospel album, "The Journey," Steffey returned to the band in 2002. Guitar wizard Clay Jones also joined the band shortly thereafter. Since 2002, Jason Moore has been the band's bass player. What experience and credentials! Guitarist Gulley worked for 15 years at Renfro Valley (a Kentucky music park), and he appears on three albums with Doyle Lawson. Banjo-player Abernathy has picked with Silver Creek, IIIrd Tyme Out, and Doyle Lawson. Fiddler Jimmy Van Cleve has played with Rambler's Choice, Doyle Lawson, Ric-O-Chet, and Lou Reid & Carolina.

In 1999, Mountain Heart released their first album and won IBMA's award for "Emerging Artist of the Year." The group's "No Other Way" album came out on Skaggs Family Records in late 2002. Now, "Force of Nature," continues to showcase their excellent material that is derived from various sources. This is a very professionally presented stellar package of the best in bluegrass music today. It also prominently displays their proficient songwriting abilities. Everyone in the band creatively contributes. Gulley sings "Soldier's Prayer" with convincing emotion, and some pennywhistle in the mix imparts a Celtic flavor to the piece. "Heart Like a Roadsign" is a hustling bluegrass number (about pain, money and sacrifice) that has an intensity that few bluegrass bands can achieve. Abernathy's lead vocal and flashy mountain banjo drive "A Memory Like Mine," a minor-keyed and lonesome tale of the memories left after a dead soldier's return. Steffey sings in a low register and does a decent job with "Twister," as he watches "thirty years of sweat and soil a-dancing through the sky."

Van Cleve wrote the high-geared instrumental, "#6 Barn Dance," and he collaborated with others to pen "Born on the Wind" and "Another Day." Steve Gulley (with Tim Stafford) composed the reflective and nostalgic "Snapshots and Souvenirs" about growing up and life moving on. Mountain Heart also covers Flatt and Scruggs' "The Old Home Town," as well as the contemporary ballad, "Man in the Mirror," about a man trying to come to terms with his lying ways.

Repertoire, arrangements, and musicianship are making Mountain Heart a defining bluegrass voice of our time. Their contemporary stirring sound keeps a foot solidly planted in the traditions of bluegrass while one is pointed to a distinctive sound of the future. The band's goal is to continue the personal bond that they fully embrace. With that cohesion, fans will be rewarded with many more right pert projects like "Force of Nature." (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Stop Listening!!, October 29, 2004

By 

Richard F Hayden (Murrieta, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Force of Nature (Audio CD)

Bought this after listening to 30 second clips and took a chance. I can't stop playing it. I can't even name a favorite though "Another Day", "Life She's Chosen", "With a Memory Like Mine" and "Soldier's Prayer" are tops on the list. The music is so well put together and the vocal blend is so smooth that I wonder how come I haven't heard of them before, come on people, buy it, listen to it and spread the word. This group needs to play around this country and share their vision. We can all benefit from that. I'd give it more stars if they would let me.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Their Best Album Yet!, October 11, 2004

By 

Grassman (East Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Force of Nature (Audio CD)

This band just keeps getting better and better! On this, their latest effort, they broaden the scope of their music with songs about topics in the headlines every day as well as songs true to their mountain roots.Also the addition of Clay Jones adds yet another dimension to the already diverse sound qualities that make up Mountain Heart. The vocals are always first rate, but somehow they seem even tighter and more heartfelt this time around. If you like great bluegrass music without any pre-conceived titles or boundaries then you'll love this CD. It includes traditional as well as contemporary styles of bluegrass while still capturing the Mountain Heart passion and "sound" throughout. A must have for any bluegrass fan or just a fan of great music. Pick this one up!