Customer Reviews

Force of Nature

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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)

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.

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!

This record is one of the most professional and exciting bluegrass productions I've come across in years.
It bears an extra quality stamp: it was produced by Ricky Skaggs,
who also plays additional guitars and banjo. The disc offers a wealth of haunting melodies, impassionate yet precise playing and heartfelt lyrics. The harmony singing and the fiery fiddle-playing throughout are worth the price of the whole album. A very varied record with changes of pace and of musical textures. The first song (Heart Like A Roadsign) and the fourth one (With a Memory Like Mine) are two of the most powerful traditional songs recorded in recent years. The lyrics are well worth listening to carefully. With their themes of patriotism, family values and Christian faith they express convictions very close to Ricky Skaggs's own, a very American view of the world that I as a foreigner (a European) admire very much.

From the first note this CD is hard driving. Not a track we didn't like. This is a very talented bunch of musicians and should be seen live if at all possible.

WE heard Soldiers Prayer that this group sings and wanted the cd. I'm glad because there are other songs to enjoy on this cd.

This is one of my favorite albums I have ever listened to. It is one of those that actually gets better every single time you play it. The disappointing reviews given by other reviewers simply revolve around the basis of the album not being "traditional bluegrass"- that is not all bad in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I like traditional bluegrass- but let's be honest here: traditional bluegrass never really took firm root by today's standards because all of the songs sounded the same and you grow tired of, or at the very least yearn for something more, listening to the same timing and monotone keyed harmonies. If you understand what I mean, buy this album (or even if you don't understand it buy it) and you will learn why this band is setting the standard for the modern bluegrass revival.

This band has precision, polish, professionalism, excellent timing, vocal harmonies and fire that are unequaled in the music industry today. I repeat- try this album and reward yourself. I will even go as far to say that whenever I listen to this band the clouds part and it actually makes life wonderful no matter what the gloomy situation may be. Very lofty accolades I know, but it happens everytime I play it.

I have taken this to work and shared it with my co-workers and one of them told me that he has since cleaned out his entire CD storage area in his vehicle because this is the only CD he wants to listen to anymore!!!!

Buy this CD and if you don't like it I also guarantee their will always be someone that will want to buy it from you- you can't go wrong. This is one of those deals that is what you might call a "no-brainer".

Spread the word about this great band so that others may have the privilege of enjoying them as well. Have you seen the movie "Pay It Forward"? Share this album and it will make people feel good without it costing you a cent. ENJOY!!

I saw these guys live in Telluride this summer (2005), and they were amazing. So I bought the CD, and it is vastly different from what I heard. In my opinion, the songs on this CD are closer to country than real bluegrass. I gave the CD to a friend who also loved their Telluride set, and he just gave it back to me without even listening to the whole thing. Don't bother with this one if you are looking for bluegrass!

I saw this band in concert opening up for George Jones last year and I rushed out and bought the cd only to be disappointed. On their cd they don't play the same energetic truegrass that they did in their show. I reccomend buying one of their older albums instead of this one. This Album is far too watered down for a true bluegrass fan's taste.