Customer Reviews

Howlin at the Moon

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What an incredible record! It's not bluegrass, it's not country, though it contains huge slabs of both as launching points. Some of the best mandolin playing you've ever heard, and some fine fiddle work too. What is more, the songs are good, and extremely well-performed. Several cuts on this will remind you of the Grateful Dead (with Zen thought to the forefront) and even (yes, it's meant to be a compliment) The Eagles, when they had a clue. Best thing I've heard in months!

The only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because I tend to be stingy with them. This is a very good CD that anyone who has seen Sam live or listened to his music will enjoy over and over again. He is to bluegrass what Hank Williams Jr, Charlie Daniels & Johnny Paycheck were to country. Outlaws! But Sam is an outlaw that has the chops of the best in the business on the mandolin and his fabulous fiddle playing is constantly overlooked.

This CD is full of many good songs but the one that sticks out the most is the title cut, "Howlin' At The Moon". What an outstanding song musically, and his message here is what life is all about.

A very good CD from a master of bluegrass - buy it, enjoy it.

I saw Sam perform this past February on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. As with Sonny Landreth, who shares the same label as Bush, I was blown away at his talent. (You know, the jaw-dropping kind of awe that you feel during an awesome live performance.) His music is unique. You can't place it in any particular genre, I am reminded of Marshall Tucker's mellow music, the Grateful Dead's music (the good stuff only---sorry Deadheads), Grandpa Jones and include the soulful, upbeat lyrical style of Keb' Mo. One last comparison, his voice reminds me of John Denver's for his range, but stronger in style.

The guy even plays a slide on a mandolin... way too cool on "Face Tomorrow".
"Funk 42" has Bela Fleck adding his own unique touch on the Banjo and later on, another instrumental titled "Harbor Docks".

All in all, a great CD, I'm hooked and you will be too at this new fresh approach to playing the mandolin.

A+++++++++++++!!!!!

Sam Bush's latest CD. "Howlin' at the Moon," is far superior to "Glamour and Grits." The instrumentals are wonderful, especially those with Jerry Douglas and Bela Fleck. Sam is not the world's greatest vocalist; he tries hard, though, and his enthusiasm shows. Many of the songs have a lyrical theme of "life is short, so enjoy it now." While I like the premise behind "Crossing the Transippi (person singing a second violin part)," the usually-irritating John Cowan manages to sound like a cross between Micky Thomas of Starship and Brad Delp of Boston. Get this guy out of bluegrass and into a rock band! Overall, an enjoyable recording.

For those of you who really miss Newgrass Revival and the seminal work they produced during their tenure, Sam Bush is back with a really outstanding collection of new tunes. The musicianship and selection of cuts is outstanding, and I have not been able to liberate the disc from my CD player for several weeks now... Recommended for all Sam Bush and Newgrass fans; this is one of his best efforts.

This will always be one of my favorites. I am especially fond of Howlin' At The Moon and Song for Roy. Sam's energetic playing makes me feel energized as I'm driving along listening to this work of art. Thanks, Sam!

There is no one that does it like Sam Bush...If he's making music, it's always worth a listen!

This is a pretty solid CD. It's tough to say too much about the music without either fawning or flaming. Even so, the time you spend listening is time well spent. That also applies to Sam's most recent CD.

Incidentally, I used to hear some fairly catty remarks about John when he played with New Grass Revival. I particularly remember them playing a free show at the Barren County fair in about 1977 or so. My granddad overheard some of the same comments. His response: Please shut up so the rest of us can enjoy the show.