Customer Reviews

Still Climbing Mountains

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Blue Highway has set the discerning ears among the Bluegrass Faithful on fire in all of their previous 4 recordings, and this all-original project may be their most accomplished yet. I can't think of a single other bluegrass recording which included ONLY songs written by band-members. The composers among Blue Highway have much to be proud of. The melodies are as beautiful as the lyrics are thoughtful. The harmonies are spine-tingling and can there be another band with THREE lead vocalists as good as Shawn Lane, Tim Stafford and Wayne Taylor? The instrumentalists shine as well and to focus on perennial "dobro player of the year" Rob Ickes would be a slight to the equally gifted Lane, Stafford and Burleson. Mr. Taylor's bass anchors the whole ensemble with spectacular solidity.

I've listened to this disc end to end a half dozen times - and now as each tune begins I mentally note "oh... this is a GOOD one", and I realized that EACH one is a "good one".

Well done, Blue Highway. You make Bluegrassers proud.

Once again Blue Highway has put out a very strong recording. Again and again these guys hit home with classic bluegrass material. This effort is a bit different because all of the songs were written by the band. And it stands side by side with their previous projects. Once again, above the bar of most bluegrass bands.

Song after song shows the bands virtuosity. Their harmonies are tight, their instrumentation and timing are right on. This is a band full of individuals who are all stars in their own right but realize that the sum of the band is greater than the indiviudal parts. They work together well and enjoy playing together (obvious if you see them on stage).

There are many outstanding songs on this album, one after another they provide listening enjoyment. But in my opinion they saved the best for last. It is very seldem that a song hits me deep enough to make my cry but "Goodbye For A While" hit a nerve deep inside me. Shawn Lane's voice, in my opinion, is one of the best in bluegrass and I love his vocals. Tim Stafford and Wayne Taylor are fine lead singers in their own right and all three are adept at harmonies.

If you want to know where bluegrass is at today and where it is heading. Pick up this Blue Highway CD.

I had been a bluegrass fan for many years when a friend of mine bought this album for me. I was a little skeptical at first and really didn't give the album a chance. However, after listening to it several times I realized that I had a true classic on my hands.

Blue Highway is an excellent band vocally and musically with powerful original tunes on such terrific tracks as "Still Climbing Mountains", "Union Man", and "Riding the Danville Pike". They aren't as edgy as Del McCoury, but with their smooth vocals and lucid picking you'll find yourself enjoying high quality bluegrass with echoes of the great performers of the past. Don't get me wrong, they can play a burner every now and then too!

It's enough to make you wonder why country radio plays the standard studio musician plus big name vocalist formula anymore when there are bands this talented running around the United States.

I had never even listened to Blue Highway before buying this disc. I had bought everything Alison Krauss&Union Station mates had put out, and I was looking for something fresh and catchy...and boy did I find it! This album has not one song that you'll be skipping. Every song on the album is written by members of the band, and their excellent musicianship along with their tight harmonizing will surely hook you and make you call yourself a "Blue Highway Fan"...honestly.

I just got to see these guys on 11-15-02 in Louisville, Ky. They were 2nd on the bill with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. Blue Highway was the reason that I went to the concert, though. I had heard Midnight Storm and loved it! They performed several of the songs on Still Climbing Mountains at the concert and I bought the CD there that night listening to it on the way home. It's as good as, or better than, Midnight Storm and these guys are great. Unlike most bluegrass recordings, this CD's material is ALL ORIGINAL! Tim Stafford (guitar and vocals), Wayne Taylor (bass and vocals), and Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle, and vocals), are among the best songwriters and singers in the business. So smooth and blending so well. The vocals, the playing, Rob Ickes and that dobro. Cut #2, Monrobro, written by Ickes, showcases his talent and writing ability on a tune dedicated to Bill Monroe. And don't overlook Jason Burleson and that driving banjo. Just listen to Riding the Danville Pike or Buck Hill, which was written by Jason, for a taste of his talent. There's also a couple of great gospel songs in Mountain of the Lord, by Stafford, and Seventh Angel, by Lane. The only thing I miss on this particular CD is that there's no "a cappela" numbers. This in no way, though, detracts from the greatness of this disk. Blue Highway is quite the Bluegrass band!!

Blue Highway has long been a favorite group of mine and this long-awaited follow-up to their Blue Highway album is a cherished piece of music. With a tight sound, great vocal and musical ability, and the creative talents in the band, this group has once again proved themselves. All songs from this album are original material. Anyone who loves bluegrass music, will love this album. BUY IT!

During a visit to Seattle a few months ago, I was browsing in Holy Cow Records in the Pike Place Market and happened to come across this disc. At, first, I was attracted to the pretty cool album cover design, but as I looked through the liner notes I decided to give it a try. This record totally blew me away- I've been a longtime fan of Allison Krauss & US, John Hartford, etc. and Blue HIghway is certainly in the same league. Most suprising (as other reviewers have noted) is that "Still Climbing Mountains" is all original music and is proof that the members of Blue Highway are great songwriters as well as great musicians. Standout tracks are the title cut, "Only A Thought Away", and the impressive fiddle work on "Uncle Fred". This is by far one of the best blugrass recordings of the '00s.

Blue Highway has become one of those great, top-flight bluegrass bands where each album is so good that you feel a little silly trying to differentiate it from ther other releases. Yeah... maybe they're getting a little slicker and softer, but the core of their sound is still quite traditional-sounding and the picking is sweet. Most impressive is the fact that all the material on this album is original, written by various members of the band. Old fans won't be disappointed; new ones may be surprised. Good stuff.

Many members of this band have rubbed shoulders with the likes of Alison Krauss & Union Station (in a class by themselves), The Cox Family, Doyle Lawson, Ricky Skaggs (one of my all-time favorites), Larry Sparks...musicians from Tennessee are "Still Climbing Mountains", leaving a trail of satisified fans.

Each musician is a top-notch individual ~ Tim Stafford (guitar/vocals)...Shawn Lane(fiddle/guitar/mandolin/vocals)...Wayne Taylor(bass/vocals)...Rob Ickes(dobro/Wabash Avenue guitar/vocals)...Jason Burleson(banjo/guitar), all in all, they leave no stone unturned...when the spotlight comes on, they're spreading the word through Gospel, Contemporary and Traditional Bluegrass...each track with close harmony...just listen to "MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD", an inspiriational tune from the good book written by Tim Stafford, very touching with shades of a small church in the valley.

The highlights are ~ "THE SEVENTH ANGEL(introduction)" and "THE SEVENTH ANGEL", mesmirizing and peaceful as Shawn on vocal is joined by Alison Krauss in beautiful harmony, the music and lyrics are straight from them "Golden-Gates".

Total Time: 41:11 on 14 Tracks ~ Rounder Records 11661-0489-2 ~ (2001)

We are lucky to live in a time when a new generation of musicians are exploring new frontiers of acoustic music. These guys are on the cutting edge of the frontier. I consider myself a decent critic of all genres. I have seen the Dead, Led Zeppelin, Tull, ZZ Topp, Stevie Ray, Willie, Buffet, Dylan and Clapton. I have heard the great Miles Davis. I have seen the NY Philharmonic with Bernstein. The neoacoustic bluegrass genre exemplified by this cd is by far the best I have ever heard anywhere. Blue Highway has proven Plato right when he said there is a perfect form.