Customer Reviews

Yonder Mountain String Band

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

 

 

First of all, let me say that I fully didn't expect to like this CD. I've seen these guys many, many times since the September 2001 Kinfolk shows in Boulder, fell in love with their music, think Jeff is the best front man going (at least as long as Vince Herman and Salmon are on...hiatus. Bout time to crank it back up again isn't it boys - how long are you going to torture us?) and we're homies. I love the straight forward, no frills, rockin', slammin' bluegrass and I justa didn'ta want no drums dagnab it! And Pop music?!? That'd just be downright blasphemous!

I was on their website looking up tour dates and had my computer speakers on. They have a streaming jukebox that plays every song all the way through and so I listened. Then I listened again...and again...and again. Then I knew amost every word to every song - especially "Troubled Mind" which I first heard at the StageStop in Rollinsville a few years ago (I told Ben that it sounded like a song that had been around a hundred years - he correctly took that as a compliment). But I knew all the other ones too. I loved it. I hardly ever, ever listen to studio music due to the fine people at etree, cotapers, and tapers.org - but I couldn't stop listening.

I definitely have to agree with the earlier reviewer who said that Dave REALLY stands out on this CD. From "Angel" - a great song to play when you're P O'd at your girl - to "Just the Same", to "Fastball" to the absolutely haunting "Winds On Fire" - with Adam killing the slide - Dave just flat out takes it to a new level!

And the poppy, drum polluted "How 'Bout You" may be a new anthem along the lines of "Keep on Going". The drums sound so good with the banjer - sweet Jesus I'm converted!! Filled with great arrangements, vocally perfect, musically groundbreaking songs...it's a CD that you'll listen to over and over and over. These guys are great musicians, smart as hell, and not afraid to take chances. Not all of them have worked in the past - but this one does BIG TIME!!

This album, while much more polished and focused than previous album, is really, really good. The songs are tight and the band sounds as though its really playing as a collective. The focus here isn't on jamming, and its not even really on bluegrass, but more on the songwriting and arrangements. The addition of drums on a few songs takes their sound even further, and proves that Yonder is much more versatile than one might expect. They typically get lumped into the jamgrass genre, but this cd proves they are much more than that.

Having recently been introduced to this YMSB, this is their most accessible album to date and a brilliant work of bluegrass/alternative rock fusion. Their long-time fans may be disappointed with the transition away from classic bluegrass but so were Dylan's fans when he played electric guitar for the first time. Run and get this album and you'll see for youself.

Yonder Mountain was my favorite band until this album came out, which is their ONLY bad album. Although I used to travel to see them, I haven't bothered to even see them in my home town the last couple times they came because this album is so disgraceful. This album made me wonder whether they would be DMB or John Mayer on their next album, seriously. I was so dissappointed when I heard this over-produced, compressed crap that isn't even their style of writing. With that said, I think they're realizing that this album was a messup and because it was their worst album, they are heading back to their roots a little and got rid of that record company. Now that a couple years have passed, I'm slowly giving them a chance again, and they're winning, as long as their shows don't sound like this pop-rock crap album.

As a set of songs go, this album by Yonder Mountain String Band should have been solid. Instead, it is ruined by painfully poor production by Tom Rothrock, using many electronic effects and shrill tones that ruin a number of songs.

The first example comes out of the gate, the otherwise nice "Sidewalk Stars", which works well live. However, bassist Ben Kaufman's vocals are processed to the point it feels like a sheer drone; robbing the song of the emotion it deserves. Same case for "Angel", which should have been an album centerpiece, but again its heavily compressed electronic effects used becomes an instant liability.

The best songs represented on the album are "Haven't Been Myself In Years" and "Troubled Mind", because those tracks have the least amount of compression.

What's sad is that YMSB opted to use the same producer for the next album, The Show. Again, the results were only scratching the surface of its potential, and the results are strictly because of the poor production.

If you buy this CD, strictly do so to support the band. You are better off downloading numerous shows from archive.org or purchasing a recent soundboard from livedownloads.com.

Please, YMSB -- use a producer with real vision and a real *ear* the next time you enter the studio.

By far one the most played albums I own. I love love love this album. If you think you like bluegrass or want to start liking it, check these dudes out. By far the best in young blugerass right now. The album is great from start to end. Not a bad track on it. It may take a listen or two to get into it, but after my second listen I couldn't stop singing, and still dont stop singing these songs.

Buy this album, then buy a live album. Then go to a show. There is NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING like seeing these boys live. Top notch all the way, dance your arse off fun!

This is only my second foray into YMSB, the other being Mountain Tracks 3. I've also been fortunate to see them live...once...and that experience is what really sold me on this group of young musicians. I downloaded this album just this evening then took off for my nightly walk. Loved it all. Great jamming, wonderful harmony, and the intensity seemed to improve my speed per hour!
The only weak sister here, if there is one, would be the song Classic Situation on track 8 though all the others are very strong. For only $10 give it a shot, I highly recommend, and make it a point to see them live whenever the chance arrives. Lar.

I have followed these guys for some years now and they are always pushing the bar for what is considered bluegrass and I have always enjoyed the ride. This albulm seems to be a bit over produced and some of the rough edges that make me like them are lost. There are a few good tunes but overall I would say go and see them live for the true YMSB vibe.

"Sidewalk Stars" is wonderful song, and unlike what YMSB is (or was) about. "Troubled Mind" is another great bluegrass song by them. And so this release straddles rock/jam with blasts of bluegrass. Not sure what there isn't to like, it won't be liked by those who don't like acts stretching, or who dislike anything that isn't bluegrass or acoustic. But those who like to adventure and those who like to ramble will listen and say: "Let them go".

Sorry, "Frmertd" (please don't ask me to try and pronounce that!), I have to disagree with your review wholeheartedly. I respect that you're a musician yourself, love bluegrass and play the banjo, but if you really did play this disc once and then throw it away, I hope you threw it in the direction of someone who could appreciate it. Perhaps you're a bit too set in your ways and traditionalist to really dig this album, but in my view, it's great.

True, it doesn't sound a whole lot like earlier YMSB material. It's a bit more commercial, or "radio friendly" (although these days, in today's radio wasteland it's hard to imagine many stations that would actually play it-- if only KPIG from the Santa Cruz area could be in every market! But I degress...). The point is that it sounds a bit more newgrass than bluegrass, more Railroad Earth than traditional Yonder. But that's ok, I happen to like Railroad Earth. And the fact that these guys are going in a different direction on this album doesn't mean that it isn't quality music. In fact, it's pretty terrific stuff, extremely well played and anything but "boring".

The truth be told, Yonder Mountain String Band was never really a traditional bluegrass band to begin with. If this album isn't for you, then that's ok. But to dismiss it as boring and essentially worthless simply because it's not like their earlier music is selling it very short and does a real disservice to the music, the band, and to all of those who would really love this and now might not buy it based solely upon your negative review.

In short, if you love newgrass and/or good country-rock, this should be very high on your "to buy" list. No, it's not bluegrass, as such. What it is, is some very fine music-- and I for one highly recommend it.