Yonder Mountain String Band

Yonder Mountain String Band

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2006)
• Original Release Date: May 9, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B000F3UABQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,503 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With the chiming opening strains of "Sidewalk Stars" and the propulsion that follows evoking memories of vintage U2, it's plain that Yonder Mountain is up to something a little different with its label debut. Long a concert powerhouse and popular jam band, with a combination of traditional bluegrass instrumentation, eclectic material, and organic improvisation dubbed "jamgrass," the quartet here demonstrates the difference between the demands of the recording studio and the liberation of live performance. Dave Johnston's banjo still drives the music, but the material (with the majority of the cuts under four minutes) depends more on hooks, harmonies, and tight arrangements than instrumental virtuosity. Some of the results suggest a similar spirit to the adventurousness of bluegrass prodigies Nickel Creek, though "How 'Bout You" could pass for an outtake from alt-country avatars Uncle Tupelo. The musical interplay takes flight on the instrumental "Fastball," but it barely lasts more than a minute. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars grows on you like a sweet, psychedelic fungus, July 15, 2006

By	j schlerbs "high in the mountains" (colorado) - See all my reviews

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!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different, but still some great stuff from Yonder! , May 9, 2006

By	YonderWanderer "Dave" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Album of the Year, September 14, 2006

By	Doug Engel "Phish Phry" (Saugerties, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.