Live Tracks: Yonder Mountain String Band - Mountain Tracks: Volume 5
April 15th, 2008 - by aeshleman
There’s something about bluegrass, warm sunshine and cold beer that just makes a body feel great to be alive. Together, these ingredients form a feel-good trifecta that compels you to stomp your feet and shout a jubilant yeee-haw to the highest heavens.
Hitting stores today (April 15), Mountain Tracks, Vol. 5
What impresses me most about this album, and YMSB’s music is general, is the amazing percussive quality they achieve without the aid of a drummer. The bouncy bass and the back-beat chirps of the mandolin create plenty of rhythm to get those heads in the audience bobbing. Another cool thing about these guys is the prevalent rock influence that defines their singular style of bluegrass.
While all 24 tracks are definitely good, there are a few that stand out. My favorite part of this collection comes at the opening of disk two, as they transition from “New Horizons” to “East Nashville Easter” and then back to “New Horizons” again.
“New Horizons,” with its driving structure and lyrical poignancy, is my favorite song in the entire collection. “Boatman’s Dance” is a similarly moving song and works well to compliment the “New Horizons” sandwich. These 18 minutes really showcase the band’s improvisational abilities and makes me long to see them live.
On the first disk I like “Nothin’ But Nothin’” the best. This song rages, just dripping with a heavy rock influence. “Boatman’s Dance” is another good track. It’s a funny little dance number that’s sure to get you swinging. I also respond well to rowdier party tracks like “KIng Ebeneezer” and “Death Trip.”
My only criticism is that this CD seems a little too short. I like my live albums to be bursting at the seams with music. It seems to me that they could have packed more. But hey, sometimes short and sweet works just as well.
That aside, this is a great album, one that’s definitely worth picking up even if you’re not really into bluegrass. Yonder Mountain String Band has an appeal that, in my opinion, transcends the bluegrass genre. Their unique style will please fans of country, rock and jam-bands alike. Simply put, these guys rock.
Yonder Mountain String Band - New Horizons
