Blind Man Walking
This quintet that refers to itself as C-Sky represents a formidable addition to the progressive bluegrass brigade, combining a deep respect for tradition ("Never Been So Blue," in tribute to Bill Monroe) with expansive instrumental interplay (the complex time shifts of "Neighborhood Bully's Long Look in the Mirror").  Yet what most distinguishes the band is the strength and range of its songwriting, much of it by mandolinist-vocalist Bryan Simpson (whose material has been recorded by George Strait and Gretchen Wilson, among others). Whether telling the story of a convict who can't learn from his mistakes in "You Again," exploring the spiritual dimensions of the title track and the call-and-response "Sinners Welcome," or turning more playful on the over-caffeinated "Insomniac Blues for Matthew" and the picaresque romp of "Can't Trust the Weatherman," the songs extend the realm of bluegrass possibility. And the tight harmonies of "Motel Morning" show the band's vocal blend at its best.--Don McLeese