Family
Roundly considered the best bluegrass act on the circuit today, the Del McCoury Band gained this reputation first by mastering their craft, as they ably demonstrate here (try the fiery instrumental "Red Eyes on a Mad Dog" for melodic intricacy), and by staying true to traditional stylistic execution. But they also update the music and reach out to a broad audience by occasionally straying from the well-trod path of oft-covered favorites. The inclusion here of songs such asJohn Sebastian's "Nashville Cats" continues this custom, while a rousing version ofBill Monroe's classic "Get Down on Your Knees and Pray" plus songs fromJimmy MartinandJohnnie & Jackare sure to please the sticklers. On song after song, the fiddles fly, the voices soar, and the high lonesome keeps callin'. Play on...--Alexandra Russell