Life in a Song
On their label debut for Rounder, this Ohio-spawned quartet sticks closer to bluegrass tradition than many of the young progressive upstarts. Soaring harmonies, strong original material, and sprightly instrumental interplay distinguish the group's music, though NewFound Road has broadened its base beyond the gospel that it formed to play. An a cappella "When I Get Home" attests to the group's spiritual side, while the instrumental "No Clue" showcases impressive chops. Other highlights include a banjo-and-mandolin-driven transformation of "Before the Next Teardrop Falls," a huge fit for Freddy Fender; an acoustic  revival of Ray Charles's "Leave My Woman Alone"; and a version of Tom T. Hall's "A Picture of Your Mother" that wrings from it every drop of pathos.--Don McLeese