Balsam Range

I recently added this Balsam Range album to my collection based on an Amazon.com recommendation. When you make a purchase they're set up to email you recommendations based on your preferences. I've found this a handy way to learn of new and /or unfamiliar music. While new to me, Balsam Range has been around for a few years. They have recently come to the attention of the IBMA with a nomination for emerging artist last year and 3 nominations this year for emerging artist, album of the year and song of the year with a win for song of the year for the title track of their newest album "Trains I Missed". This group is a five man band consisting of Marc Pruett (Banjo), Caleb Smith (Guitar), Darren Nicholson (Mandolin), Tim Surrett (Bass) and Buddy Melton (Fiddle). Their instrumental work can be fiery or tender and everything in between, but always first rate. Vocals are handled by all members with the exception of Marc Pruett. "Trains I Missed" features Buddy Melton doing an excellent job singing lead. One of the coolest things about Balsam Range is that while being a top flight Bluegrass band, their sound bridges both Blugrass and country resulting in music that can appeal to a much wider audience than typical Bluegrass groups such as The Del McCoury Band. Nothing against Del McCoury, I personally think he's great, but his audience isn't typical country. The title track, "Trains I Missed" is my personal favorite of all cuts. I'm a little less enthused about their Bluegrass gospel numbers, but everything else on the album is outstanding. I've decided to adopt a 5 star rating system for the albums I review and will plan on rating all formerly reviewed albums in my next installment. Rating for this album:

3.5 Stars

Here's  a live performance of "Trains I Missed":

Stephanie Mabey

I shoulda gotten onto this sooner, but it's still a good idea. Help Stephanie Mabey get her new album released. I loved her last week at the Rooftop Concert. Just click on her name at the top of this post to go to her website. Then follow the instructions. Don't you love creative ways to use the internet? This girl's on top of it!

The Lower Lights

I attended the last "Rooftop" concert of the season in Provo last night. I've attended 3 out of the 7 that were held this year. This one took place during the first real cold snap of the fall. The rain and cold probably kept people home. It was less well attended than the other 2 and was probably the smallest audience all year. It's been a great series. Hats off to C-Jane and her cohorts! I probably should have attended more, but you can't be everywhere and do everything you'd like to! The one last night featured a group known as "The Lower Lights'. I've been vaguely aware of "The Lower Lights" and had looked forward to seeing them perform for some time now. I wasn't sure about them and hoped to determine an opinion by seeing them live. Before I go on any more about "The Lower Lights" let me say that the opening acts were worth the effort to be there. First off was Stephanie Mabey. Her "Zombie" song was a huge hit. Super fun and funny. Next up was Dustin Christensen. He was promoting his new cd and his performance featured many songs from it. He has a rather country vibe and was very good. Enjoyed him a lot. So then "The Lower Lights" came on as the main attraction. Dustin and his band literally grew into "The Lower Lights" as he and his band mates are integral parts of that larger group and were engulfed as the full group came on stage. Their mission statement claims to approach hymns from a reverent as well as a celebratory angle. Seems a tough pitch to make and at least for me they didn't totally succeed in bridging the secular and the sacred. I used to watch the TV variety show called "Hootenany". It brought to the small screen many of the folk artists of the day and was based on the concept of a hootenany which is the word for a jam session in the folk world. I came away from last night thinking I'd just experienced a hootenanny. Pete Seeger would approve! It was a fun approach to gospel and spiritual tunes; less likeable when applied to hymns that to me require a more reverential approach. Not all LDS people are going to appreciate what they're doing. Personally, I have nothing against making hymns more accessible, I just didn't care for them twanging them up. Gladys Knight has been doing her best to loosen up the LDS approach to music in similar fashion. I don't disagree with the concept, I just didn't enjoy the way the "The Lower Lights' did it. Their first number, "Wade in the Water", featuring Debra Fotheringham soloing was probably the number I enjoyed best. That's unfortunate, because that means the balance of the program went down hill from there. I wanted to like Hank Williams "House of Gold" but one of the male principles went into a revivalist impression that to my mind was ill advised and ruined it for me. This group is going to be viewed as representing the LDS community, whether they like it or not, and that sort of parody won't endear us to the Protestant world. So, unfortunately, they may be annoying both LDS members and non members!  BYU TV was filming last night. I hope they edit out the parts that could be taken wrong. I'm probably not going to become a huge fan. That being said, they seem to have developed a loyal following, and I wish them well. I love many of these artists doing their own thing. I loved them less in this context but I'm an old fogey, so take my opinion with a grain of salt and make up your own mind! Check out the following video (which I actually like!) and look them up on Youtube. There are many samples of their work out there.



I was also annoyed that they didn't introduce the group. There are so many of them that it probably would have taken more time than they wanted. I therefore can't credit too many of them because I'm unfamiliar with most of them. It did seem unfair that Debra Fotheringham wasn't credited for the role she played last night. She did a number of solos and superb back up work. Also Ryan Shupe sat in with them last night and not a peep was said about him.