About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

The Grascals have created an album that states the pure beauty of the music. While the band?s only been together less than a year, they sound like as seasoned as a band can get with tight harmonies and instrumental prowess. This is one heck of a debut album.



Pros

• "Leavin?s Heavy On My Mind"
• "Me And John And Paul"
• "Where Corn Don?t Grow?

Cons

• Not for most country/pop fans.

Description

• A nice mix of traditional and newly written songs.

• Produced by The Grascals.
• Released by Rounder Records.

Guide Review - The Grascals - The Grascals

Modern bluegrass music has been inspired by two main influences. The legendary bluegrass pickers like Bill Monroe and more ?recent? popular music (which includes mainstream country music). New bluegrass ?super group? the Grascals definitely showcase both influences on their sleeves. The Grascals are lead & harmony vocalist/rhythm guitarist Terry Eldredge, vocalist Jamie Johnson (who sings the leads on 3 tracks) Banjo expert David Talbot (who also sings harmony vocals), Terry Smith on bass Danny Roberts on mandolin and perhaps the most well-known of the Grascals, fiddle player Jimmy Mattingly, a featured member of both Garth Brooks and Steve Wariner?s bands in the 1990?s.

As for the group?s self-titled album, it?s a fine amalgam of traditions and modern country lyrical tomes. There are the traditional bluegrass tracks like ?My Saro Jane,? ?Sally Goodin? and the classic hymn ?Sweet By And By,? and more recently written songs like the Harley Allen penned ?Me and John and Paul? and ?Teardrops in My Eyes.? There?s also a couple cover tracks, most notably the fun and lively first single ?Viva Las Vegas.? As a special treat Dolly Parton contributes guest vocals on the song.

"Where Corn Don't Grow" was a hit for Travis Tritt but is refreshingly different on this CD.

Each of the 13 tracks on ?The Grascals? is a winner with the songs mentioned above standing out. Particularly impressive are the instrumentals and instrumental breaks in songs like ?Teardrops.?