It's truly exciting when a new group makes a debut album that's just about perfect in every way --this band will have an unenviable task in trying to equal this recording in the future, but meanwhile we have a piece here that should thrill every lover of driving. cutting-edge, tradition-based Bluegrass. The group is led by guitarist Tim Stafford, formerly of Dusty Miller and Alison Krauss' band. He is joined by Rob Ickes on dobro, Shawn Lane on fiddle & mandolin, Wayne Taylor on bass & Jason Burleson on banjo. What makes the album exceptional is powerful vocals by not one but two superb lead singers --Taylor & Lane --plus an unusually fine selection of songs. Taylor's soulful singing on LONESOME PINE, BEFORE THE COLD WIND BLOWS and the title song is a knockout, and Lane's lovely work on BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAIN GIRL, GRAVEL YARD and an unusual but very effective choice --Ewan MacColl's ENGLAND'S MOTORWAY --is equally impressive. With Stafford & Ickes also adding solid vocal parts this is a band that can hold its own anywhere. Fine performances of Stanley's SAY WON'T YOU BE MINE, Stafford's FARMER'S BLUES, a couple of good instrumentals and a neat rendition of Norman Blake's LORD WON'T YOU HELP ME fill out a wonderfully solid album --one that's already been played here more than any other disc so far this year.
