Uncut Grass

Since the passing of Bob Paisley in 2004, his son Danny Paisley, has carried on with “The Southern Grass,” a great traditional bluegrass band that first began performing in the early eighties. In the past twenty years Danny Paisley has managed to preserve his father's heritage, while at the same time evolving with his very own unique style. For me, this new record is the peak so far for Danny Paisley, and it's rightfully titled “Bluegrass Troubadour”.

With Bobby Lundy playing the bass, Mark Delaney on banjo, Matt Hooper on fiddle and son Ryan Paisley playing the mandolin, Danny Paisley has led the band into this new decade without giving up anything the band has stood for the last forty years. But what is more, he established a new, recognizable style of singing and arranging the songs he chooses.

The new album features new songs from Eric Gibson, Robert Amos and Brink Brinkman, as well as traditionals like “Eat At The Welcome Table,” standards like “Forty Years Of Trouble,” or Charlie Poole's “May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister”. One of the highlights for me is the rolling “I'd Rather Live By The Side Of The Road,” by Albert E. Brumley. It perfectly suits the vibe of the band, and Danny's singing, as well as his known love for gospel tunes.

Also worth mentioning is the original instrumental written by Ryan Paisley, an up-tempo mandolin theme called “Fancy Gap Runaway” - it sure makes you want to hike in Virginia!

The previous album, “That's Why I'm Lonesome” on Tom Mindte's Patuxent Music was already one of my favorites in 2018. But this amazing record is so complete and shows such maturity. The Bluegrass Troubadour seems to have been here forever and is here to stay.

Reviewed by:
Severin Theinert for
Uncut Grass
June 2021

So far everything released by Engelhardt Music Group and Adam Engelhardt has been absolute high-class bluegrass. The label has established an outstanding roster of artists, and also a great production team and an all-star studio band. At the same time they manage to really crystallize the particularities of each and every artist they are recording with, pushing their individual sounds and styles to their highest peak.

So, it's almost no surprise that this self-titled album by Tina Adair is simply fantastic. Starting off with the first single “Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses.” It's a perfect bluegrass song, a good love story with an upbeat tempo driven by the banjo – a story that’s uplifting and lonesome at the same time it sets the mark for the entire album.

Tina has previously recorded some solo projects. First in 1997 on Sugar Hill Records with “Just You Wait And See” and then “Born Bad” in 2013. But to most of us she is better known for her work with the fabulous Sister Sadie. And of course last year's project together with Dale Ann Bradley, 'Oh Darlin'. One might wonder, what more can this world-class singer reach for. Well, just go and listen to this new record to hear for yourself.

The excellent opener is followed by the amazing track 'Room 404' written by Tammy Rogers. Let me put it this way: Tina nails it. She delivers her powerful but still gentle voice throughout and you hear her years of experience shine through. The song is carried by the stellar band including, Cody Kilby and Pat McGrath on guitar, Casey Campbell on mandolin, the great Scott Vestal on banjo, Rob Ickes on dobro, Dennis Crouch on bass and Tim Crouch playing the fiddle. Tina plays some mandolin herself on the record as well and her vocals are accompanied by harmonies from: Garnet Imes Bowman, Ronnie Bowman, Vicki Hampton, Robert Bailey and Wes Hightower.

Ronnie Bowman also contributed a song, track three, “Still Got A Long Way To Go.” This is a smooth Bowman song with a deep emotional feel to it. Directly followed by the hard-driving, sassy single, “Won't Be Crying Over You”. Tina co-wrote this gem with her Sister Sadie partner Gena Britt. That might be the reason for this rocking banjo theme? Scott Vestal gives you shivers every time he kicks in.

Alright, before I lose myself in superlatives, maybe you get the picture. This record is really good. Be sure to check out track five 'Why You Been Gone So Long' by Mickey Newbury. First played by Johnny Darrell in 1969 it really seems like it's been waiting all these years just for Tina and this band to come and pick it up and give it it's true sound and place in the world.

I will stop now. Just take my advice and go get this record. Trust me when I say, you can put your ear on anything Tina Adair is involved with and be musically satisfied.

Reviewed by:
Severin Theinert for
Uncut Grass
May 2021

Rachel Baiman has come a long way and her work is absolutely worth mentioning. She embodies everything that I love about music. Rachel has got a musical history and background where she draws from for a beautiful voice that goes deep and her ability to write a song. But most of all, she has the heart to evolve and reinvent herself with each new project she releases.

As I am usually writing about more bluegrass leaning records, I couldn't help but feel honored to be asked by Signature Sound Recordings if I would like to write a review about this new Rachel Baiman record called “Cycles”.

I have followed Rachel Baiman's recordings since 2015, when she was with the progressive bluegrass duo “10 String Symphony,” along with fiddle player Christian Sedelmyer. This is where she came from: old-time fiddle music. But even back then, she had already begun to shine with a contemporary interpretation. Baiman has a sophisticated sense of material choices and a great talent for writing her own original songs as well.

The new record seems like the logical next step in Rachel Baiman's career. She has recorded in the home country of her partner George Jackson, in Australia. And again, Josh Oliver, of Mandolin Orange is on board. Like with the last record “Shame,” produced by Andrew Marlin, where he and Oliver contributed almost all of the instrumentation. This time, Rachel Baiman has added some top notch artists from down under. Included on “Circles” are Olivia Hally, Bree Hartley and Cy Winstanley. Together they navigate the music on the record across the borders of old-time, folk and Americana, into an edgier region of Australian grunge rock. Throughout, Rachel keeps to her three original stringed instruments: the fiddle, banjo and guitar and of course adding her amazing voice.

Rachel’s vocal takes us very deep inside her own feelings and thoughts, while at the same time carrying us out in the world – such as the wide angle perspective of a camera. We see and hear it all, not missing a single thing. From an inside perspective to a general view shared by all about these times, in our world.

My personal favorites on this record are “Rust Belt Fields” and “Hope It Hurts”. But another highlight is the heartbreaking “Young Love”. This song is so Baiman, and triggers a feeling like what Andrew Marlin said in 'The Wolves': “everything's so great / can't get better / makes me wanna cry”.... or maybe like Jay Farrar: “sad songs keep the devil away”. Awe …

Next, Rachel follows with the beautiful “Ships In The Night” … folky and with a gentle clawhammer banjo underneath and another delightful melody. You really do need to listen to it for yourself to appreciate the layers. I'm confident you'll find something you’ll like. It's very exciting to observe this very unique talent just working hard and loving what she does. Meanwhile, the world outside still tries to categorize, wondering where to put her and how to describe her. In my opinion, with all great artists, it’s about the right combination of love and theft… knowing and being comfortable with your history, that you may have come to earth in a strange place, but you just have to focus on the long journey home.

Reviewed by:
Severin Theinert for
Uncut Grass
May 2021

You may recall I included their first single 'Wedding Day' in a singles write up earlier this year. While some may recognize Bobby Cyrus as the cousin of ‘Achy Breaky’ country music star, Billy Ray, he says that “it was his father, Bobby Glenn Cyrus, who inspired him most and encouraged him in songwriting and composing.” Teddi and Bobby were married in 2015 and their union has lead them to this new musical journey.

They have already seen much success, with their second single 'Let's Talk About Jesus' from the self-titled debut album, doing well now on Pinecastle Records.

The husband and wife duo gathered an amazing crew of musicians around them for the project. Don Rigsby on mandolin, Justin Moses on dobro, fiddle and banjo, Scott Vestal on banjo, Kenny Smith on guitar, Eamon McLoughlin on fiddle, cello and viola and last but not least Dave Roe and Mark Fain playing the bass.

The second track on the album after the single 'Wedding Day' is the soulful 'He Rescued Me'. Featuring powerhouse, Teddi on lead vocals, it offers a good banjo drive and dobro music theme. Like 'Wedding Day' and 'Let's Talk About Jesus' it is a gospel track with powerful and uplifting lyrics.

The entire album has an inspirational overtone, with each and every track lending itself to a different aspect of faith, life and belief. Though arrangements and musicality clearly make the album comfortable for any bluegrass or Americana platform.

Consisting of mostly original tracks penned by Bobby Cyrus himself and with the help on some from the great Ronnie Bowman. Especially the beautiful and thoughtful 'I Pray'.

It is hard to pick and highlight single songs out of this album. It has to be listened to and experienced as a whole, where every a song is like a chapter of a good book that brings light into these sometimes dark and troublesome times. It will lift you up.

Make sure to check out this album, released on Pinecastle Records.

Reviewed by:
Severin Theinert for
Uncut Grass
May 2021