This trio from Lancaster, Pennsylvania have been slowly, but surely building a well deserved reputation as one of the best Americana acts of recent years.
For their third full length they've employed Larry Campbell as producer. Campbell has previously worked with Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Willie Nelson so one has every reason to expect this record to be step forward.
Unfortunately, it turns out to a bit of a disappointment with precious little magic or fire. It is by no means a bad record but the polished, more pop orientated sound simply doesn't play to their strengths.
What made their previous albums so good was the manner in which they embraced their Bluegrass influences without being slaves to the traditional sound.
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With this record, the inclusion of guest musicians is deliberately designed to give the band a more rounded sound but in the process the originality of their music is compromised.
As a result, the twelve songs are melodic but largely forgettable making for a blandly mainstream release that sacrifices raw vitality for commercial interests.
The Stray Birds' website
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