Welcome to Woody Creek
This is a welcome return to form after the relative disappointment of NGDB's last studio effort, the lackluster BANG BANG BANG, in 1999.
Several factors contribute to the overall success of this album. First, there is the full-time return of multi-instrumentalist John McEuen. His banjo playing keeps the band from slipping into the country "cookie cutter" mode that the band too often slipped into over the past two decades. In addition, they wrote most of their own material this time. All five band members wrote or co-wrote all but three tracks. Standouts are "Walkin' In the Sunshine," "Jealous Moon" and "It's Morning." [Covers include the Gram Parsons-Chris Ethridge "She" and a bluegrass remake of the Lennon-McCartney "Get Back."] Finally, the band was revitalized by "CIRCLE III." In fact, three of the songs on this album ("Any Love But Our Love," "Party on the Mountain" and "Old Time's Sake") come from the same 1996 sessions as "I Find Jesus" (which appeared on CIRCLE III).
For long time fans who treasured such releases as UNCLE CHARLIE & HIS DOG TEDDY and DREAM, this is a welcome addition to your NGDB collection. This is their best effort since 1994's ACOUSTIC and ranks up there with their classic 70s albums. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Several factors contribute to the overall success of this album. First, there is the full-time return of multi-instrumentalist John McEuen. His banjo playing keeps the band from slipping into the country "cookie cutter" mode that the band too often slipped into over the past two decades. In addition, they wrote most of their own material this time. All five band members wrote or co-wrote all but three tracks. Standouts are "Walkin' In the Sunshine," "Jealous Moon" and "It's Morning." [Covers include the Gram Parsons-Chris Ethridge "She" and a bluegrass remake of the Lennon-McCartney "Get Back."] Finally, the band was revitalized by "CIRCLE III." In fact, three of the songs on this album ("Any Love But Our Love," "Party on the Mountain" and "Old Time's Sake") come from the same 1996 sessions as "I Find Jesus" (which appeared on CIRCLE III).
For long time fans who treasured such releases as UNCLE CHARLIE & HIS DOG TEDDY and DREAM, this is a welcome addition to your NGDB collection. This is their best effort since 1994's ACOUSTIC and ranks up there with their classic 70s albums. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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