CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken Vol.3

by: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Release Date August 04, 2003
In the early 70s the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band got together a host of older country stars for the original "Circle" project.

It was fabulous. It came with studio chat and reminded everyone that the white music tradition of the South was every bit as vigorous as the black. Its a classic for anyone interested in old time, bluegrass or country music.

Some years later there was a sequel which was a somewhat laboured attempt at recreating the feel of the original. It just didn't work very well. Where the first had probably been a stroke of luck, where the music flowed naturally and the chat was spontaneous - the second came across as a marketing-driven attempt at replicating everything the first record achieved.

It failed.
Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken Vol.2

by: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Release Date March 23, 1999
There are three Circle collections. General opinion is that the first album is the best, the third album is a close second and that this is the weakest of the three. I love all three but this one particularly appeals to me. It has many traditional musicians and singers but also a few less obvious singers like John Denver, Levon Helm (of the Band), John Prine, Roger McGuinn (of the Byrds), Paulette Carlson (of Highway 101) and Bruce Hornsby. Perhaps it is the presence of such guests that some dislike but you can't please everybody.

Whatever you may think of the normal music that some of the guests have recorded, they all justify their place on this excellent album of traditional music, sometimes singing songs they've previously recorded, but ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

The Three Pickers

by: Three Pickers

Release Date August 18, 2008
In December of 2002, three legends of bluegrass sat down to do some picking - Earl Scruggs (on banjo), Doc Watson (on guitar), and relative newcomer Ricky Skaggs (on mandolin). It was aired on the American Public TV program Great Performances, and it certainly was that! This is a great CD, a work of bluegrass art.

The music is absolutely wonderful to listen to, sure to be enjoyed by any bluegrass fan. I love listening to this album, and highly recommend it to you!

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

A Hundred Miles Or More... A Collection

by: Alison Krauss

Release Date August 18, 2008
Alison Krauss I guess is one of those singers you either love or hate. She has a tonal quality that for me epitomises the very best in Bluegrass. This album is no exception. The sheer quality of her voice is at time unbelievable
and whilst it is true she veers away from pure bluegrass - her strength is that she can carry this off with huge credibility. I bought this album not only because I love Alison Krauss - but I heard her wonderful duet with James Taylor of "hows the world treating you?"- and simply had to have it! This is an old song recorded by Elvis in his early days - and hearing Alison and James brought back all those memories of wonderful songs, and meaningful lyrics. I also adore her version of "I'm just a country boy/girl" formerly recorded ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Raising Sand

by: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Release Date October 29, 2007
I can respect Robert Plant for his work with Led Zeppelin (nearly 40 years ago) and Alison Krauss is a major talent with the Union Station but this just does not work. The production by T Bone Burnett is good but the material is poor and boring. It neither one thing (Rock) nor another (Country/Bluegrass). Having read the reviews beforehand I borrowed this CD from my library prepared for a probable disappointment and it certainly lived up to that.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

Dirt Farmer

by: Levon Helm

Release Date October 22, 2007
Best Helm in years this is rock with goose bumps!Its a long time since I've heard such brilliant vocals, instruments and lyrics plus backing vocals.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

by: Various Artists

Release Date August 28, 2000
I'm not from the US, my family hail from Kashmir and I was born in the UK, grew up listening to punk rock but WOW! The soundtrack literally drips with the era and place it hails from; every time I hear a snippet I swear I can feel the heat and smell the wheat - so amazing!

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

A Proper Introduction to Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs: the Mercury Years

by: Lester Flatt

Release Date April 12, 2004
Proper records do it again with a really well priced reissue of some sweetly transferred sounds from an earlier day. Whatever your view of bluegrass, be it hokey ol' corn or sweet melody of the mountains, no-one will contest that Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs weren't masters of their muse. This CD has twenty eight tracks, all superbly transferred from Flatt & Scruggs time on the Mercury label (Sep '48 - Oct '50). Like others in the "Proper introduction to" series, the packaging takes getting used to but the booklet in the pack is informative and recording personnel and dates are given...unusual with "budget" packets.
The sentiments expressed in many of these songs echo a simpler, plainer time and a simpler plainer faith in man and the Almighty than we are used to today; ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

Pacific Ocean Blue/Bambu (The Caribou Sessions): Legacy Edition

by: Dennis Wilson

Release Date June 16, 2008
Fantastic album Pacific Ocean Blue, just get it and listen to it, plus the bonus tracks and the additional lost album 'Bambu', all beautifully packaged, make this a worthy tribute to a flawed genius; Dennis Wilson.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Magic

by: Bruce Springsteen

Release Date October 01, 2007
Despite being a massive artists with much critical acclaim and an impressive back catalogue, Bruce Springsteen seems to me to be rather underrated.

I don't know how I managed to miss this album when it was first released but it was certainly worth the wait when I listened to it for the first time recently.

In fact, I would say this is one of his finest releases. There is not a bad song on this album and it is impossible to skip over any of them.

I like the sort of narrative lyrics Springsteen often offers, and you can imagine the scenes he sings about.

It's easy listening with a rocky edge. I found it easy both to chill out and to get on with things while listening.

My favourite tracks are: Radio Nowhere, You'll Be Comin' ... Read More: