CD Review

Northern California Bluegrass Society provides this CD review. You can find our most current reviews on our Message Board, where you can comment or query the author directly. Our monthly magazine, Bluegrass By the Bay also publishes them.

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Due West These Boot
Review by Brenda Hough  

Songs:

These Boots Were Made For Walking
Virginia Rose
Dakota
The Heart That You Own
The Good Times We Never Had
Sandy Marsh/Fast Ruby
Does My Ring Burn Your Finger
Gotta Travel On
Mexicali Moonshine
Are You Alone
Cumberland Furnace
Travelling the Highway Home

Native and Fine Records 906-6
1185 Solano Avenue PMB#157
Albany, CA 94706
www.nativeandfinerecords.com


The cover of this album with its boot clad legs in an aggressive stance certainly attracts attention and might suggest that this is not your "Mama's bluegrass" unless your Mama was Nancy Sinatra. The title cut, "These Boots Are Made For Walking, certainly shows this band's strong vocals, fine instrumentation, and the ability to put its personal stamp on any song. "Boots" has Bill Evan's strong banjo introduction and strong bass work from Cindy Browne along with Jim Nunally's fine tenor. Jim Nunally's voice and guitar playing has been featured on many musical projects including his duo work with Dix Bruce, John Reischman's Jaybirds and David Grisman's Bluegrass Experience. Erik Thomas' strong lead vocals on "Virginia Rose" and "The Heart That You Own" are matched with some fine mandolin leads and chops, especially in his composition "Mexicali Moonshine". Chad Manning's expressive fiddle work ranges from the slow and mournful to the fast, dance speed that leaves horse hairs flying. Bill Evans has been called "Mr. Banjo" and with good reason. His banjo playing embraces many styles and historical periods and he puts extra zing and snap into all the instrumentals on the album, including his own compositions, "Cumberland Furnace" and "Dakota." The teamwork is strong; the voices blend in harmonies, the instruments weave in and out of solos and ensembles. Like a great football team with a strong offense and defense, this group has the "body" of strong and blended guitar, bass, banjo, fiddle and mandolin and the "soulful" singing of Jim and Erik - super bowl quality!

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