By 1979,
the New Grass Revival's name defined the progressive branch of the bluegrass tree. Furthermore, they had developed into a crack unit, with a good reputation as live performers and polished studio players. Both mandolinist
Sam Bush and bassist
John Cowan covered the lead vocals, while guitarist/dobroist
Curtis Burch and banjoist
Courtney Johnson filled out the band's sound. The band's eclectic song choices, acoustic/electric arrangements, and professionalism are all on display on its fifth album,
Barren County. Things really start clicking on the third number, "How About You," with
Cowan singing a fine rock & roll lead and
Bush adding electric guitar.
Bush follows with "Crazy in the Night," one of the band's many odes to romance, before
Cowan delves into Steven F. Brines and
Bush's "Don't Look Back." Brines, in fact, co-wrote four of the nine songs on the album, qualifying him as a silent fifth member of the group. "Souvenir Bottles" stands as perhaps the strongest piece on the album, featuring an energetic joint lead vocal by
Bush and
Cowan. As good as
Barren County is, however, the album's airtight sound has stripped away the rougher edges associated with traditional bluegrass. This approach seems to render the material soulless at times, as though little has been left to chance. Nonetheless, one never doubts the ability of the players or the quality of the material, and fans will consider this a fine effort by the pre-
Béla Fleck/
Pat Flynn version of the band. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.