Portland, Oregon's
Foghorn String Band are possibly the most authentic young old-timey band around today. A four-piece -- two male and two female -- it's not just the rawness of the sound that's so realistic, but the way the layers of playing and singing interweave -- and having Stephen Lind, surely one of the best young fiddlers in America, as part of the group, certainly doesn't hurt; his eloquence is a thing of beauty. With 21 tracks, nothing is long, but the songs pack a great deal into small spaces. The musicianship is impeccable throughout, as revealed by the fact that this was recorded live in the studio with one microphone -- perfectly old-school. The vocals on "'Tits Yeux Bleus" might be too harsh for the taste of many people, but elsewhere there's glorious, uplifting, and exciting music. A true winner. ~ Chris Nickson