Yonder Mountain String Band

Colorado's Yonder Mountain String Band are versatile, to say the least. Half of The Show is steeped in progressive bluegrass or some approximation thereof. The rest finds the group delving into a mix of rootsy alternative pop and jam band shenanigans, with the emphasis placed squarely on the group's impeccable musicianship. As with a lot of these "jamgrass" outfits, Y.M.S.B. comes off a little corny, yet don't let that get in the way of enjoying "Dreams," a wonderful little Americana ballad.

The concept is great: Liberate bluegrass' hot-shit riffing and blue-sky harmonies from its
hidebound formalism and see where it flies. It's turf explored by the Dead and others. But
while this Boulder, Colorado, crew brings dazzling chops to the table, the songwriting is
less memorable. The high-lonesome stuff works best (the melancholy hoedown "Rain Still
Falls"), and "Isolate" is a minimalist mold-breaker. The rest mostly unspool string... More >