 |
Category: Music
Spring Creek
Way Up on a Mountain
Rebel Records
By Michael Roberts
WESTWORD
This Lyons-based quartet's latest album, which will be celebrated during a May 9 gig at the Boulder Theater (followed by appearances at the Gold Hill Inn and Swallow Hill on May 29 and June 6, respectively), stays true to bluegrass's traditions without coming across like a musty antique, due in part to the variety that spices the songs. Banjoist Chris Elliott, bass-fiddler Jessica Smith, guitarist Taylor Sims and mandolin player Alex Johnstone each take lead vocals on assorted tracks, and there are no weak links. Just as important, the tunes, produced in pristine fashion by Nashville sideman Jeff White, range from fast-fingered sprints ("In Despair") to dark, dramatic showcases ("Tangled in the Pines") and charming pace-changers ("Cuba Vera Swing"). Clearly, these four are on the Way Up.©Westword
Band: SPRING CREEK
Album: Way Up On A Mountain
Label: Rebel Records
TODAY’S COUNTRY MAGAZINE
Bluegrass is a genre steeped rich in tradition but also one that has recently seen a modern blend fusing together with that tradition to create what has been dubbed as “Newgrass.” For Colorado’s Spring Creek, they proudly wear their traditional influences on their sleeves throughout their Rebel Records debut album Way Up On A Mountain, but also incorporate a modern flare to the traditional vibes walking that perfect line between new and old and never straying too far away from one or the other. From the get go “My Love Is Way Up On A Mountain,” instantly grabs your attention as the traditional side of the band is shown as the banjo and fiddle play the prominent role in the instrumentation and the vocals display the rich harmonies you can expect going forward. This modern approach to the traditional style continues to be heard on cuts like “Drivin’ Me Crazy” or “In Despair,” where the banjo plucks rapidly like I’ve never heard before. With the lead vocals being the focus on a majority of the songs I found myself leaning to those that Jessica took the leads on like “Another Lonesome Night My Dear” or “Try and Catch The Wind,” but that is just a matter of preference as Taylor and Chris also have solid vocals on the album. Wrap this around “Cuba Vera Swing” and “Under The Gun,” two instrumentals that show of their talented musicianship while the vocals take a backseat and you have a very solid album. Spring Creek is bluegrass as bluegrass can be while maintaining a fresh approach on an old idea making for an exciting listen.©Today’s Country Magazine
Spring Creek
Way Up on a Mountain
Rating **** ½
By Stacy Harris
STACY’S MUSIC ROW REPORT
Spring Creek, a bluegrass festival favorite, formed five years ago. Most recently the quartet (Chris Elliott on banjo, Jessica Smith playing a mean upright bass, Guitarist Taylor Sims and Alex Johnstone mandolin and fiddle) caught Rebel Records' attention.
Deservedly so, since these grassers bring a special excitement to their unique sound. From trading lead and harmony vocals to surprising listeners with a couple of change-of-pace instrumentals and the musicianship of Michael Cleveland and Sandy Van Meter thrown into the mix, Spring Creek's contemporary sound signals that this ain't your daddy's bluegrass.
Of course, your daddy might disagree, particularly when he gives a thumbs up to the quartet's version of Bill Monroe's recording of In Despair.
Then again, I don't know what Baker Knight would make of Spring Creek's cover of Ricky Nelson's hit, Lonesome Town, but I thought it was great!
What would a bluegrass album be without a "little darlin'" song? Better, if you ask me. But, for those who don't ask, It's Alright My Darlin' will fill the bill.
The album's title is derived from My Love Is Way Up On A Mountain, the first of a dozen performances, many of which will have fans counting the days till the May 5th release of Way Up on a Mountain.©Stacy’s Music Row Report
3:37 PM
Powered by  | | English | | Albanian | | Arabic | | Bulgarian | | Catalan | | Chinese | | Croatian | | Czech | | Danish | | Dutch | | Estonian | | Filipino | | Finnish | | French | | Galician | | German | | Greek | | Hebrew | | Hindi | | Hungarian | | Indonesian | | Italian | | Japanese | | Korean | | Latvian | | Lithuanian | | Maltese | | Norwegian | | Polish | | Portuguese | | Romanian | | Russian | | Serbian | | Slovak | | Slovenian | | Spanish | | Swedish | | Thai | | Turkish | | Ukrainian | | Vietnamese |
|