Steep Canyon Rangers - Mr. Taylor's New Home (2002)

Tracklist

01. Carolina Home
02. Hibriten Mountain
03. Five More Days
04. Knob Creek
05. Mr. Taylor's New Home
06. Money Out of Sand
07. Norma Jean
08. Road to Knoxville
09. Black River
10. Don't Let My Heart Be Lonesome
11. Good Old Country Baptizing
12. Traveling Kind

The second album from this accomplished young group features a majority of strong original material, led by banjoist Graham Sharp, whose best contributions are the lovely harmony piece "Hibriten Mountain" and the humorous "Money Out of Sand." "Knob Creek" is a wonderfully forlorn instrumental piece built around Mike Guggino's mandolin, and bassist Charles Humphrey supplies the car-crash drama "Norma Jean." Perhaps the most striking thing about the Steep Canyon Rangers is their restraint -- they exude a naturalness in their playing that is remarkable for such a young group, and the fact that they play within their limits deserves extra applause. Each note is well placed, each song fully realized, and with five strong vocalists, their harmonies (especially on the beautiful "Good Old Country Baptizing") are among the warmest in bluegrass.