18

In 2012, having entertained fans of traditional bluegrass for nearly 40 years, Banjo Dan & the Mid-Nite Plowboys retired. Founded by brothers Dan and Eric ‘Willy’ Lindner, the band were known as ‘the fathers of Vermont bluegrass.’ These 18 tracks were assembled from the band's previous recordings, mostly of live performances. ‘Banjo Dan’ Lindner demonstrates why the nickname was well-earned on songs such as ‘Death Come Down to Danville’, about a chance highway encounter with a hitchhiker named The Grim Reaper. On ‘Oat Mountain’, the riff-rocking interplay between Willy's mandolin, his brother's banjo and Jon Glik's fabulous fiddling highlights the Plowboys’ considerable instrumental prowess. The languidly paced character portrait ‘Karelia’ demonstrates their depth, restraint and poise. There is some nice harmony singing on ‘Yankee Requiem’, a dark and gloomy ballad about the Civil War written by Willy. While the harmonies are compelling, the same cannot be said of the individual voicings. Alan Davis’ composition ‘Coal Black Train’, which recounts in allegorical terms a painful romantic break-up, plainly aches for a deeper, more emotionally resonant lead vocal. Overall, 18 is a nostalgic trip for easy-listening bluegrass fans.