Things That Fly

If you like peppery banjo picking and close male harmonies – and you should if you're a bluegrass fan – then you might find the Stringdusters' dynamic take on ‘In God's Country’ more interesting than U2's original anthemic approach to the song.

The Nashville-based band showcases mostly its own new material here, but they bring to mind some of the best folk-rock of past decades, including the simplistic but infectious affirmations of the Bellamy Brothers on ‘Love One Another’ and the ethereal poetic whimsy of Wendy Waldman on ‘Not Tonight’.

The good vibes in a country song such as ‘It’ll Be Alright, by bassist Travis Book and guest vocalist Sarah Siskind, are rendered attractive and substantial by the instrumental virtuosity of all six members of the group, also showcased at high speed on dobro and lap steel player Andy Hall’s bluegrass creation ‘Those Who’ve Gone On’, There’s refreshing variety of style in the somewhat melancholic ballad ‘All the Same’, by Book and guitarist-keyboardist Andy Falco, and in the more sophisticated melody and arrangement of ‘Masquerade, by fiddle and viola player Jeremy Garrett and Jon Weisberger. Its pretty and affecting take on folk material calls to mind the Rolling Stones’ borrowing from similar sources for their ‘Wild Horses’,

With Jody Stecher’s whimsical ‘17 Cents’, the Stringdusters celebrate Stecher’s role in the ‘newgrass’ movement of the 70s, his lyrics namechecking departed legends Fiddlin’ John Carson, Bill Monroe, and Joseph Spence (the Bahamian guitar stylist whom Stecher recorded for Nonesuch in the 60s).