1. Sidewalk Stars
2. I Ain't Been Myself in Years - Yonder Mountain String Band, Galloway, B.
3. How 'Bout You?
4. Angel
5. Fastball
6. East Nashville Easter - Yonder Mountain String Band, Austin, J.
7. Just the Same - Yonder Mountain String Band, Johnston, D.
8. Classic Situation
9. Night Out
10. Wind's on Fire - Yonder Mountain String Band, Johnston, D.
11. Midwest Gospel Radio
12. Troubled Mind - Yonder Mountain String Band, Kaufmann, B.
Amazon.com
With the chiming opening strains of "Sidewalk Stars" and the propulsion that follows evoking memories of vintage U2, it's plain that Yonder Mountain is up to something a little different with its label debut. Long a concert powerhouse and popular jam band, with a combination of traditional bluegrass instrumentation, eclectic material, and organic improvisation dubbed "jamgrass," the quartet here demonstrates the difference between the demands of the recording studio and the liberation of live performance. Dave Johnston's banjo still drives the music, but the material (with the majority of the cuts under four minutes) depends more on hooks, harmonies, and tight arrangements than instrumental virtuosity. Some of the results suggest a similar spirit to the adventurousness of bluegrass prodigies Nickel Creek, though "How 'Bout You" could pass for an outtake from alt-country avatars Uncle Tupelo. The musical interplay takes flight on the instrumental "Fastball," but it barely lasts more than a minute. --Don McLeese
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Yonder Mountain String Band
- Audio CD: 0 pages (2006-05-09)
- Publisher: Vanguard Records
- Label: Vanguard Records
- Studio: Vanguard Records
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 11 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #11367
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: New terrority, well explored 2007-06-14
Comment: "Sidewalk Stars" is wonderful song, and unlike what YMSB is (or was) about. "Troubled Mind" is another great bluegrass song by them. And so this release straddles rock/jam with blasts of bluegrass. Not sure what there isn't to like, it won't be liked by those who don't like acts stretching, or who dislike anything that isn't bluegrass or acoustic. But those who like to adventure and those who like to ramble will listen and say: "Let them go".
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Pretenders to the throne 2007-02-23
Comment: Unfortunately, Yonder Mountain String Band has turned their back on their bluegrass roots and have wandered off into never-never-noodleland on this latest offering. Subpar vocal harmonies, pretentious lyrics and standard-issue level chops compared to others in the bluegrass genre leave not much nice to say about this disc. Kind of following the same path as String Cheese Incident, one supposes: release fine early bluegrass-tinged discs, change band sound, lose core audience.... eventually break up. I think we're up to the "lose core audience" point with Yonder Mountain on this CD.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Different for these guys, but great alla'same! 2006-12-21
Comment: Sorry, "Frmertd" (please don't ask me to try and pronounce that!), I have to disagree with your review wholeheartedly. I respect that you're a musician yourself, love bluegrass and play the banjo, but if you really did play this disc once and then throw it away, I hope you threw it in the direction of someone who could appreciate it. Perhaps you're a bit too set in your ways and traditionalist to really dig this album, but in my view, it's great.
True, it doesn't sound a whole lot like earlier YMSB material. It's a bit more commercial, or "radio friendly" (although these days, in today's radio wasteland it's hard to imagine many stations that would actually play it-- if only KPIG from the Santa Cruz area could be in every market! But I degress...). The point is that it sounds a bit more newgrass than bluegrass, more Railroad Earth than traditional Yonder. But that's ok, I happen to like Railroad Earth. And the fact that these guys are going in a different direction on this album doesn't mean that it isn't quality music. In fact, it's pretty terrific stuff, extremely well played and anything but "boring".
The truth be told, Yonder Mountain String Band was never really a traditional bluegrass band to begin with. If this album isn't for you, then that's ok. But to dismiss it as boring and essentially worthless simply because it's not like their earlier music is selling it very short and does a real disservice to the music, the band, and to all of those who would really love this and now might not buy it based solely upon your negative review.
In short, if you love newgrass and/or good country-rock, this should be very high on your "to buy" list. No, it's not bluegrass, as such. What it is, is some very fine music-- and I for one highly recommend it.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: kind of boring 2006-11-17
Comment: You know ,I have to apologetically say I didn't really like this too much. I love bluegrass and play banjo but it just wasn't my style. I expected alot of creativity but it was just kind of predictable and rock and rollish. I threw it away.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Album of the Year 2006-09-14
Comment: Having recently been introduced to this YMSB, this is their most accessible album to date and a brilliant work of bluegrass/alternative rock fusion. Their long-time fans may be disappointed with the transition away from classic bluegrass but so were Dylan's fans when he played electric guitar for the first time. Run and get this album and you'll see for youself.
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Yonder Mountain String Band
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