Unleashed (Sugar Hill, 1995)

There is some old and new here. The first three cuts are true to the roots of bluegrass. "Tear My Stillhouse Down"and "Boll Weevil" are modal tunes that could have come straight from the Appalachian mountains. The band then launches into a series of songs having a modern acoustic country feel. "I Got A Date" is a cross between country rock and bluegrass. While fun, it almost feels out of place on the album. The CD ends by heading back to bluegrass basics with "Dog Remembers Bacon" and "Little White Washed Chimney. " There is the obligatory a cappella gospel tune at the end but the choice of song, "Last Month Of The Year" is a little much, in context with the rest of the album. Listeners will not find straight ahead driving bluegrass with tight, three-part harmony. You will find what The Nashville Bluegrass Band does best - great instrumental backup with wonderful two-part harmony that, for the most part, is true to the roots of bluegrass. So if you like some of the old and some of the new you may want to check this one out.