:: Evergreen Lake House :: July 3 ::
:: Cactus Jack’s :: July 28 ::
Oakhurst
Barrel
Oak Horse Records
4 out of 5 stars
Whoa! Now that’s a pleasant change. Denver slam-grassers Oakhurst come out of the gate on their latest album with a distinct change that steps away from their bluegrass roots, and steps into a completely different realm of Americana, more steeped in blues than bluegrass.
The shift is a welcome change in a world where even some of the best newgrass music is all starting to sound the same. Oakhurst has proven over the years that they can play fast and furious. Barrel, on the other hand, demonstrates that they can also slow it down, change it up, and switch it around with great success.
Recorded in Nashville and produced by Joe Pisapia (K.D. Lang and Ben Folds 5), the album still has some historically Oakhurst sounds, but much of it shows a group that’s come into their own, embraced their roots, and have begun twisting and shaping those roots to create something different. — BFJ
:: Evergreen Lake House :: July 3 ::
:: Cactus Jack’s :: July 28 ::
