Step By Step

Album Review

There's a big difference between modern bluegrass and progressive bluegrass. Progressive bluegrass is when you do a Prince or Creedence song in a bluegrass style (Seldom Scene, Country Gentlemen, Newgrass Revival). Modern bluegrass is when you do original songs in a bluegrass style, in a manner that shows respect for the tradition while gently pushing the envelope a little bit. That's exactly what this Canadian band does on its debut album, a very fine collection of original songs played in a hard-driving, straight-ahead bluegrass style. This is not mountain music; there's none of the high, lonesome Appalachian sound that you associate with Bill Monroe or Ralph Stanley. Instead, the harmonies are rich and darker-hued, but not overly smooth. The band's secret weapon is banjo player Sally Ryba, whose technique is a flawless amalgam of traditional Scruggs-style picking and more modern, melodic influences. But all of the instrumentalists are excellent, and in fact the instrumentals (particularly the Ryba showcase "Stinky Red Shoes") are among the album's highlights. Very highly recommended.