Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Can you have too much Country Bears music? Well, yes, it turns out you can.
The whole history of country and western music in real time.
country bear jamboreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Amazing musicianship, especially given each song was recorded in only 1 or 2 takes. I really love the concept behind the album, bringing the older and new musical generations together. I also enjoyed the insight provided by the dialog between tracks. However, I didn’t personally get much enjoyment out of the album. Country/bluegrass just isn’t really my jam, especially at 2 hours long.
When you feel the album is too long hearing these guys tune their instruments and talk every couple songs drives in a little deeper on the frustration scale. There are some real good songs on this album, but they are scattered among about 30-35 terrible songs and whole tracks of them talking and tuning. This could have been condensed into a single album.
This was fine at first, but it got old pretty quickly. Way too much twangin’ for me.
Finally a bluegrass album! I appreciate being immersed in Appalachian culture the years I lived in Tennessee. The food & music are beautiful, and I yearn to return. The banjo is one of my favorite instrument, so this was fun for me. I love the twang & storytelling, too. Great listen.
It's hard to deny how good this is even if you may not care much for this style of music. Most will probably find something worthwhile here. Great recording quality, amazing playing, and high level of professionalism. However, due to the length, I probably won't listen to this in full again for a very long time, opting instead to pick and choose a few songs.
Now this is how you do a bluegrass album. The only complaint is that it's just too long. If they would have stuck with a single album of ten to twelve songs, one could make an argument for the best country album ever. But hey, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band! Who apparently went as just the Dirt Band for a spell. They should make a comeback and just go as Dirt.
Am I likely to listen to the whole thing in one sitting? Not very often, that’s for sure. But I’ll be damned if I don’t love this music, and if I don’t appreciate it acting as quite an important historical document. 3.5/5
Went Down Yonder listening to this.
Jävligt långt, allt låter lika, random speakin i mellan låtarna int min grej
I’ll listen- the NittyGritty DirtBand is part of it.
I could not get through it. That is not to say it is bad, but after the first 12 songs, I feel I have heard enough. I do have to say that it is great for what it is, but I am just not a fan of country.
A nice album with a lot of legendary musicians.
Enjoyable! Nice genre.
It’s good for what it is, and there is some super stuff on here, but clocking in at over 2 hours, it’s a lot to take in, especially if this type of country music isn’t your thing. If just the best tracks were kept and this was cut down to one cd, I’d have scored it higher.
So there's stuff on here that I kind of like and would get 4 stars. 2 problems, it's still a genre in general I'm not big on and while I enjoy some of this, I enjoy it in small doses... over 2 hours and 40+ songs is the opposite of a small dose. I had to do something listening to this that I have yet to do on this 1001 album journey and something I didn't want to do; I took an intermission and listened to something I enjoy. I needed a break. 2 stars
Not generally a fan of country music, but this was really good
Just kill me
Interesting document, but I don't need the talking in between songs. Enjoyable bluegrass. I especially like the instrumental tunes (please learn how to finish those without resorting to "Shave and a Haircut, though!). The old-school Country/Hillbilly artists are not at their best so it works more as a tribute than an original work of art. Could be condensed to a single LP without losing anything. Maybe do that for casual listeners then make the extended version for the hardcore fans/historically motivated.
This was a lot (2 hours). Mostly enjoyable though. Newer country rock blended with old-school Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs bluegrass. Standout is "Tennessee Stud" but I enjoyed their take on the bluegrass classics like "Flint Hill Special" and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown".
Too long.
Too much country for 1 album
Listening to this will make your neck red and your rocking chair squeak. It'll make your overalls faded and your shotgun loaded. It'll turn your cousin's attractive and your brandy into moonshine.
I like me a bit o’ the ol’ country and bluegrass, but this was a bit too much.
Really enjoyed this, especially the chatting between the musicians before each song. These players are extremely skillful
I used to live in Oakland. I would go to the Berkeley Public Library once a week, on their third floor they have nothing but records, CDs, sheet music, tapes. It’s lovely. I don’t know why I took this album out from the library but I did and I loved it and I forget about it until now, 11 years later. Still love it. Go check out the Berkeley Public Library if you’re ever in the area. And check out that third floor.
noin tunti albumin runtimesta on puheskelua ja huvittavaa kommmentti.. pälätystä plöjäytystä. en ole fani. kuitenkin hyviä pätkiä on monts, ja parasta ollakin kun noin paljon biiisiä. liikaa peruskantrin spämmäämistä kuitenkaan että voi nauttia liikaa nashville blues
I really hate this type of music. I am so sorry
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: it was good in parts but far too long for me Favourite song: didn’t have one
I really liked this but 2 hours is excessive
I liked a lot of it but there was also a lot of chat and it went on for about a month
I enjoyed it but it is very long and mostly the same stuff
Love it!! puts me in a good mood!! 4 stars
Nei
I liked it, had an old country/bluegrass jam session feel. It’s long tho
This iconic collaboration between the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and an array of legendary artists transcends generations, delivering an unforgettable blend of country, folk, and bluegrass that resonates with the heart and soul. One of the standout features of this album is its celebration of musical diversity and intergenerational connections. The collaboration with revered figures like Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, and Doc Watson adds a layer of authenticity that is both nostalgic and enlightening. The seamless fusion of old and new, traditional and contemporary, creates a harmonious journey that bridges the past and the present. The heartfelt vocals and impeccable instrumental arrangements shine throughout the album. The genuine passion and love for the music are palpable in every note, making it impossible not to be swept away by the emotive performances. The storytelling nature of the songs brings a narrative richness that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" doesn't merely offer a collection of songs; it invites you to step into a musical time capsule, where each track feels like a cherished chapter in a well-loved book. The camaraderie among the musicians is evident, creating an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie that is infectious. The album's enduring appeal lies not only in its musical excellence but also in its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort. It's a testament to the power of collaboration and the universal language of music that transcends boundaries and generations. "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" is a treasure trove of musical brilliance, a heartfelt tribute to the roots of American music. Whether you're a seasoned fan of folk and bluegrass or a newcomer to the genre, this album is a must-listen that promises to leave a lasting imprint on your musical soul.
There is some great banjo playing and general instrumentation, but the “skits” on seemingly every track are a bit much in my opinion. The album while fun to listen to, doesn’t have that next level to it.
It's a country mega album but the sum is less than its parts. For example, Keep on the sunny side is a bit of a noisy mess, like a bar singalong, where The Carters and The Whites keep it clean. However, it is 1000x better than that pop they call country on the radio.
Liked it - folk guitar/fiddle country music.
Old-time music done in old-timey fashion. Feels a bit out of place here, but a fine listen all the way around of course.
This is some fantastic bluegrass / country. Very homey, great fiddling and singing all round. This would be an excellent introduction to the genre (maybe not the whole album due to length) but some songs here and there to introduce.
Sure. Perfect for a muggy afternoon on the back forty with a rocking chair, cold beer and a piece of straw hanging from your mouth.
Too much Honky not enough Tonk. Maybe trim it down a bit lads? The songs don’t do much and all sound pretty similar, not sure you’ve got 2 hours of material here.
Had a good time listening to this album
Nobody really needs two hours of old-school bluegrass. But, if you've got to do it, this is the way. These are some of the most legendary performers in the genre creating some legitimately museum-worthy recordings that I'm glad are preserved for future generations. But two hours, man. That's just... that's just a lot.
Surprisingly entertaining. Not a particular country fan but this live feel album was a great listen.
Unfortunately the only country music I can listen to is in opening scenes of horror movies.
This is a „love it or hate it“ type of music and I hate it. Could not bring myself to sit through the entire album.
I kind of dig the music but it does get boring and repetitive. It's not really a cohesive album to me.
42 songs later... This thing is long (130 minutes to be exact). Like really long. I couldn't listen to it all in one day. The deal here is a 70s country rock band wanted to make a record with some of the most famous country artists from the prior few decades. All the old guys thought the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was a bunch of long-haired hippies, but they eventually convinced a few of them to do it anyway. So what you ended up with is a bit of a mixed sound across a few decades of country, with kind of an all-star lineup from that era. They're all clearly talented artists, but I rate these on the quality of the album overall, and this one was just overwhelming. I think it would be perfect as like an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame that just loops repeatedly with some video and you can sit and watch it for however long you like until you get bored and then move on. There's clearly a lot of historical value, but it's not a cohesive album (I don't know that any triple album can be). There's also a lot of talking and whatnot between songs, which again is cool for historical significance but hurts album flow a lot. Anyway, the actual music was fine, but not much really stood out to me either. I do think if I'm picking out any of the old guys, I like Merle Travis the best. Dark As A Dungeon was my favorite song overall and his voice and songwriting are both great. There's also a cover from The Byrds country album on here which was good. Favorite song: Dark As A Dungeon Other: Grand Ole Opry Song, Nine Pound Hammer, Way Downtown, I Am A Pilgrim 11/4/23
Music forms a new circle
Classic bluegrass ?
Fuck off and when you think you're done fucking off why don't you fuck off a little bit more. cuntry music is awful.
Nonces
Not for me. Catchy tunes tho
Virkelig et hyggeligt country/folk album med masser af banjo, guitar, mundharmonika, violiner og harmoniserende cowboystemmer. Jeg kunne have svoret på at jeg hørte Johnny Cash på et par af numrene selvom jeg ikke er helt sikker. Jeg var specielt fan af hvordan man mellem hvert nummer kunne høre den snakke med hinanden, hvor det bare lød som om de havde det fedt. Det var ikke alle sangene jeg var lige vild med, men det var stadig et virkelig specielt album.
2h10m of country is about 2 hours too much. not all bad, but I wouldn't listen to anything myself without somethjng pushing me
Classic country but soooo long. Some really friggin awesome instrumentals
2 hours of Country is crazy but I did enjoy a lot of it so Im giving it a 3 stars
Bluegrass. Loved it.
Oof
it's maw-paw-yeehaw music but it's not bad grand ole opry song nashville blues the precious jewel dark as a dungeon (no surprise that it's a song about coal mining) black mountain rag sunny side of the mountain lonesome fiddle blues
I enjoyed the more Bluegrassy tracks more than the slower country/gospel ones. At any rate, at over two hours long, it felt like a drag by the end.
Waaay too long
This is a great bluegrass band, but since when did 1001 start giving 42 song compilation box sets and calling them albums?
Country /20
Fun album! But you really, really gotta be a bluegrass fan to sit through this. At times it felt like I was listening to the same song. Other than that, musicianship is great and it must have been a blast to see them live! 7 out of 10
Ol’ timey music: good for the soul, good for the ears. Music of the earth, music of the dirt. A good find for sure. Bluegrass done in a way that maintains the heart of the music without trying to pander to modern sensibilities. Hear obvious traces of older Irish music. Enjoy the banter between the musicians, but feel like those will be obvious tracks to skip on repeat listens. Good music for listening with kids.
One in a million similar albums
I'm usually not a fan of country music, like... at all, but I enjoyed each song starting with band discussions. Way too long though.
Sorry, this is the type of "country" music i'm not into.
country and gospel standards given the bluegrass treatment. recorded live with a bevy of celebrity guest musicians. very well done. highlights: “dark as a dungeon”, “tennessee stud”, “black mountain rag”, “honky tonkin’ “ “lonesome fiddle blues”, “orange blossom special”, “foggy mountain breakdown”.
First thought: man I really know this band's name from growing up. I don't really remember much about them. Second thought: yeah this is okay. I mean, I get why people would like it. Third thought: 42 F*C#ING TRACKS?!?! I'm out.
Pretty fun.
There's country music and then there's this. I don't know enough to really understand but this album is just good fun. Fave tracks: Keep On The Sunny Side, and Tennessee Stud
What a wonderful artifact! 42 tracks full of bluegrass, and I did not think it too many. I'm a fan of the "Anthology of American Folk Music" and this feels like a natural extension of that, and I loved the inclusion of the chatter between musicians - gave it an anthropological feel! Fave track - "Tennessee Stud" for the songs, "Doc Watson & Merle Travis First Meeting" for the studio chatter!
Holy god this is way too long for more than three stars. Some good tunes tho
It's an album of Banjo! Very joyous music! So cool!!
We like both kinds a music here. Country AND western.
Good, but country not my favourite genre.
Really not my kind of music. I do like country music, but this is more bluegrass classics and that's not my thing. There are some songs I did enjoy more than the others... Keep on Sunny Side, Wreck on the Highway, Nine Pound Hammer, Honky Tonkin', Lost Highway, Will the Circle be Unbroken, Both Sides Now (Don't really know why this was included on the album)., Foggy Mountain Breakdown. By the end I wanted to rip my ears off. Still it's a 3/5
Straight up do not care, this album is a toe tapper from start to finish. I wouldn't even class myself as a fan of the genre, and yeah, 2 hours might be a little on the long side, but it sounds like everybody was having fun making this album and I had a good time listening
While this isn't an album you'll listen to over and over it's an absolute perfect pick for this list. It's a history lesson in record form. The execution of this album is amazing, from the song choices, to the musicians and the recording. Let's not forget the banter, which is really what makes this album just wonderful, I particularly love hearing Maybelle Carter.
This is perhaps exorbitantly long. But hot damn this is great stuff. Excellent blue grass and the captured moments of dialog make you feel like you’re in the studio. Love it.
2 hours, come on. I found some of the instrumentals interesting. Ever time the vocals came in, i just wanted to skip to the next track.
I was surprised I liked this one as much as I did. That's not to say I loved it or anything, I just found that the bluegrass and banjo thing worked well and some of the studio interludes were interesting. But can we admit it's too damn long? Seriously, this didn't need to be two hours. Like most double (triple?) albums, this would've been a lot better if cut down to 45 mins. 3.5 record, round down because of the length.
This album hit close to home. My grandfather loved this era of country music and it would always be playing when we went to his house. He unfortunately passed away a little over a year ago, and my daughter was born exactly a week later. He never got to meet her, but her and I got to dance and listen to his favorite music together. I'm not a spiritual person, but I feel like there will always be a part of him somewhere with her, and we will always keep his memory alive
Fun but 42 songs??
Charming midcentury bluegrass.
42 song album, good god! Bluegrass pickin' vibes from first track. "Keep on the Sunny Side" is solid.
Gospel. I could listen to this every day.
Wow! Ok! Not awful at all. Not actually annoying. I liked this. I will head down into a bit of a rabbit hole with this.
When I saw the 2 hour length, the confederate flags on the cover, and didn't see fishing in the dark anywhere on the track listing I was extremely pessimistic going into this album. Against all odds, however, this album rocked. While I wouldn't ever listen to it in one sitting again, nearly every track was at least good and most of them were exemplary nashville country/folk. I loved all of the first disc and most of the second disk, with tracks like the title track, the first two tracks, losin' you, I'm thinking tonight of my blue eyes, plus many more being the biggest standouts. Apparently, the nitty gritty dirt band was attempting to unite multiple generations of Tennessee country and essentially make an Avengers of country music; it's amazing that the result was this successful and sustainable for a two hour album. You really do get the vibe that every song is a showcase of one or two out of like 20 artists performing out of their mind and working together seamlessly.
Parts of this album were pretty good and no doubt there is no lack of skill behind it. I just find the genre unappealing and the length of this album to be a crime against my free time. Didn't hate it. Not gonna listen again tho
A good example for folk/bluegrass - the loose quality of the pre-take conversations really gives you an idea of how these traditional songs can be played with a relatively unpracticed group.
No. Just no.
Too country twang for me
Preferably FUCK NO: I’m an avid country hater and when I saw this pop up I immediately wanted to rip out all of my organs and just kill myself. WHY OVER 2 HOURS?!? Literally took me over a day to actually listen to it. Some funky banjo and guitar but nothing I want to touch again. Will I be harsh, yeah but I don’t care.
If this was just the first side, it would be an easy A from me, but, given the latter side’s decision to have over half the tracks compromised of repetitive instrumentals, I am forced to retract points that this album was entirely capable of earning. The songs themselves aren’t original to the band as they’re all covers, but they’re only the true classics in the genre. The playing and instrumentation is so tight and infectious it almost makes the instrumentals worth it. Production is surprisingly good quality and my only problem is the wacky B side on this thing. Such a strange and unfortunate decision. Cut the instrumentals and runtime and you’d have one classic of an album. 3/5
I sentence you to 2 hours of country music
I liked the songs that were on this. I really did, and the historical significance of the album is truly important but... the album is just TOO LONG. 3 LPs? 2 CDs? 2 _HOURS_? It just started to blur together after the first 30 minute or so. Maybe I should have played it in little chunks, but that would have defeated the purpose of listening to the whole thing, right? And then they made 2 more volumes?! Yikes.
If you're going to do a 2 hour two disc set, it better be off the wall. This was good, but not that good. There are a lot of talented musicians that joined this recorded jam session. It's a cool idea and I get why the album should be on the list - you're not going to find much else like it. But man, 2 hours? I couldn't focus on it that long and it didn't move me so much that I want to give it another go.
I mistakenly listened to wrong Will The Circle Be Unbroken and bitched how it was a hour and half album. Then got to this one. Yea, waaaay too long. Way too long for the same sounding stuff over and over again. So long and tedious, left me in a bad mood until I got to the peace pipe. Love the name of the band. Not so much their music. I'm going to score a 1.5. My 1's will be left to the most brutal sounding shit, but this was close.... 1.5
If not for its length this would be fun. There are a handful of cool tracks and other versions of songs I know. 2
2 What in the “South will rise again” is this album cover? Kudos to them for at least making it a Union soldier, though I still can’t help but feel the whole thing is a little questionable - especially for a group from Long Beach, California. Like, your state didn’t even fight in the Civil War, what are you on about? I digress, really didn’t think this would be the kind of thing I’d like, but I was actually enjoying myself quite a bit as I started listening. I know these guys aren’t the original writers of the majority of these songs, but I was surprised by how much I knew from renditions by other artists - Keep on the Sunny Side obviously, but also Dark as a Dungeon from Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison album, Lonesome Fiddle Blues which would later go on to became The Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band, and Cannonball Rage from… well I recognize it from somewhere, that’s for sure. The biggest déjà vu moment for me though was the title track, Will the Circle Be Unbroken. I had myself convinced it was just because it sounds similar to Amazing Grace, but then it hit me - this is the song that greets Booker when he first arrives in Columbia in BioShock Infinite. I realize that probably means nothing to most people reading this, but all I can say is it’s an awesome moment from an incredible game - go play BioShock Infinite. Outside of those songs, most of this album kind of runs together, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing - at first. I was getting Toy Story/Red Dead Redemption/Frontier Town at Cedar Point vibes all over that I was appreciating, but let me tell you, at two hours and ten minutes long, once that charm wears off, it’s gone, and it doesn’t come back. It kind of reminded me of running a marathon - it’s refreshing and fun at first, but then halfway through it hits you you have to run 13 more miles and you start asking yourself what you signed up for (Disclaimer: I’ve never actually run a marathon). It even feels like the album is taunting you with its length sometimes by putting a long stretch of instrumentals in the middle and then some dialogue tracks towards the end. Will the Circle Be Unbroken? More like “Will the Album F*cking End”. So yeah, this really wasn’t bad, it just needs to know its limitations, because as is, I find it highly unlikely that I listen to the full thing ever again - which is kind of a shame because there’s actually some enjoyable moments here. At least it made me think of Bioshock. Can’t wait for these guys to show up on my Spotify Wrapped this year!
This is getting ridiculous. It's like saying that the dictionary is a book you have to read before you die - surely some important documentation, but not quite fitting the format. The title track and the following 'Both Sides Now' were delightful. Only to be immediately followed by more goshdarn fiddle and banjo.
This is an anthology before it’s an album. There are great passages and I appreciate the fact, that every song was recorded in the 1st or 2nd take - it gives it a feeling of authenticity and urgency. But for an album that so prominently features the confederate battle flag on its cover, I’m surprised to say that the most problematic thing about it is the sheer length.
If you’re up for drinking moonshine and eyeing an immediate family with lustful intent this needs to be your slow jams 95’.
Nashville Blues // You Are My Flower // Dark As A Dungeon // Wreck On The Highway // Will The Circle Be Unbroken // Both Sides Now // 2.5/5
Too much banjo
I have listened to thirty out of the 41 tracks and feel that's enough to make some comments. This is always listenable, and a fantastic corrective to the glossy Nashville MOR country that had solidified by the early seventies. But whether 41 tracks of it in one go is really the way to enjoy this music is debatable. Would it have been a four with 12 well-chosen tracks, possibly not but definitely 3.5 rather than the 3 it is after 31 rippin bluegrass numbers.
Well wow what a long album. Why didn't they just do 3. Great tunes from On Brother Where art thou and I appreciated the harmonies and guitar playing and little stories
Absolute belter, I loved it. Definitely gonna listen to this again. Great stuff
Ara
Jeez that's a hell of a lot of bluegrass and trad country. I almost picked up a jug in the kitchen and started blowing into it. Appreciate the craftsmanship though.
An extremely important American musical document that also happens to be just a good old time. I knew about this from the great Ken Burns Country Music documentary but I've never actually sat down a listened to it until today, I'm glad I had the day off and I'm glad I listened because it's great. This was followed by a couple of sequels over the years and now I wanna check those out too.
Kind of a cool idea for an album, to play with the greats. It plays like an archive piece, from the star performances to the little chit chat tracks in between songs. Heck of a run time to get through at 2 hrs, but there hasn't been much bluegrass on this list and it was a welcome change.
I like that they included the banter in between recordings -makes it feel cozy and intimate- but it's way too long without having some kind of coherent thread (beyond jamming with your heroes). They have all these classic country and bluegrass numbers, and then all of a sudden they just throw a solo acoustic cover of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" in there? Could a left some shit on the cutting room floor. I will say my favorite tracks by far were those with Maybelle Carter.
Quaint cozy folk/bluegrass vibes. It's raw and that suits the genre for sure.
3-4
Over two hours! If you like bluegrass I imagine this is a real treat. If after two tracks you're thinking of that meme where it says "it's the same picture" and after 40 you're questioning your life choices, bluegrass definitely isn't for you. It does for the banjo (and any other jangly instruments) what the 80s did for the saxophone - ie ensures you can happily not hear one for a good 30 years until Carly Rae Jepsen makes them cool again. Skip it. It's a museum piece.
It’s fun, but also long and kind of samey for that length. It’s cool how it kind of acts as a celebration of this kind of traditional music, though, and the songs themselves are often nice tasty bluegrass. I also dislike some of the songs, though, like the one about the jewel or whatever. Interesting, but you don’t necessarily need to hear the whole thing.
I was actually quite impressed. 100 min is too much but in smaller doses this is good. Favorite song: Tennessee Stud.
I understand the historic inclusion of this album as a bridge between early 20th century country roots and late 20th century hippie “country fried” music, but I wasn’t feeling the album until the sheer number of rags and fiddle fiestas hit me. That’s what I’m here for - I’ll jam to that!
I enjoyed the interaction between band members pre—song. It gave the recording an authenticity unlike many other albums. A double album of country classics was a little too much and I lost interest midway through.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" answers the age old question: Is there such a thing as too much bluegrass? Before noticing the length of this album, I was tepidly interested. The style of this music can jive with me from time to time, even though I could definitely do without the whole Confederacy (and some of the Jesus and mopey alcoholic) stuff that ends up sneaking into the cracks of this genre. But boy, do I love acoustic guitars and fiddles, folksy shit that almost feels mythological in how it seems from another time and place entirely. But forty two songs? Christ, well, okay … I liked a few of the earlier songs and tolerated some of the others. But this is, in the end, a very bloated album. Don't bother listening to the entire thing unless you're a huge bluegrass simp - or you're another poor stubborn sod like me determined to push through this project with brute force. Otherwise, listen to "Black Mountain Rag", "Flint Hill Special", and "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" if you want to experience some genuinely amazing compositions. Then, with your newfound spare time, go play Bioshock Infinite. Or not. I don't know. I'm not your mom. I don't disagree with the idea of picking a bluegrass album to represent your list, but my brother in Christ, this was so bloated I found myself just listening to this out of obligation in the end.
Maybe I’m in the wrong list
I very much enjoyed this album. It’s masterful.
A gargantuan undertaking of the impact and influence that country music had on the outside observants that made up the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and how it wound up being more realized than anyone had anticipated, with its perceptions for the audience being both of the fly on the wall and in front row, with the participants speaking and going over songs before it being played. Whether downed in one gulp or taken in piece by piece, Will the Circle Be Unbroken remains an essential part of the country music puzzle. *Album generated on 7/4/23, reviewed on 7/9/23*
Great
It sounded nice, but did not need to be 2 hours long.
If you gather a bunch of old school Country and traditional music legends together tonsing hallowed classics it's not much of a stretch you're going to end up with a great album. Credit due to the Dirt Band for thinking of it and pulling it off of course.
I really love the sounds and tunes, but its another album that I couldn't listen from top to bottom. Two hours of country? Come on.
Not my genre but I do like Fishing in the Dark (more recent).
This doesn’t need to be 2h long.
I could have cried when album was generated. Over two hours long and bluegrass. I haven’t listened to much bluegrass before, but my brain associates it with country music, and two hours of that is a hard sell. I’ll try to keep as open a mind as possible, but this feels like it will be a rough day. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Keep On The Sunny Side, Lonesome Fiddle Blues, Foggy Mountain Breakdown It’s hard to say how much of this review is biased by the fact that my knowledge of bluegrass is so limited, but this was incredible! Growing up, people that could shred in rock/metal bands were, at least in my head, the best of the best guitar players. But have you heard bluegrass?! This musicianship is on a whole other level! The banjo, guitar, and fiddle/violin players must be from another planet as they are amazing. I also enjoyed the extra tracks where it sounded like the band were prepping for a song. It made it feel like a bunch of friends having fun together, which probably amplified the fun I felt too. Despite the album length, I didn’t want this to end.
Holy shit this was two hours. My dad made me turn this off multiple times.
If I was a fan of Bluegrass Country music, this would surely be a classic, must-hear album with it's amazing musicianship by some of the legends in the genre and a wonderful collection of songs. I can't say I didn't enjoy it and especially liked the banter and dialogue between the musicians and easy-going casual recording atmosphere. It is long, so it's a lot to take in, but if you're new to Bluegrass, I could recommend hearing this at least once. As I said, I'm not a fan of Bluegrass, but I can appreciate the quality of the music and though it hasn't converted me, I do give it respect and once in a while it's okay to explore other music I don't normally give a care about.
Long, but fun
A delightfully long album that always kept my interest.
Probably didn't need to be *quite* so long, but the gathering of all these artists feels special even to somebody who's heard of maybe one or two of them before. Docked one point for the flags.
I'm getting notes of gospel, twang, twirl, and twist. The twist is that I didn't listen to all 2 hours and 10 minutes. Nor did I listen to all 42 songs. The banjo player(s) seem to know what's going on with this album.
Really didn't expect this... thought it was going to be more like country-pop... especially since the only thing i know by the band is American Dream. That is SOOOO not this band. This is O Brother Where Art Thou?. It is way too long at 2 hours, but it stays true with lots of banjo, some instrumentals, and what seems like music that could have been handed down for generations. Interesting.
2 hours of country no thank you.
Really glad I listened to this, a charming romp through Americana and bluegrass. However, it felt long for my tastes, and found myself wondering if the tracks were on repeat. Some solid songs, and ones I'll enjoy learning to play.
Unleash the Banjos!!!
I wanted to finish it but I couldn’t. It’s really long but the songs sound fine. Maybe when I have more time I’ll finish.
Non stop bangers!
Catchy enough "classic" country music without being stellar.
I'll be honest to say that I really wasn't looking forward to listening a whole 2 hours to something classed as a 'country' album. There are few things that appeal less to me in this life. Luckily when the bluegrassy Nashville Blues started I was relieved there would be more to this album. 2 hours is still too long, so I listened to the album in steps. In the end, I feel like I've been listening to a great collection of vintage country and bluegrass, where the old school seniors of the genre like Roy Acuff and Doc Watson play together with the bearded hippies of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. And I didn't mind it at all.
This album and 69 Love Songs almost broke me. Back to back near 3 hour albums seem intended to make people give up and cry. This is the whitest album in history. Whiter than Weird Al. This is torturous, regardless of the talent level on display.
not mine
Good old country with lots of stars
Competent musicians but oh boy I hate it
42 songs is taking the piss.
Deux heures de débiles qui parlent en accordant leurs guitares.
2h10 de country, Robert aura vraiment tout tenté pour nous pousser à abandonner le générateur, mais on tient bon.
Not so much a commercial album as an anthropology project.
2.-- Hillbillies,... todo suena IGUAL!
I am not a country fan but I like Blue Grass. This is that old school country which is way better than all the modern crap. This is a legit good album. I loved all the in studio talking as well. It lent a live feeling to the record. It was too long. But I assume that is mostly because they wanted everyone to have a chance to shine.
This is a lot of fun to listen to, and it's got a lot of replayability. I guess that old-time sound is still alive and well! 5/5
This is a great collection of bluegrass and country music featuring some of the biggest names in the genres. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of studio chatter as it felt like I was in the group before they would start playing. Of course, that's all good but oh boy is this album long. I love me some bluegrass but I can't take almost 2 hours of it.
Sonido country sin nada especialmente destacable. En ocasiones, virtuosismo con la guitarra y el banjo. Se puede escuchar, aunque pueda parecer un poco monótono
Countrystä ei ole vieläkään oppinut tykkämään. Alussa oli yksi ihan lupaava biisi ja hetkellisesti toiveet paremmasta levystä nousi, mutta eipä tämäkään levy onnistunut toimittamaan.
En keksi mitään syytä kuunnella tätä yli kahta tuntia
Massive album (as in: two hours) of classic country. Some of the instrumental tracks are quite relaxing, but mostly this kind of music just isn't for me. 2.5/5
I just really don't enjoy this style. Nothing against it, I just don't like it.
neat but not my jam
Forty two songs. FORTY. TWO. SONGS.
Not for me. 3
Most of the songs are just re-recording of old bluegrass and country standards, which aren’t bad. The main issue is how fucking long this thing is. OVER TWO HOURS!! I cannot listen to two hours of old country straight. I just can’t. So that earns it a 3 at best, but I could easily give it a two.
My God, this album was never ending. Far, far too long - I wouldn’t even want to listen to a two hour album for a genre I actually enjoy, let alone two straight hours of country. The songs themselves were mostly fine, though largely indistinguishable from one another.
countryzao muito agradável
Interesting... I usually don't like country music, but I want my own list to include a few examples of it at least. And so far, this record is one of the best candidates in the genre I've heard. Its "two-generations-meet" concept is pretty neat, its atmosphere is enticing--thanks to the spoken word interludes between the songs, showing the players prepping before a lot of those cuts--and well... some of the tracks are great! I know they're covers or standards, but oddly enough that doesn't bother me at all given that this is a collaborative record, with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band merely being the vessel that got all those old C&W stars gathered in one place. I love many of the arrangements as well: like the final section of "Keep On The Sunny Side"; or the instrumental "Nashville Blues", with its fiddle and banjo fingerpicking going to weird minor-major transitions; or the backing vocals of "Dark As A Dungeon"; or that incredible guitar solo sliding and, well, literally *wailing* about "The End Of The World" in the instrumental bearing the same name... And I'm only talking about the highlights of the first CD here. Obviously, this release is a LOT to take in in one single sitting, but other stuff on the latter part of the record sound promising as well. The fiddle so aptly imitating a train on that "Orange Blossom Special" instrumental makes it a version that I already find as endearing as the one played by Johnny Cash. I was not paying attention to the names of the songs anymore at this point, and it put me... right on track, ha ha. Speaking of the attention span you need for such a long record... I've noticed that the "pure" bluegrass cuts providing the bulk of the music offer the liveliest and most effective moments here. To me, bluegrass is when "country" becomes a little more interesting, rhythmically and harmonically speaking. Reminds me of when I attended a bluegrass gig when I lived in Indiana for a while, and the blast it was to watch that band play. Wish I could remember those guys' names now... A few words about the overall "country" umbrella style now... Johnny Cash's deep voice and dark persona will always make him a favorite of mine, and I've got to say that I've changed my mind about Marty Robbins' *Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs*, as I will maybe include it in my own list now. The thing is, I still don't sense anything even remotely interesting is happening in most country albums music-wise. Artists like Buck Owens, for instance, also wrote famous songs in the honky-tonk genre, but apart from those well-known cuts, everything from him (and other artists of that caliber) sounds the same to me. Yet I'm trying hard to keep an open mind. I guess Dimery's list helps me a lot doing so, at least. Because that Nitty Gritty Dirt Band record popped up today, I have now explored other ones by Willie Nelson, and I must say I was pretty impressed by *Shotgun Willie* and *Phases And Stages*--far more, actually, than Nelson's return from "outlaw country" to the more mainstream, "vanilla" moods of *Stardust*, along with its strings of pop and jazz covers--a record that's also included in the 1001 albums list, by the way... Maybe a sign that I should dig into less "obvious" releases so as to truly enjoy C&W... But all of this is a story for another time. To return to *Will The Circle Be Unbroken*, I'll give it a somewhat nice score, just because it opened a few gates for me. And for purposes others than the ones of this list, it's at least an 8/10. Being a double-album (triple, actually?) that invites a dozen of other artists to record with the band, said album is a hodgepodge, of course. Yet it's the sort of hodgepodge that makes sense in the end, especially when you want to get acquainted with a whole new genre. Number of albums left to review: 577 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 203 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 98 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 126
Yikes, 2 hours of bluegrass. Strap in, I guess. After track 1 I thought I was done, the odd bit of this here and there will usually do me, but it gradually charmed its way into my ears, and the quality is undeniable. Particularly enjoyed some of the instrumentals like Lonesome Fiddle Blues (well its Devil Went Down to Georgia innit) and Avalanche. Big treat of a run of all of these in the middle there. I definitely got fatigued around 1hr 30 minutes and stopped paying attention. And I didn't listen in one go.
Damn shame because I would've given this a 2 had it been shortened by an hour. But I listened to this whole shebang top to bottom, so I deserve to give this a 1.
Currently on Zillow and getting engaged to the girl I met at work who plays the banjo. We’re looking for 20 acre ranches in Oklahoma. In need of a Realtor asap.
There are worse things to listen to while fetching discs in a field on a rainy Saturday morning, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a 1. This thing almost Stockholm Syndrome’d me into giving it a 2 thanks to the unforgivable run time of 2 hours, but I didn’t succumb. I tried to go song by song, but when discus throwers are hurling discs at you, it makes it hard to look at your phone and I’ll be damned if I listen to this for another run through. D Grand Ole Opry Song - 1 Keep on the Sunny Side - 2 Nashville Blues - 3 You Are My Flower - 2 The Precious Jewel - 1 Dark As a Dungeon - 1 Tennessee Stud - 1 This is all I got through but there were plenty more 1’s after this, I assure you.
Country. Más de dos horas de disco, se hace un poco pesado. Aún así: ni fu ni fa.
Un poco largo
Nope.
2 hours of country/folk
Doesn't get more authentically old-time than this, much of which is excellent and some of which is outright lovely, though the inter-track chatting doesn't add a lot, though no demerits for name-checking the legends of course. It's a long way from this to "Mr. Bojangles" but one's glad to to know the roots of this rootsiest of bands.
Country meh
It may be just stolkholm syndrome, but I loved it. If it weren't for the Confederate flag on the cover I could see myself putting it on! Loved the feel of being in the studio with them like a really intimate concert. Love the bass, love the banjo, love the fiddle. Top marks minus one for the hate symbol
An astounding portrait of American country music, Will the Circle Be Unbroken is a true love letter to a bygone era. The amount of talent on display here is hard not to appreciate, even from Country music haters. I loved the personal touch of having conversations play out before and after songs at times, giving a real sense of the craftsmanship these members are capable of delivering. It also just sounds great. This recording is impeccable, and there isn’t a single note lost in the shuffle, no matter how many instruments are being played together. Beautiful music, from a simpler time.
Unnecessarily long but somewhat troll
nolan favorite album i heard. very mid and long
I am not a fan of Country Music
ugh tough listen couldn't make it to the end. i probably would have given it more of a chance if there wasn't the overwhelming feeling of wasting over 2 hours of my life on it. oh well, can't like everything
This would be much better at a country dive bar with a whiskey but stuck in a car it’s only tolerable
Longest album ever but it didn’t get boring. Had me hootin and hollerin 4/5
Now this was some Appalachian fun. Incredibly long but enjoyed it throughout.
good bluegrass feel!
Not every song was a hit... but god damn. The concept of the old heads playing with the new blood, the studio chatter, the rawness, the sheer talent and variety here all made up for it.
This feels like a staple bluegrass album, which is so rare to me I think it moves the needle to low 5.
Quite enjoyable, not usually my type of music but I found myself having more fun than expected
This isn’t usually my type of stuff but I just got super relaxed when I was listening to this. All the features and different “country person” styles were cool to hear all in one project and it sway from a hootin hollerin good time to a rootin tootin good time with everything in between
It might have been tolerable if it was shorter, but 2 hours of mediocre old folk music is way, way too much. I didn't finish.
Epic bluegrass / country album. Hearing the talking before each songs take is really cool. There’s really no songs on here that are a miss, everything blends so well. One of the very few 2+ hour albums I had no problem getting through.
Not my jam, but interesting
I enjoyed this album much more than I thought I would, the melodies grew on me with a few listens, and I loved the 'quaint' conversations with that Southern formality
Not my thing.
42 punishingly mundane 'Murica audio experiences I want to forget sooner rather than later
banjo is nice and gives it a good country vibe, but I feel like it's 2 hours of the same song played on repeat.
Some great stuff but mostly not my vibe.
Categorie album
Even at the length it is, this still works. What a great collection of artists and songs!
Oh boy. This is a mess. There's some really, really good country music here. Unfortunately there's also some bluegrass stuff that just kinda makes me shrug and it's so freaking, ridiculously long. This really could've been cut down. There's several eh songs and the aforementioned bluegrass could've made this a much leaner, more enjoyable listen. It's a 3, but it could almost be a 2 for the lows and punishing length. It also could've been a 4 for the high points. It's just all over the place. It's best to just find the good songs and skip the rest.
I guess I did know some of these songs and didn’t know it; and found some new gems.
Hillbillymusik.
So this is like an all-star country and western band? Blending old stars and younger upstarts, and to a European ear, this is great! So much history and storytelling, I can see why this is such a historic album. Definitely a must listen.
Made it through. Nothing bad about it particularly but it's sooooooo long. Pick any random tracks from this to make a 45 minute playlist and you'll have a far better experience
NEJ, IKKE MERE HILLBILLY COUNTRY MUSIK, JEG DØR
Ouch
Listening to this for 2 hours = descending into insanity
That is a lot of bluegrass. Reminded me of when I used to play railway tycoon and it had bluegrass as the soundtrack. I used to turn the music off. Obviously, 2 hours to too long, but it was more sufferable than I imagined.
First half was a really good time, but I don’t understand the sequencing of ~10 consecutive banjo (or mandolin?) and fiddle tracks at the beginning of the second disc. The songs are almost indistinguishable from each other and just get old so quickly. Besides that complaint I really enjoyed it for the most part! Lots of interesting storytelling and then the bits of chatting and studio scenes are pretty cute as well. The title track at the end almost feels like a call to action trying to convince people to appreciate this old country sound and for artists to continue to create it, and the record up to that point serves as evidence to show how good country music can be. 6/10
This is another formative record for me. I was spinning it over the weekend and discovered I had 2 copies. Growing up it was on around our house quite a lot and I know it by heart. I learn to play guitar with a ton of these songs. It's an exercise in nostalgia for me, but I'm not sure whether I can actually assess the music on the record with any sort of perspective. The Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Willie Nelson, etc are just so deeply ingrained into my psyche. That being said, the musicianship on this record is pretty amazing. I mean, the list on the left hand side of the cover is ridiculous: Watson, Scruggs, Carter, Martin, Vassar Clements, etc. It's a veritable who's who in the world of bluegrass, country, and folk music. This just feels like a picking party after a wedding and I'm not sure that's not my version of heaven. Lots of folks in and out, the conversations before and after tunes, classic and standard tunes, great harmonies, fierce picking... My bluegrass heart never had a chance.
You can imagine the immediate reticence to listen to this given the rebel flag on the cover... but at the same time I live 10 minutes from a civil war era monument (stone mountain) with confederate generals carved into it. I grew up hearing this kind of music from various family members but I still can not stand most twangy county/bluegrass/folk like this. I listened to 3-4 songs on this record trying to find something that didn't make me cringe, it wasn't easy but I managed to find some great harmonies and musicianship going on. I will never listen to this again though lol I'm giving this 2 stars because I think the musicians are skilled and the harmonies were pretty solid
I like it when people enjoy making music.
Great vibes
Meer fan van de instrumentale nummers dan die met zang. Maar al bij al vind ik dit wel een tof album
3.5 - Going to assume that I've got a bias against bluegrass and round up. This would be an easy 4 if it wasn't 2h+ long. But I get that this is more of a "piece of history" rather than an album you put on and listen to.
Country ...
- really enjoyed Nashville Blues and You are My Flower - the instrumentals are great - not fond of all the talking
This really plays more as an anthology of traditional music, rather than a cohesive artistic statement. It does a good job of what it intends to do, which is document bluegrass music and feature some of it's most prominent performers.
What an amazing project this was! So much fun to hear these musicians play with such joy.
This was a wonderful album! A little nitty and a little gritty and a whole lotta collaboration. I agree that this album belongs on this list!
Wow! This is a lot of impressive music. A wonderful change of pace. I loved the interstitials that caught the musicians talking. That really added to the homey cozy feeling. Loved it.
My parents are big Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fans, so I was happy to see them here. But this is a truly unusual album that I had not listened to. The deep old-school country guests and performances on this are remarkable. Incredible fiddling! Great harmonica! Really stellar performances of a lot of old classics. The candid moments before a lot of the performances were fascinating, charming and really added to the experience. I loved this from beginning to end. Really impressive to think that a young hippy country band in the early 1970s had the wherewithal to embark on such an ambitious project! I’m very glad its importance was highlighted by the 1001 folks.
Loved the Blue Grass sounds and breakdowns were very impressive
More bluegrassy than country but not horrible nonetheless
I have to say, the prospect of two hours of country music didn’t seem the most appealing to me but this is definitely a valuable artefact of country music. There’s no getting away from the album’s daunting length, and if you have literally no time for this type of music it’s tantamount to a form of torture. I, however, have a good deal of affection for early country. There are enough standards here to really justify a listen, Maybelle Carter’s version of “Wildwood Flower” is the definitive rendition and “Wabash Cannonball” is fit for any hoedown. Less interesting, perhaps, are the prolonged periods of tuning and chatter which pop up from time to time. But the album length isn’t really a drawback for me - it’s necessary to showcase the array of country talent now immortalised on this record. It’s a vital interaction between mainstream pop music and a genre on the verge of irrelevance and in this sense it’s successful. Apart from anything else though, it’s a rootin’ tootin’ good time.
Such a classic album with some many amazing artists. This is one I can see going back to many times in the years to come.
C&W / Bluegrass ain't for me.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-haw! It's a never ending bluegrass hoedown! I quite enjoyed the pre and post song chat and love how everyone playing on this record is having a blast. It felt like a bunch of old mates getting together for a sing song. Great fun and it made me happy. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Keep On The Sunny Side Date listened: 14/01/23
Not bad but Way way to long of an album.
When I finished, I found a yearning for country roads
Classic
Yeeeeehaw
This album is the musical definition of Stockholm Syndrome. I had a blast … or did I?
I liked the classic country sound. It was a bit long, and did start to feel repetitive, so I knocked it down to 2 stars.
Country não é muito meu estilo
3.5 stars. I like bluegrass music and this is done well, but good lord this album could use some editing. I don't need to hear the musicians chatting.
Bluegrass - while the musicianship is unquestionable - the lack of professionalism in the studio can jar after a while. It is fine to mess around when you are just having a jam session at home, but to extend that behaviour into the studio is not so great. Being a double album with a playing time in excess of two hours it is also a bit too much of the same for too long.
This album celebrates Americana, Blue Grass, and Early Country Music. The picking and grinning is great and shows off why this group would be performing at the Opry. That being said, it is an acquired taste that may alienate a large part of the audience, despite being an excellent example of this genre.
I enjoy Nitty Gritty Dirt Band but 42 songs in a row was too much
Tappade bort mig själv
Sååå chiil dude onggg
Enjoyed ever minute
Will the Urkel be Unkbroken
I nearly bailed out of this halfway through but am glad I didn't as the instrumental tunes at the start of side two were the highlights of the whole album. The title track near the end was also great On the whole though, it's over two hours of very repetitive country/bluegrass and felt even longer
While this isn't exactly the type of music I really enjoy, I can appreciate the talent of the people that put it together. I really enjoyed learning about why the album was made, and it's truly a remarkable achievement and concept.
Ccc
Þrælskemmtilegt blúgrass, mæli með að renna þessu í gegn.
Over 2 hours long. Not really my cup of tea after the first 20 minutes.
Album is way too long to listen to again. Orange Blossom Special is the best song on it, and I do enjoy the bluegrass.
Far too long.
Way too long
A bit long. I hated the chatter between songs. Otherwise very good.
Yea, I couldn't get through a 2 hour hoe down
Really good versions of really old songs. Reading the story behind it was cool too - a kind of hands across the generational divide type of project. Was cool to hear songs that some of my favourite acts (Johnny Cash, Elvis etc) would have listened to growing up. Surprised how many of the songs I knew - there's even one that Jeff Buckley recorded!
El country es muy aburrido. Next.
Country …
I don't know whether the circle ever did break but I asked myself on many occasions whether this album will ever end. Some familiar voices such as Johnny Cash and Emmy Lou Harris offer highlights in this otherwise consistently continuous album, offering album track after album track of bluesy country gospelly covers but missing the guts that really brings the best out of those forms. Generally quite humdrum and a bit of a s l o g
Never heard of this group before and on the first song, the singer sounded a lot like Johnny Cash, but it was not him. Country is one of my least favorite genres, and while this is a whole lot better than modern country singers singing about tractors and beer and blue jeans from their mansions in the city/suburbs, I'm not a fan overall.
det är svårt idag. hade det varit 45 minuter så hade jag gett det en trea för musiken i sig är inte urkass men nu är det så hiskeligt långt så det drar minst ned det till en tvåa. men ja, det får bli en tvåa
Two hours of Bluegrass was a bit too much.
Long album but really fun to listen to. I enjoyed the bluegrass funky vibes and I’ve heard a few covers of their songs that I enjoy. Very tight group!
I love a bit of country, but you can have too much of a good thing. This doesn’t need to be a double album and is probably too long even for one album. I bailed after the first disc. There are some okay versions of some classic songs here - some of which I only know from versions by Johnny Cash - but I must admit I gravitated towards the songs I already knew, as I find the sound of this a bit samey after a while. Worth it for Tennessee Stud and Dark As A Dungeon, but my attention did wander after a while.
Well this was a pleasant surprise. It's a new artist for me. I was expecting some early 70's folk shit. All the suspect ingredients are there - the artist name, the album artwork, the choice of cover versions. But it doesn't sound dated. Decent songs don't age. It's far too long, but that's part of the appeal. Maybe the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band caught me on a good day. Maybe I'm maturing with age and becoming a stupid hippie.
Really fun
I actually liked this one quite a bit... it just overstayed it's welcome by an hour lol
Rento albumi jossa ei ole pelkästään musiikkia, vaan myös Chatteria.
A *double* album of bluegrass? Well, that's a test. I know it's meant to have that live feel, but the discussion of how they want everyone to play the song gets tedious quickly.
I will stick to the soundtrack of Oh Brother Where Art Thou, or even Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers... A few tracks are fun, Nashville Blues, etc but the album is waaaaaay too long and more for a hardcore fan of this genre (go figure) but if you cut the chatter before the songs you'd snip 20 minutes out of this sucker...I get it, you want that homey vibe but come on, it wears thin. Good and memorable always wins out over long and gradually tedious.
Hillbilly music.
Some shite but basically a history lesson
technically contains some incredible performances (plus i enjoyed the parts with the musicians talking) but as an album it's just not a very enjoyable experience. i did like the instrumental tracks as well as some of the lyricism and after putting this album off for a long time because of the duration, i have to say it wasn't that hard to get through. the songs that charted are the standouts here (Grand Ole Opry Song, I Saw The Light) but i would also choose the title track as one of my favorites. also i liked the banter, the only place where it felt unnecessary was Sunny Side Talk side note: i think i have the audio version of the tetris effect but for bluegrass now
Only so much bluegrass I can take
I never really listened to bluegrass prior to listening to this album. The closest thing was some bluegrass-esque Grateful Dead tunes. As another user stated, this album is a sort of “uniting” of two generations. It flows like a long jam session. The talent on here is great. Lots of legendary names. I absolutely love the dialogue between the songs. It makes you feel like you’re in the studio. The only thing keeping this from a higher rating is its length. 2 hours is a long time for straight bluegrass. If it was cut in half, it’d get a higher score.
If you Love Bluegrass this is a seminal album. That it was recorded in single takes with minimal technical editing is a testament to the craftsmanship of those musicians. God damn its a long album tho.
Not really a necessary listen before you die album
Album is obviously way too long. However, if there is a version of country I can handle, it is bluegrass. The songs without lyrics were the best ones. Favorite tracks: Nashville Blues, Orange Blossom Special
Pretty good country and folk album. I could listen to it while playing fallout!
For some reason I knew the band name but didn't associate it with this sort of music, I assumed they were some sort of Skynyrd type classic rock band. As a result, I expected to turn it off after 1 or 2 songs. Instead, I listened to the whole damned thing. I found the covers and throwbacks to old country and bluegrass endearing, and there was plenty of variety in rhythm, melody, and instrumentation to keep it interesting throughout. Good stuff.
At times, I do love Americana, roots, bluegrass, etc., music. At other times, it can really annoy me. In the right mood, I like this album and very much appreciate its place in the American music canon, both as an album on its own and as an act of preservation. There are SO many tracks on this album, so it's a great compendium of this style of music. No matter what mood I'm in when I listen to this album, I can hear some superbly skilled musicians. There is a genuine skill on display here.
ik så meget mig
Gammel country, blues, lidt folk-ish, lidt hyggeligt, men alt for langt
they really be playing the same song for 2 hours lol. jk I enjoyed feeling like i was in a coen brothers' film, although just like 'O Brother Where Art Thou?', I got bored. Gotta appreciate the artistry and togetherness and friendship the music brings
Too many songs and please edit out the chat. GBH of the ears Fun songs though
Too long
Classic
Nice to find something you would never have given a chance otherwise. Love how raw this is, the ability of these musician to lay down tracks of this quality in one or two takes is jaw-dropping. Didn't listen to the whole thing due to length and since this feels like a compilation more than a cohesive album. Will be dipping back in at a later time but this is well worth a listen. 3.5/5
Listened to half first side of CD. Interesting sound. Very full and can tell they paved way for future country western and bluegrass. Liked the little vocal parts before each song
Había canciones divertidas y otras que eran un rollo.
That's a lot of bluegrass for one sitting! It's great. Every classic is here.... Just too much for me! 3/5