Wildwood

Artist: Chatham County Line
Label: Yep Roc
Website: chathamcountyline.com

It took me one listen to become totally enamored with Chatham County Line's fifth record Wildwood. The group continues to evolve their sound and incorporate more instruments, as the boys from North Carolina go all out this round and add more pedal steel, strings and drums to their already bluegrass-Americana mix.

Bluegrass traditionalists may be scowling but the band shrugged off how others classify them and focused on solid writing and catchy melodies. This attitude has a big payoff on Wildwood, as it takes the prize for the best record Chatham County Line has released to date.

The big sing-a-long "Crop Comes In" is the band's most memorable track they have written, as it will instantly remind you of several Jayhawk classics. Ballads such as "Alone In New York" and "Porcelain Doll" showcase the bands stronger songwriting and talented singing, while the stomper "Heart Attack" still shows that the group has not lost their humor nor taste for the traditional bluegrass.

Chatham County Line have been progressing with every record and on Wildwood the band finally hits the perfect combination that retains their love for traditional bluegrass music and instrumentation, while embracing their desire to play Americana, country, and rock 'n' roll.

It all blends perfectly on this record and it comes out sounding stellar, making Wildwood one of my favorites already for this year.

Christopher Anthony

For more of Christopher Anthony's music reviews, check out The Fire Note