If You Hadn’t Noticed
Pinecastle, 2023
8/10
Listen to If You Hadn’t Noticed
A listen that doesn’t shy away from three-part harmonies, The Goodwin Brothers, i.e. Jonathan Goodwin, Kenneth Chase Bush and William Goodwin, bring their distinct brand of Grassicana to these 10 rich and melodic tracks that make room for plenty of guests, too.
“Midnight Train” opens the listen with the swift strings and Jim VanCleave’s stunning fiddle playing populating the warm bluegrass climate, and “Down To The Mill” follows with Mark Fain’s bass complementing the soaring vocals and melodic string interaction.
“Bottom Of The Holler” occupies the middle spot and trims the pace back with sublime balladry that places Rob Ickes on dobro, while “Monday Morning” benefits much from Shaun Richardson’s emotive guitar that complements Aubrey Haynie’s pretty fiddle playing.
“Shady Grove” and “ Send It On Down” exit the listen, where the former makes great use of Russ Carson’s fluid banjo for the mountain-esque melodies, and the latter is a soft and rich closer that tugs on the heartstrings.
An outfit that formed just in 2021, Jonathan Goodwin has picked up a Grammy already, William previously fronted the gospel band Assembled and Chase Bush impressed us on season 5 of American Idol. Together, they birth a highly memorable version of modern bluegrass.
Travels well with: Danny Burns- Promised Land; Tim Raybon Band- I Could Get Used To This