Moxie And Mettle
Mountain Home, 2021
8/10
The North Carolina bluegrass legends Balsam Range return with another batch of their universally embraced song craft, as the 5 members all bring their respective talents to the frisky spirit of Moxie And Mettle.
“Highway Side” starts the album with firm banjo, flowing vocal harmonies and melodic mandolin that guides the timeless bluegrass, and “Rivers, Rains And Runaway Trains” follows with swift string plucking as deeper vocals enter the warm, soothing climate.
The middle tracks offers us the calm and emotive “Franklin County”, while “Richest Man” moves swiftly with fluid bluegrass nods amid the vivid storytelling. “That’s Enough” then resides closer to folk territory, where dual gender vocals spread out across sublime, stirring instrumentation.
Near the end, “Tonight I’m Heading South” emits a playful, mountainous appeal with its dance friendly delivery, and “Santa Barbara” continues with all the trademark Balsam Range ideas present- gorgeous vocal harmonies, intricate string manipulation and sincere, eloquent wordplay from Buddy Melton.
Moxie And Mettle consists of 4 recent singles and 8 other equally well executed songs, and it illustrates Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, vocals), Buddy Melton (fiddle, vocals), Caleb Smith (guitar, vocals), Marc Pruett (banjo) and Darren Nicholson (mandolin, vocals) at their finest, illuminating their rural brand of gospel, country, bluegrass and folk with incredible precision.
Travels well with: Chuck Wagon Gang- Radio Days; The Grascals- Up All Night