Larry Rice
has always held tighter to tradition than his brother
Tony
, even when he's singing more contemporary material like
Gordon Lightfoot
's
"Rainy Day People."
Perhaps that's why
Rebel
, as opposed to
Rounder
, released
Clouds Over Carolina
. It's a good fit.
Rice
, as is his habit, unfurls his songs at a relaxed, easygoing pace. His vocal style on a song like
Fred Rose
"We Live in Two Different Worlds"
is so calm that one might think of it as "mellow grass."
's distinctive style also allows him to put his stamp on a familiar favorite like
Elizabeth Cotten
"Freight Train"
and the
traditional
"Little Maggie."
Unlike a number of
contemporary bluegrass
hybrids, however,
's mellow style never forgets its roots. He's careful to never over-polish his material, meaning that songs like
"If You Only Knew"
and
"Never Meant to Be"
retain a rustic edge. The mandolin/banjo/Dobro/guitar arrangements keep things simple, and mandolinist
is joined by solid pickers like banjoist
Sammy Shelor
, fiddler
Rickie Simpkins
, and guitarist
Tony Rice
. Add to this a good mix of
originals, a couple of classics, and a great instrumental (
"Burnt Rice"
), and listeners are left with an album that offers a fresh turn on tradition. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.