Legendary and long-tenured bluegrass outfit
the Seldom Scene
mine their own legacy on their 2014 collection
Long Timeâ?¦Seldom Scene
, the group's 17th studio album and first since 2007's
Scenechronized
. Since their inception in 1971, the group has seen a revolving door of membership, with founding members and their replacements coming and going, yet their strong musicianship and progressive spirit have remained a common thread throughout each incarnation of the band.
Long Time
acts as both an anthology and a reunion album with a track list made up of freshly adapted renditions of some of their most requested live cuts played by the same modern-era lineup from
(banjo player and founding member
Ben Eldridge
, dobroist
Fred Travers
, guitarist
Chris Eldridge
, bassist
Ronnie Simpkins
, mandolinist
Lou Reid
, and guitarist
Dudley Connell
) with founding members
Tom Gray
(bass) and
John Starling
(guitar) returning to the fold. As has always been the case with
, the arrangements are smart and the performances are of the highest quality. The bright, crisp edginess of their more recent studio records is replaced by a warm, roomy sound that suggests a return to analog equipment and a more minimal microphone arrangement. It's a welcome change making tracks like "California Cottonfields" and "Big Train (From Memphis)" sound more off the cuff and full of live energy. The solo vocal performances are spot-on and the group vocals blend smoothly, especially on their 1974 classic "Wait a Minute." A guest spot from
Emmylou Harris
, joining the band on her
Gram Parsons
-penned classic "Hickory Wind," is also wistful and lovely highlight on this strong collection from one of bluegrass' most enduring institutions. ~ Timothy Monger