was a founding member of , so his credentials are unimpeachable. The singer and guitarist left in the late '70s, only to return in the early '90s and then leave again a year later. His frustration with the band's increasingly slicker sound led him to go solo in order to return to the rootsier sound he preferred, but the big news for fans of the early is that he's reunited with fellow ex-Scenesters (Resophonic steel guitar) and bassist to form . Not surprisingly, this is the real deal, as it was meant to be played. That's not to imply that aims to re-create the ambience of an old record; this is a crisp-sounding, modern recording, but the music was cut live in the studio -- no gimmicks, no nothin', just good pickin' and great harmonizing. As if to make the point early, and the group kick it off with ' as iconic a piece of American acoustic music as there is. The rest of the repertoire comes from a variety of sources ranging from (the oft-covered but never tiring ) to to . And yes, that is the voice of joining in on the tune, 's voice is still clear as a bell and the musicians know precisely what they need to do to keep things comfy and lively here. In , who's worked with such heavyweights as and as well as , they couldn't have found a more skilled and sympathetic producer. Those who worship at the altar of acousticity will be right at home with . ~ Jeff Tamarkin