trageser.com
Music Review

Home
Computers
Book Reviews and Reading Diary
CD Buying Guide and Music Links
Best-of lists
CD Reviews
CDs, sorted by Style
CDs, sorted by year issued
CDs, sorted by publication review ran in
CDs by San Diego bands
All CDs, sorted by band name
All CDs, sorted by album title
Interviews
Favorite quotations
Contact Me



The fun side of bluegrass

Can't Buy Your Way
Can't Buy Your Way
By Northern Lights

Flying Fish Records: 1992

Buy it on CD now from Amazon.com
Buy it now


This review first appeared in the May 29, 1992 issue of the North County Blade-Citizen (now North County Times).

Part of the burgeoning "newgrass" movement in country music (Ricky Skaggs was an early member of this movement), Northern Lights is a tight, imaginative combo with a fresh sound that still captures a sense of tradition.

The group runs through a set of neotraditional bluegrass originals and off-the-wall covers that, as the band's own liner notes put it, "translate so well to bluegrass." Among the unexpected offerings are the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight," James Taylor's "Lighthouse," and "Anger and Tears" by the Amazing Rhythm Aces.

Besides great vocal harmonies, Northern Lights also features excellent picking on a funky, well-balanced set of instruments: mandolin, guitar, bass and banjo.

Listening to these guys chase each other through solos and back each other on vocals is about as much fun as bluegrass gets.