While not the newest record, Route 23 is the best thing I’ve dug up with my new eMusic membership. I love bluegrass, but I often find the song writing rather dry. So many of the themes have been rehashed so many times, it’s easy for them to become stale. Chatham County Line’s material is excellent, however. Performed with vigorous and competent traditional bluegrass style. Produced with warmth and taste that makes it sound fresh and modern, but never gets in the way of the songs.
There’s not necessarily anything really new and novel about Chatham’s material, it really resonants, however. Uses the traditional bluegrass/country themes without abusing them or making them trite.
If you like traditional country/bluegrass, I highly recommend this record.
