Clinch Mountain Echoes (Copper Creek, 1996)

Perfect. Ralph Stanley II - the 17-year-old son of Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley - along with John Rigsby have put together one perfect album of traditional bluegrass. Thesinging is intense and astounding, the picking ferocious, and the songchoices are all five-star classics.

Ralph II, John and the band ripthrough 12 songs on this debut. The songs will be ones that Stanleyfans all over the world will consider standards such as "Memories ofMother," "Little Glass of Wine," "How Mountain Girls Can Love" and "(Say)Won't You Be Mine."

Realize right now though that this is not somemuseum piece. This music has life to it. Much of this life springs upthrough the blood of this musical family, while the rest is coming from thesoul of Ralph II; a worthy bearer of the Stanley Tradition. Welcome to the best bluegrass release of the year.