Brothers From Different Mothers (Rounder, 2009)

Fresh off a staggering six SPBGMA Award wins in February, bluegrass' darling duo isn't slowing down anytime soon. Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent have managed to release a critically acclaimed debut album, win seven IBMA awards (including the coveted Emerging Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year awards) and put out their sophomore release.

The new album is a strong natural progression, solidly filled with banjo-laden bluegrass, gospel tunes and a touch of country fare. The pair's harmonies are tighter than ever; Vincent's slightly dusty baritone is a perfect springboard for Dailey's pure glassy tenor. The duo's ample energy and confidence throughout the record (perhaps a consequence of their recent successes as well as their countless years on the road as vocalists for other top bluegrass artists) seems to bring a sunny brightness even to topics like heartbreak on the jovial Years Ago, (including the line "I didn't come to kiss the bride/I did all that long ago"), or loneliness on a subdued version of the Roger Miller classic, You Ought to Be Here with Me .

They don't hide the fact that they are Statler Brothers fans, either. In addition to covering Years Ago and There is You , D&V invited Statler brother Harold Reid (as his alter ego Lester Morgan) to guest on Head Hung Down . The moving spiritual On The Other Side was penned in part by former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune. Like the Statlers, D&V keep their strong Christian views front and center with classic Southern Gospel songs including the sing-along Oh Ye Must Be Born Again , When I Reach My Home Up There and the reverent When I've Traveled My Last Mile.

It will be a while before this duo sees their "last mile."