Volume II (CBSB, 2000)
Cork 'N Bottle String Band
Reviewed by John Lupton
With no disrespect intended toward the Bottle 'n Cork guys, the comparison ends right about there. Judging from this disc (their second, as might be guessed), they're a competent regional/local band, but not in the same class as the Scene, or any of the major bands whose material they cover - Doyle Lawson, the Osborne Brothers and the Dillards.
The disc does have some strengths. The vocals are often intriguing, in a Grateful Dead sort of way, and there's a good deal of interesting original material - the instrumental "Camden Special" is among the better tracks, these guys can pick a little bit. Most noticeably, though, the production is a bit muddy and uneven, and it might have served them better if this had been a live album - it would be easy to believe that, like a great many bluegrass bands, they just sound better in performance. (Box 3280, Madison, WI 53704)
©Country Standard Time • Jeffrey B. Remz, editor & publisher • countrystandardtime@gmail.com
About • Copyright • Newsletter • Our sister publication Standard Time