Pick Your Poison (Mountain Home, 2023)

Benson is the top tier bluegrass musician duo of Wayne Benson and wife, Kristin Scott Benson. Wayne is the long-time mandolin man for IIIrd Tyme Out, while Kristin is the banjo player for The Grascals. "Pick Your Poison" is their first album together, coming about during the downtime necessitated – and afforded - by the pandemic.

No one can question their proficiency on their respective instruments, and while there are a few instrumental numbers here that demonstrate their proficiency, including "Conway" and "Riverside," this is really a collaborative project involving the Bensons and a host of musical friends.

Seven of the 10 cuts contai vocals, none by the Bensons. The lead-off song, "'Icy Cold Heart,' is a rousing, bluegrasser with Grayson Lane singing lead, as is 'Red Mountain Wine, with Mickey Harris out front on vocals. Grascal bandmate Jamie Johnson does a nice job on The Beatles' "I'll Follow the Sun." Check out the group's enoyabe rendition of Crystal Gayle's hit, "Living In These Troubled Time." "Festival of Rudy" is a fun, up-tempo instrumental, as is "Mountainside." Both tracks, written by Wayne Benson. And what bluegrass album would be complete without a spiritual number. 'Oh Me of Little Faith' fills this spot quite nicely.

Other A list bluegrassers helping out include Jimmy Van Cleve on fiddle and Cody Kilby on guitar.

Because the Bensons are such great pickers, one might expect "Pick Your Poison" to show off their talents with more flashy licks and a "look at me and how fast I can play" mentality. The album represents them well, but shows how important collaboration and making good music together is to them. A real good album.