Album Review: Mountain Heart 'Blue Skies'

Mountain Heart is set to return with Blue Skies, their first studio album in five years, on May 6th. The album finds the group reinvented with front man Josh Shilling being the only member previously featured on a Mountain Heart release. The rest of the line-up now includes violinist Molly Cherryholmes (of 5-time Grammy-nominees Cherryholmes), Jeff Partin, Aaron Ramsey, and Seth Taylor and while the quintet stays true its bluegrass roots, they add R&B, country, and jazz alongside some heavenly harmonies and brilliant musicianship creating a high-energy, soulful sound.

The ten-song collection, which was produced by the band and cut live to tape, begins with the lazy day jam “Blue Skies,” a clear as day toe tapper reminding one to “set your spirit free every once in a while.”

There’s a hint of a bluesy Michael McDonald in "Miss Me When I'm Gone" a matter of fact tale of not knowing a good thing until it’s gone. “Sip your whiskey, drink your wine, do what you have to to ease your mind, but mark my words when you’re all alone, you’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.” The group puts a bluegrass spin on Dylan’s “Maggie’s Farm” before segueing into the moving ballad "No One To Listen" which conveys the loneliness that often accompanies chasing your dreams. “Every call I’ve made, every letter that I wrote says life sure is great way out here on the road, but you know even a gypsies need a friend.” 

Mountain Heart mixes it up with the immensely soulful "She'll Come Back To Me," the fast-paced, dark-edged instrumental “The Bad Grounds” and the southern spiritual “Have You heard About The Old Hometown.” They merge jazz and bluegrass on the clever “I Can’t Get Over You” and deliver emotionally on the impassioned ballad “Hurting.” The album is rounded out by the pop-folk of “Addicted” which is not only the closing track but also the way you’ll feel after listening to Blue Skies. And it’s definitely an addiction you can feel good about. 

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