Album Review: Town Mountain 'Southern Crescent'

North Carolina’s Town Mountain, the recipient of 2013's International Bluegrass Music Awards Momentum Award for Band of the Year, will release their fifth album, Southern Crescent, April 1 on via LoHi Records. For this new project, the five-some - Robert Greer [vocals and guitar], Jesse Langlais [banjo and vocals], Bobby Britt [fiddle], Phil Barker [mandolin and vocals], and Nick DiSebastian [bass] - worked with producer Dirk Powell at his Cypress House studio in Louisiana and the result is a soulful, energetic collection of ear pleasin’, toe tappin’ roots-grass.

From the fiddle filled, energetic instrumental opener, “St. Augustine” to the carefree “Ain’t Gonna Worry Me” bluegrass sensibilities merge with roots, rock and country in melodies that will not only make you sit up and listen – they’ll have you getting up and moving as well. “Comin' Back To You” joyously recalls Jerry Lee Lewis, the reflective and thoughtful, “House with No Windows” allows mandolin and fiddle to expose a tangible lonesomeness while “Long Time Comin’” and the jaunty Celtic-tinged instrumental “Leroy’s Reel,” showcasing spritely and on point instrumentation.

Rounding out the collection is the immensely spirited, “I Miss The Night,” a grab you by the ears tune written after Langlais experienced 22 hours of daylight during Alaska’s summer solstice, the witty “Tick On A Dog” and personal favorite “Whiskey With Tears” which brings some serious honky-tonk swagger to a story of a down on his luck guy headed to his “new second home” to have his favorite drink “whiskey with tears” mixed just right.

Travel, distance, loneliness and love - Town Mountain illuminates them all with a passion and raw energy that makes Southern Crescent an oh so satisfying listen that you’ll return to again and again.

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