Album review: THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Toward The Fray

Americana Vibes/regime Music Group [Release date 25.03.22]

GRAMMY Award-winning bluegrass, folk and Americana outfit, the Infamous Stringdusters, have been making music since 2006 and ‘Toward the Fray’ is the band’s first original album since 2019’s ‘Rise Sun’.

The Infamous Stringdusters consist of Travis Brook (bass), Andy Falco (guitar), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), Andy Hall (dobro) and Chris Padolfi (banjo). Like many other releases by fellow artists they recorded this album separately, yet the overall sound still sounds like one where the band have all been jamming and recording together in the same studio. The album also marks the first time the band have used drums, utilising Mark Levy on two tracks.

Opening with ‘Hard Line’ the Infamous Stringdusters soon show why they are so revered in bluegrass and wider musical circles. Not only is their playing fast & furious, yet intricate, but they have wonderful vocal harmonies – think of the likes of Poco or Eagles.

‘I’m Not Alone’ is one of the songs to feature drums, neatly added to the mix with their light touch, adding to the banjo and fiddle sound. Again the vocals are sublime and it is easy to see why this band have won awards. The same goes for ‘I Didn’t Know’ and the fiddle playing on ‘Means To An End’ is pretty damn fine.

Those after a more traditional country fix ‘Pearl Of Carolina’ fits the bill perfectly. The instrumental ‘Revolution’ is another taking a more traditional bluegrass route.

Ignore the bluegrass & country labels if these are genres of music you would normally swerve, as this is an enjoyable album regardless of musical labelling. The Infamous Stringdusters could just well be your new favourite band you’ve yet to discover. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)