The Steeldrivers are a virtual super-group of the Nashville background featuring Richard Bailey (Banjo), Mike Fleming (Bass/Vocals), Mike Henderson (Mandolin/Vocals), Tammy Rogers (Fiddle/Vocals) and Chris Stapleton (Guitar/lead Vocals). The first thing about these guys that jumped out to me was Chis Stapleton’s ’sandpaper to silk’ voice. It immediately seemed familiar. Having worked with so many popular musicians in the current ‘pop with a fiddle’ country music, scene I wonder if maybe I picked up on his voice in the background of a song at some point. Another particularly interesting thing about the band is that while they do look like a bluegrass band on paper, their sound really doesn’t fall into the Bluegrass category….smooth-grass maybe, if you were forcing it in. I’d prefer to just call it Americana with bluegrass instrumentation.

I will agree with the common consensus that any song on this album is a juggernaut alone, but as a whole it can be difficult to listen to the album. It’s an interesting phenomenon that can easily be conquered by the “shuffle all songs” option on the iPod. For their second album I think the band should get out of Nashville for about 6 months, then re-address the songs and record them in some analog-only studio down in Louisiana somewhere.

Regardless of cohesiveness, the high points on this album are well worth placing this album on the ninebullets.net Essential Listening list. Shit, I knew it was going there the moment I heard “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” the first time.

The Steeldrivers - If It Hadn’t Been For Love
The Steeldrivers - Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey
The Steeldrivers - Hear The Willow Cry

The Steeldrivers’ Official Site, The Steeldrivers on myspace, Buy The Steeldrivers