Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Welcome To Woody Creek
Archive
Posted On November 1, 2004
On their Will The Circle Be Unbroken albums the members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band have sometimes found themselves overshadowed by higher-profile guest artists. For Welcome To Woody Creek, which comes on the heels the third Circle disc, the five-man band got back to basics, cutting the album themselves (except for a cameo by steel guitarist Dan Dugmore). The result is a blend of country, bluegrass, folk and rock that is a microcosm of the band’s 40-year history.
The band of five multi-instrumentalists and three vocalists — Jeff Hanna, Jimmy Ibbotson, Bob Carpenter, Jimmie Fadden and John McEuen — bring a renewed enthusiasm to their original songs and three covers. “Walkin’ In The Sunshine” is a lyrically straightforward, musically upbeat opener. “Forever Don’t Last” looks at the tenuousness of modern relationships and could also be a commentary on the band’s changing lineups.
The Beatles “Get Back” receives a driving bluegrass treatment, courtesy of McEuen’s banjo. A graceful version of Gram Parsons’ “She” serves as the emotional centerpiece of the album. “Old Time’s Sake” is a lovely, bittersweet waltz that should have been the final song, bringing the album full circle. The instrumental title track concludes the proceedings but feels like an afterthought — a minor quibble on a worthwhile album.
