“No Depression Music”

Freakwater was making “No Depression music” back before there even was an ND. And now they’re back after nearly a decade, with a stunner of a new album that’s been reminding critics why we loved them in the first place. Following that theme of whatever No Depression music is, the Infamous Stringdusters brought some of their famous friends into the studio (everyone from Aoife O’Donovan to Joss Stone) for a little help on their latest effort, which expanded their sound from bluegrass into a whole other realm. Meanwhile, the harmonies wrought by Emily Barker, Amy Speace, and Amber Rubarth (aka Applewood Road) blew reviewer Maeri Ferguson away. And the Waco Brothers and Malcolm Holcombe have delivered some instant hits of their own. There’s not a downside to the whole bunch.