{"id":868,"date":"2014-09-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2014\/2014\/09\/16\/hearing-aide-greensky-bluegrass-if-sorrows-swim\/"},"modified":"2014-09-16T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-16T00:00:00","slug":"hearing-aide-greensky-bluegrass-if-sorrows-swim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2014\/2014\/09\/16\/hearing-aide-greensky-bluegrass-if-sorrows-swim\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Aide: Greensky Bluegrass ‘If Sorrows Swim’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Emotionally driven and musically diverse, Greensky Bluegrass<\/a>\u2019s newest studio effort, If Sorrows Swim<\/em>, defines the group\u2019s growth going into their fifteenth year. This intense collection of road-tested and unheard originals aims to capture the quintets dynamic, contrasting stage sound.<\/p>\n

\"ifTargeting a more concise sound than previous albums, If Sorrows Swim<\/em>, does exactly that. The album opens with Paul Hoffman\u2019s (mandolin\/vocals), \u201cWindshield\u201d. Strong, yet desperate, Hoffman\u2019s vocals grow intense and dramatic, bringing an immediate sense of emotional release to the album. Impassioned rhythmic interplay between Mike Bont (banjo) and Dave Bruzza (guitar\/vocals) immediately engage the listener as bass player, Michael Devol, adds light bass lines to the mix.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Control\u201d displays the bands ability to weave intricate layers of sound. The albums MVP\u2019s, Michael Bont (banjo\/vocals) and Anders Beck (dobro), create delicate, yet fiery lines that gives Hoffman\u2019s ballad a powerful texture that doesn\u2019t quite exist on earlier albums.<\/p>\n

What stands out the most on this album is the extreme attention to detail compared to their previous releases. If Sorrows Swim<\/em>\u00a0captures some of Hoffman\u2019s and Bruzza\u2019s best songwriting, as well as the band\u2019s meticulous interplay. While the album loses a little steam over the twelve tracks, \u201cLeap Year\u201d brings back an energy that features a Garcia<\/a>\/n<\/a> inspired sound. Reaching past the five-minute mark, the tracks dramatic instrumental exchanges make this the improvisational cut on the album.<\/p>\n

While putting out what could be their best studio album, If Sorrows Swim<\/em>\u00a0still falls somewhat short of recreating their intoxicating and energized stage sound.<\/p>\n

Key Tracks:\u00a0<\/strong>Forget Everything, Leap Year, Windshield<\/p>\n

Order the album here<\/a><\/p>\n