Artist: National Park Radio
Album: The Great Divide
Bitrate: 260kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Edgewater Music Group
Genre: Country
Size: 88.38 megs
PlayTime: 0h 45min 28sec total
Rip Date: 2016-09-30
Store Date: 2016-07-29
Track List:
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01. The Great Divide 4:16
02. There Is A Fire 3:28
03. Steady 3:53
04. I Will Go On 3:00
05. Monochrome 5:24
06. Ghost 4:00
07. Once Upon A Time 3:02
08. Rise Above 4:42
09. The Walking Song 3:39
10. The Ground And The Knee 4:32
11. Virginia 5:32
Release Notes:
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Rookie bluegrass bands face a daunting challenge these days. Torn between
tradition and the temptations that come with the effort to gain populist appeal,
theyá have to determine whatÆs worth compromising while still maintaining a
certain musical standard.
So credit National Park Radio with towing the line between between admiration
for past masters and a desire to navigate their own way forward. Featuring songs
written and sung by frontman Stefan Szabo, The Great Divide, the bandÆs full
length debut, draws comparisons to the Steep Canyon Rangers, and to a lesser
extent, the Avett Brothers, given its equal emphasis on both melody and
musicality. Propelled by the insistent strum of banjos and mandolin, the
musicians create an insistent sound, an irresistible rallying cry that finds the
listener getting caught up in the rhythms and remaining riveted throughout.
ThereÆs a decided charm and appeal to songs such as ôSteady,ö ôOnce Upon a
Time,ö and ôThe Walking Song,ö but that jaunty jangle doesnÆt diminish the rush
of adrenalin that purveys such veritable anthems as ôI Will Go On,ö ôThe Great
Divideö and ôRise Above.ö The accessibility factor remains intact throughout,
and even an occasional ballad like ôMonochromeö or "Virginia"ádoesnÆt diminish
the edge or effect.
After an earlier EP and the support of National Public Radio, The Great Divide
indicates that this Arkansas-based quartet seems likely to gain a devoted
following on the festival circuit and anywhere else where the strains of
bluegrass and contemporary music overlap. Wholly infectious and immediately
appealing, The Great Divide boasts the kind of sound from which true classics
are conceived.