My record collection reads like many other music-obsessed mid-20s malecomputer geeks (let's be honest). I've got loads of laptop generatedmusic, a bunch of jazz (especially stuff on the 'fringe'), some goodol' Krautrock, not to mention the classics: Zeppelin, Floyd, etc, toname just a few of the genres represented on my shelf (but, I am proudto say, no Magnetic Fields or the like). But I'm lacking somethingintegral in my record collection: BLUEGRASS. I was brought up inAppalachia, with bluegrass and old-time music around me my entirechildhood. The lack of Louvin Brothers or Carter family records in myapartment is therefore appalling; I've always liked and appreciatedbluegrass and old-time, and a good banjo player always knocks my socksoff more than a flashy guitar player. So where are my Flatt &Scruggs LPs? It must be city life - how can I ever have "KnoxvilleGirl" in my head when I'm trying not to get hit by cabs as I speedwalkto the subway? All of this is leading up to the fact that I love thisCD by The Boggs, who live in the same city I do and somehow findthemselves inspired to pick up banjo, mandolin, etc and make somedamned fine downhome bluegrass. On the cover of the album, the bandlooks like deceivingly like any other NYC band, possibly one that wouldmake "dance music with a punk edge," but the Boggs couldn't be furtherfrom the typical NYC trend in bands. Though no one is going to confusethe Boggs with Doc Watson or Bill Monroe, this is straight upbluegrass, not 'alt country' or 'bluegrass-infused rock.' Usually, Imake progression a priority in the music I like; that is to say, I liketo use the argument, "Why listen to [new artist making music in an oldstyle] when I could just listen to [artist from 20-18 years ago]?", butI find myself unable to justify that argument with the Boggs. Maybe Ilike them so much because there aren't too many people up north makingmusic coming from an Appalachian influence (though I must admit I don'tknow the true roots of the members of the Boggs). In a city overflowingwith bands aping bands that ape 20 years ago, it's refreshing to hear agroup whose music isn't dictated by their surroundings.
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