CD Review

The Yonder Mountain String band brings their high energy bluegrass and acoustic music to the masses with the release of Mountain Tracks: Volume 4. This fourth installment of their live series, "Mountain Tracks," is a double serving that includes one audio disc and a bonus DVD entitled 'The Europe Bootlegs.'

The album portion includes highlights of Yonder Mountain’s 2005 tour and is packed full of picking and grinning, enough to satisfy any music fan. In the past, Yonder has pulled tracks from one stand-out show, but this time around they offer previously unreleased recordings from various performances over the course of 2005. From the transcendent jams of the Talking Heads cover, “Girlfriend is Better,” to showing off their bluegrass chops with guitarist Adam Aijala’s, “Another Day,” these boys know how to get a crowd moving. Jeff Austin shines as usual with his charismatic vocals and mandolin on their reworking of the traditional “Ruby.” And Ben Kaufmann (bass) includes “Looking Back Over My Shoulder,” from his infamous set of originals penned, “The Sheriff Saga,” which includes a rollicking Dave Johnston banjo. With blistering solos and well-toned harmonies, this fourth installment is yet another must have for bluegrass enthusiasts.

But the real treat is the bonus DVD, with extensive footage of their first European tour in 2003. The film takes a rare, behind the scenes look at touring with the band, including vintage live footage from festivals to club shows, with great versions of Yonder Mountain originals such as, “40 miles from Denver” and “Another Day.” Impromptu jams in records stores and radio stations add some color to the mix, while interviews with bandmates and candid conversations give an inside look at each member.

For more info see: yondermountain.com