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The Infamous Stringdusters - Undercover
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With acts like the Earls of Leicester, Flatt Lonesome and this hot five-piece on the scene, bluegrass music is today arguably more popular than it's ever been. Certainly it's more interesting, and one of the reasons why is that groups like the Infamous Stringdusters, while honoring traditional bluegrass, are not afraid to color outside the lines and with Undercover they do just that. A sort of tide-me-over (and a #1 hit on the Billboard Bluegrass chart) until the band's next full album drops early next year, Undercover is an EP that presents five cover songs, some you might expect like takes on Johnny Cash's "Big River" and a fine, banjo-driven interpretation of Jimmy Webb's mournful "Highwayman." A surprising choice of covers but one that proves to be completely suited to a bluegrass interpretation is the Pink Floyd cut "Fearless." Also included are a suitably hopped-up take on the Bob Dylan chestnut "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" and a sublime run-through of the early Tom Petty hit "American Girl."
