Crandall Creek Ain’t Love Somethin’ CrandallCreek.com Copper Mountain
Exciting bluegrass out of West Virginia, Ain’t Love Somethin’ is a crackerjack recording from Crandall Creek.
Now fronted by Carly Greer, the band’s new recording is memorable and compelling. Greer is a vibrant singer possessing a full voice and exuberant approach to bluegrass vocals; if bluegrass wasn’t in her heart, no doubt she could be a blues belter. The band continues to be led by Jerry Andrews (rhythm guitar and vocals) who is also the band’s primary songwriter; Andrews wrote or co-wrote each of the included thirteen songs.
Crandall Creek’s ‘second’ voice is that of Kathy Wigman Lesnock and she takes a delicate lead on “Little White Church” while harmonizing throughout and co-writing eight of the songs. Dustin Terpenning (mandolin and banjo) and Sav Nelson (bass) round out the band with several guests contributing. Album producer Jamie Peck plays bass and contributes vocals with Roger Hoard (lead guitar), Andy Leftwich (guitar, fiddle, mandolin), Mike Scott (banjo), Josh Swift (Dobro), and Darin Vincent (bass) also appearing selectively.
Crandall Creek’s songs are strong even as the subject matter is typical of the genre. “Love The Thrill” captures the freedom of childhood as does “Johnny Miller’s Farm,” taking us to a time when imagination was as vivid as reality, when “transmission was three-on-the-tree,” and home is a place where only good things happen, as in “Refrigerator Homemade Picture Show,” an Andrews’ composition sung by Shannon Slaughter. Andrews takes the lead on his “Fried Green Tomatoes,” a song of garden goodness.
While not breaking thematic ground, Crandall Creek’s songs and performances are top-shelf. The best of them may be “Pieces,” written by the band as well as Chase Arbogast. This is a stunning number of retribution; with an ideal vocal approach by Greer, giving voice to a wronged protagonist, it is a song that…well, let’s just say—keep sharp objects away from her.
Like “Delta Dawn” many years ago, “Hickory Ridge” is sparse on detail—little more than a chorus with a single verse—but in those few lines, an epic is imagined. “Just 18” captures the dream of chasing country music stardom with “Fast Train” and “Ain’t Love Somethin’” also fiery performances.
“Molly Burns” is revisited. Previously an impressive single featuring the band’s former lead singer Anna Dunham, this new version is just as mysteriously appealing. Also re-recorded for Ain’t Love Somethin’ is “Get Out of Bed.”
With guest musicians and no specific credits, one doesn’t know who is playing banjo on “Pieces,” but man—the notes snap on this one. The entire album sounds wonderful, with Leftwich’s fiddling another highlight.
Crandall Creek plays real-deal bluegrass and Ain’t Love Somethin’ is as fine a representation of modern bluegrass as we may encounter in 2024.
Just a note: the band’s recent single (“Lazy Sunday”) featuring Greg Blake is not included on this album.
Fervor Coulee- roots music opinion 