DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER
The Hard Game Of Love (Sugar Hill)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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In addition to being a fine singer and a mandolin master, Doyle Lawson is one of the great talent scouts in bluegrass. As a result, his Quicksilver bands have maintained the highest standard of pickin' and singin' throughout numerous lineup changes over the years, as his young discoveries have moved on to seek advancement in studios and stages as players and leaders in their own rights. Quicksilver just keeps rolling along, as Lawson just keeps finding the best young players in the country and incorporating their talents into his distinctive style.

The Hard Game Of Love, the first secular Quicksilver release in several years, is a perfect demonstration of this. Recorded during sessions in 1997 and 2001, the album features at least 3 separate lineups, but I challenge anyone to find a difference in the quality of the performances regardless of who's on board. This is just first class traditional bluegrass music, full of great songs and great performances. If you're among those who overlooks Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver because of the preponderance of gospel material in their recordings, it's time to find out what you're missing, and this is the disc to do it with.

Track List:

Blue Train (Of The Heartbreak Line) * The Hard Game Of Love * Oak Ridge Rendezvous * We Missed You * Nightingale * Standing Room Only * Poor Boy Working Blues * In My Dreams * A Thing Of The Past * My Trust In You * The Hand Made Cross * As Long As The World Stands

[Pick this up at amazon.com.]

© 2002 - Shaun Dale