When you’re produced by one of the most famous names in the jam band scene – Bill Nershi – you automatically create a buzz of anticipation from fans and critics. Chris Thompson’s new album, The Road Ahead, is worth the hype: It promises certain satisfaction for cheese heads everywhere.
The album features guest appearances by local favorites like Head For the Hills’ Adam Kinghorn, Joe Lessard and James Thomas, who bring their unique flavors of bluegrass into Thompson’s already vibrant collage of influences.
The track “Traffic” features keyboard feeding nicely into a country-based song, and Thompson’s lyrics appeal to all the eco-conscious folks out there. Songs like “Rest my Soul” and “Free Rider” are free of the grass influence and focus on a more traditional rock sound, captivating the listener with irresistible grooves.
The two instrumentals, “Island Bluegrass” and “Rainfall,” showcase the diversity that Thompson and Coral Creek demonstrate during a live show, while the bluegrass aura that fills the middle of the album highlights the band’s roots and features Thompson’s vocals, which blend seamlessly with the ripple of the banjo’s rolls.
Thompson’s strength lies in his unique synthesis of traditional purity and the creativity of new wave bluegrass. His variety of blues, rock and a hint of reggae not only spices up the album’s brightness, but tantalizes the audience with a taste of this band’s potential to sweep you away with inspiring jams live in concert.
Comments are closed.