Album Review: Town Mountain – New Freedom Blues
On the group’s sixth studio album, Asheville-based band Town Mountain continues to build on its successful sound. New Freedom Blues finds Town Mountain having it both ways: the five-piece is a reliable purveyor of classic bluegrass, yet the Appalachian music genre is subtly imbued with a modern-day feel that lets the group express its own character.
Having four songwriters and three capable vocalists means that Town Mountain can explore different sides of that character within the context of an album. Banjo player and singer Jesse Langlais writes songs that lean ever-so-slightly in a country and western direction, while Phil Barker (mandolin and vocals) and Robert Greer (guitar and vocals) turn in more traditionally-minded songs. Greer’s “Witch Trials” sports sturdy construction that transcends bluegrass without betraying its core musical values. And Bobby Britt turns in a lively instrumental composition, “Tar Heal,” a tune that showcases his precise yet freewheeling fiddling style.
The entire album has a casual, upbeat feel, full of warm and playful humor. It’s only on the album’s final track – “Down Low,” a tune co-written by Langlais and guest vocalist Tyler Childers – that Town Mountain expresses a melancholy vibe. Even then, the minor-key melody is peppered with elements more associated with country and even rock.
With New Freedom Blues, Town Mountain doesn’t blaze a great deal of new territory; instead the band expands upon what works. The end result is an album that will delight fans and perhaps even earn the hard-working quintet some new ones.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.