[rating=8.00]
Black Sheep is the first album in the new era of Yonder Mountain String Band’s existence, and their first proper release in 6 years. Since the departure of exuberant mandolinist and founding member Jeff Austin last year, guitarist Adam Aijala has assumed the most prominent role in the band. Now front and center on stage (and in the band’s press photo, for what it’s worth), Aijala trades vocal duties with bassist Ben Kaufmann and banjo player Dave Johnston, as well as new violinist Allie Kral. Jacob Jolliff fills the all-important mandolin spot, and the band’s brief time together has proven fruitful, as evidenced by this wonderful record. Though Aijala is the band’s original and featured resource, they’ve never been more of a cohesive unit than they are right now.
Full of new material, save one cover (a typically awesome choice of Buzzcocks’ “Ever Fallen In Love”), the album finds the trademark, time-tested YMSB drive spiced with the fresh contributions of the new members. Kral’s fiddle has innumerable places to flitter among the structure of the songs. She and Jolliff catalyze intense instrumental breakdowns in the straightforward, chugging “Insult And An Elbow” and the thrumming “Black Sheep”. The band’s omnipresent wry humor is featured as well. “Annalee” is a lyrical game of chicken, with the singer heading towards obvious rhymes before dodging them at the last second. “Landfall”, “Drawing A Melody”, and “I’m Lost” are perfect examples of the magical elixir of influences that YMSB has always concocted, and “Around You” brings it to a full boil with insistent bass, hypnotic instrumental togetherness, and dramatic vocal presentation.
Black Sheep should be an affirming and reassuring listen for fans of YMSB. While some fans will likely never view the band in the same light they once did, it’s a given that their current sound will bring in more than a few newcomers. The addition of Kral’s vocals, along with a more focused songwriting approach, makes them appealing to an even wider variety of listeners. They’ve always one of bluegrass music’s most versatile acts, but YMSB is perhaps even more adaptable now, and this album is a strong opening statement in their new musical life.
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