Colorado jam-grass titans Yonder Mountain String Band reflect on over two decades of music-making with the surprise reveal of I’d Like Off, a formerly unreleased collection and one of the last studio projects featuring the group’s original lineup: Adam Aijala, Dave Johnston, Ben Kaufmann, and the late Jeff Austin. Out today on all digital streaming platforms, the five track EP offers a unique glimpse into a crucial chapter of the band’s extensive history, underlining its steadfast chemistry and dedication to honest, benevolent songcraft.
Though YMSB fans are no stranger to these compositions, as they appear regularly in live shows, the studio recordings were first tracked at the tail end of 2010 and maintain their significance as an illuminating relic from the band’s anthology. More recently, the group released its GRAMMY-nominated ninth studio album, Get Yourself Outside, which simultaneously saw the introduction of a new member, mandolinist Nick Piccininni. As it finds its footing as a reinvented touring outfit, the band maintains a grounded philosophy on change; one that honors the past while looking optimistically toward the future.
The opening number, “Ripcord Blues,” promotes reclaiming control over one’s power, even in the face of our instinctual reactivity, while the stirring track “What the Night Brings” highlights the consequences of perilous temptations. The refreshingly upbeat “Pockets,” offers a more lighthearted perspective on navigating uncertainty with humor and levity, and “Don’t Lean on Me” gives voice to broken relationships and failures to see eye-to-eye. Rounding out the collection is the title song, “I’d Like Off,” which hinges on the unsettling realization that true mental health involves confronting challenges that are not easily overcome.
While the aforementioned arrangements do not encompass the entirety of those pivotal recording sessions, the five tracks comprising I’d Like Off offer a poignant reminder to learn from one’s experiences, empathize with the struggles you observe in others, and do your damndest to rise above the hopelessness that sometimes overwhelms the human experience.
