Ricky Skaggs - Bluegrass Rules!

"Country rocks ... but bluegrass rules." If Ricky Skaggs was looking for a manifesto for his long-awaited bluegrass comeback, he couldn't have done much better than this disc's five-second preamble. Contractually barred from recording bluegrass for more than 12 years, Skaggs has obviously been champing at the bit. After the aforementioned introduction, he promptly unleashes an instrumental "Get Up John" that still has smoke wafting from my CD player. Dandy versions of "Little Maggie," "If I Lose," and "Rank Stranger" follow, to single out just a few. The musicianship here is uniformly superb, especially Skaggs's own mandolin playing, the guitar work of Bryan Sutton, Bobby Hicks's fiddling, and even a nice guest turn from Jerry Douglas. If there's any justice, the commercial success of Bluegrass Rules will send a strong message to record companies: Bluegrass music can and does sell records, especially when it's as flawlessly executed as Skaggs's latest. Let's just hope we don't have to wait as long for the next one. --Mary Park Amazon.com essential recording

wow!

This has not left my CD player since I purchased it. I know it was done a few years back; but, it is definately worth every single penny. Ricky Skaggs is just amazingly talented.

January 13, 2007

wow.

wow. there really isnt much more to say. if you have any appreciation for talented musicians playing beautifully composed pieces of music in any genre then you'll love this right off the bat. i know you're not supposed to be able to wear out cd's but i've gotta be getting close with this one. throw this one in and just drive and let all the troubles of the world be lifted. December 22, 2006

i love ricky's country but his bluesgrass rules

this is one of those bluegrass albums. you cant be without, i love everysong from this album not a bad one at all. bluegrass albums are my favorites by him i was raised on bluegrass music. and i know alot about ricky skaggs, from my dad who is also a mandolin picker and singer and he had the great joy of meeting ricky's sister at a studio once... would love to meet the man himself someday if your a bluesgrass or a rickyskaggs fan then get the album you'll be glad you did. August 14, 2006

Pretty good, certainly not their best

but the band is tight and sounding as good as ever. The material (selections) is a bit weak overall and the first and last cut add nothing. The length is disappointing at 35m er so. Their LIVE at the Charleston Music Hall and Brand New Strings are both much better efforts. The LIVE album is particularly good and even more surprising that it's a LIVE album to begin with. You can feel their energy in that...that's one of the things missing here. Still a good listen but look for a discount on it (I got it for under $10 on the music streamer I use) as the length and a $15+ price tag would have wound me up. ;-) ...enjoy...Dave March 2, 2006

Not for the faint of heart

This is an exceptional CD. The instrumental talent and Ricky Skagg's one of a kind voice makes this a must have CD for anyone who enjoys BlueGrass. For anyone new to BlueGrass this is an excellent example of the genre. Find somewhere comfortable to sit with a nice breeze and just lean back and listen. If there was a school where the new pop singers of country(and I use that term country loosely for the new generation)could learn about country's roots. Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder would be the schools masters and this CD the book to read from. September 25, 2005

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