(Dualtone)  Welcome To Woody Creek finds the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band celebrating the band's 39th anniversary. Though they now may be older, wiser and considered 'elderstatesmen,' the band still sounds as vibrant, youthful and current as they did 39 years ago. Formed in the mid-60s, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band rose from the So-Cal country-rock scene to become one of the genre's most influential pioneers. Although there've been personnel changes over the years with some members leaving and then returning, the current line-up consists of what's been the band's most consistently core members. Co-founders Jeff Hanna (vocals, guitar) and Jimmie Fadden (guitar, banjo, drums, harmonica) who've never left the band, John McKuen (mandolin, fiddle) a founding member who left for a time, Jimmy Ibbotson (vocals, guitar, bass, mandolin) who joined in the late 60s and Bob Carpenter (vocals, keyboards) who came on board in the mid-70's.

Woody Creek is their first new studio release since 1998, following a string of solo projects and the 2002 release of Circle III, the second follow-up to their groundbreaking 70's release Will The Circle Be Unbroken, a series of albums that has the band pairing off with some of country music's legendary greats. It's also their first since the return of John McKuen to the fold. Most of Welcome To Woody Creek was recorded in the band's adopted home of Colorado, at Jimmy Ibbotson's Woody Creek home studio. They decided on recording in a relaxed, unencumbered atmosphere instead the the restraints and pressures of a Nashville studio. The resulting album finds the veteran band recalling the laid back sound and vibe of their early days.

NGDB delivers their trademark jangly bluegrass influenced roots-rock sound with the solid songs, "Walking On Sunshine" and "It's Morning." "Forever Don't Last" is a delightful toe tapping country-rocker with a Cajun beat, while the strong, mid-tempo "Any Love But Our Love" features some of the album's most gorgeous harmonies and the terrific Dan Dugmore guesting on steel guitar. Penned by Matraca Berg (Mrs. Jeff Hanna), the band takes the edgy and cynically optimistic "It's A New Day" to a soaring Woody Creek highlight with more stellar harmonies and a riff or two lifted from "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." They effectively cover Gram Parson's "She" in a bluesy, reflectively haunting manner. "Jealous Moon" is a tender, slightly bluesy ballad, while the piano driven waltz "Old Time's Sake" delivers some soulfully painful heartache. The band heads for straight ahead bluegrass territory with the lovely bluegrass-gospel "Safe Back Home," and then shift into party mode with an uptempo bluegrass hoedown, "Party On The Mountain." They hit the mark with a deliciously playful bluegrass-jam rendition of the Beatles' "Get Back." The guys close out the album with a terrific, moody acoustic instrumental, "Midnight At Woody Creek." 

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band don't break any new ground on Welcome To Woody Creek. What they do accomplish is showcasing their strong, enduring creative chemistry and versatility, along with solidly written, emotionally substantial and endearingly homespun songs. Despite the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 39 years together, the minimal production combined with the band's effortless and earthy delivery, Welcome To Woody Creek harkens back to their Uncle Charlie days- filled with exuberance and laid-back charm.            

Standout Tracks: "Forever Don't Last," "Jealous Moon,"  "She," "Party On The Mountain," Any Love But Our Love," "It's A New Day," Old Time's Sake" 

On The Net: www.nittygritty.com www.dualtone.com

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack November 2004

Read TCB's previous Nitty Gritty Dirt Band review:

http://www.takecountryback.com/reviews/circleIII.htm