The distinctive bluegrass quintet delivers once again with a lyrical and political giant of a fifth album.
These self-produced songs, All Ashore, were released July 20 through Nonesuch Records, showcased a theme of evolution for the group and its signature progressive sound in the bluegrass genre.
The Journal from Nonesuch Records could not have put it better when it read: “The work has the feel of a nine-song suite, one that invites you to unravel the threads of its connected themes and stories over repeated listening.” I found myself to be listening repeatedly when I came across this work from the “ridiculously eclectic” group that combines folk, jazz, funk, and arguably many more genres into a bluegrass instrumentation.
Some of the key listens from the nine tracks would include “Three Dots and a Dash,” “Jumbo,” as well as the title track.
The fifth track “Jumbo” seems to explore Punch Brothers’ feelings towards current events involving an unspoken Donald Trump Jr. and a difficult political climate in our country. There are more words that rhyme with ‘jumbo’ than you would think.
Listen for the world-renowned banjo playing from Pikelny in “Jungle Bird.” This is one of the funkier instrumental charts where he trades off the melody with Gabe and his speedy fiddling.
One of two singles released, “Three Dots and a Dash” demonstrates some upbeat bluegrass expressions in the key of G. The other single, “It’s All Part of the Plan,” slows down and takes a more lyrical route with an intimate Thile on vocals followed by a triumphant ending.
Chris Thile on the new release: “We were hoping we could create a thing that would be convincing as a complete thought, sort of a nine-movement or a nine-song thought, even though it’s rangy in terms of what it’s talking about and in the characters doing the talking.” (credit: Nonesuch Records)
The group was also featured as musical guest on TBS’s Conan last Thursday, offering some key TV time for the band.
If you are looking for your next tasteful, easy-listening, genre-bending group on Spotify, then check out Punch Brothers. While this was not their best album lyrically, they still brought plenty of musicality to the table, typical of the group. This culminated to a very entertaining nine-track record that is worth the listen and possible repeated listenings.
Athesis Music Journal 