Backstabbers

Last year I gave the band's debut, Country Stringband, a lukewarm review, mainly because while they are clearly one of Canada's best bluegrass bands, the album's one-microphone recording technique didn't fully capture the energy of their music. They have certainly improved things in that regard on this follow-up, choosing to add a little studio warmth. While playing bluegrass may have a certain cachet at the moment, these guys have never been bandwagon jumpers. Aside from tackling some pretty obscure traditional material here, like the Louvin Brothers' "Cincinnati, Ohio," songwriters Tom Parker and Bob Hannan once again turn in some originals that the Louvins could have written themselves. Let The Sunshine In is a must for old-time music fans.