Full Review

Crooked Still – Still Crooked

The fantastic 4 piece string band ‘Crooked Still’ released two fantastic albums over the past couple of years, but for this third album a slight change in line-up has seen explosive cellist Rushad leave to be replaced by two new members, Tristan Clarridge and Brittany Haas, who add cello and fiddle to the existing banjo and double bass. The change to five members has kept the band’s trademark driving cello, but also adds the detail and top end of the fiddle; it's changed the sound a little, but it's a welcome change as it makes them a more versatile outfit.

'Still Crooked' starts of by introducing the new members with a groove heavy cello line and some fantastic fiddle playing, and from there on in the band go about their material as they did on the previous albums, mixing traditional American songs with a handful of self written material, all backed by some of the finest young musicians on the scene.

Aofie's clean and pure vocals soar and glide across the 13 songs, while Greg Liszt's fantastic banjo and Corey DiMarco's double bass keep the whole band together – they're a great bunch of musicians and this album shows them off at their very best.

The album is packed with great songs and memorable hooks, notably ‘Undone in Sorrow’, ‘Captain Captain’ and the album’s highlight ‘Tell her to Come Back Down’.

'Still Crooked' is the finest bluegrass / old-time roots disc to come our way for years, and it has everything you could wish for, expressive vocals, outstanding players and a great choice of material.

While the first two discs highlighted the promise of the group, it's this disc that really shows them to be the best young band around. Essential.