Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Reviewed

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
More Behind The Picture Than The Wall
(Rounder)

Gospel-bluegrass pioneer Doyle Lawson leaves the message part of his churchin’ in the parish parking lot.

The 62-year-old Lawson is bluegrass royalty, and has been one of its premier mandolin players for nearly 40 years. He has played with Jimmy Martin, JD Crowe, and Country Gentlemen, as well as stomping across the globe with Quicksilver in tow. From that perspective, More Behind The Picture Than The Wall is just another in a long line of excellent bluegrass records, expertly rendered by a crack band who could’ve sang the panties off of Nurse Ratched had McMurphy been able to sneak them in the ward.

But you can tell something’s up right away from the album cover, depicting Lawson staring at a photograph of a perfect-looking family of four, the ominous album title juxtaposed just beneath it. More Behind The Picture isn’t that bleak of an album (the title says more about the band’s dexterity in secularism), though the cover art lends the perfect somberness to the country weeper of a title track. Elsewhere Lawson and co. get bawdy (“Sadie’s Got Her New Dress On”), instrumentally rambunctuous (“Tulsa Turn-A-Round”), and downright experimental, presenting two versions of “Can You Hear Me Now,” one of which is doctored to sound like it was recorded onto a 78.

Morality watchdogs need not fear, however; Quicksilver don’t dance with the devil and come back screwed and tattooed. I would recommend searching for demons in their guitars, though. And make sure Lawson’s soul wasn’t exchanged for his fret hand.

8

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Spins, Weekly