What's Up! Magazine

The fundamentals of bluegrass follow some basic truths…simple, happy lives in a slower more pleasant world. And those truths lead to times of mellow relaxation with close family surrounded by natural beauty. Songbird of Prozac Mountain by Prozac Mountain Boys takes you to that place, embracing the northwest flavor of bluegrass with style.

This 11-track record is primarily comprised of classic bluegrass and traditional cover songs. The three original songs show a solid footing in bluegrass while adding their own northwest flavor. The mix of the acoustic instruments and vocals makes for a pleasing album to listen to. Andy Friedlander on guitar has solid rhythm and melody impact on the recording. Ted O’Connell on Mandolin and Harmonica finds just the right spaces to inject some kick, while staying true to the songs. Ted’s vocals are smooth and sound seasoned with experience. With the absence of a percussion section, Keith Fredrikson on bass really drives the songs and gives them movement.

One of the most striking instruments on the recording is the Banjo, played by Larry Sult. The percussive twang and pointed notes of the banjo have depth and character. Arielle Luckmann on the Fiddle adds that swing and melody that makes you want to jump out of your chair and dance along. Her vocals are featured on a good portion of the songs and have a genuine feel to them. There were a few times that she moved out of chest voice, into head voice. That range of her voice seemed to have some un-tapped talent that could add more complexity to her vocals.

The album was recorded at Orange Avenue Studio in Burlington, with final mastering done by the guys down at Binary. The recording quality is excellent with both a warm and clear mix.

Overall the album acted like a glass of sweet tea on a hot day, soothing, relaxing and pleasant.

Self-Released
myspace.com/prozacmtnboys