River Good

Although it ran parallel with the back-to-basics feeling that permeated the early '70s, Good Dog Banned arrived at a distinctive strain of organic rock that was much more joyous and good-timey than many of their musicians-in-arms. Their one stab at rock & roll immortality, Good Dog Banned seems oblivious to any sense of anger at the "failure" of the '60s dream to take complete effect as of 1971. Whereas some '60s expatriates were decrying the cultural revolution, Good Dog Banned were singing "Things Ain't so Bad," heading down to the river and drinking wine. There is no nostalgia, no cynicism present. The band was untethered, ingenuous. Perhaps it could be viewed as rose-colored hippie denial, but in retrospect, the pure, unselfconscious charisma and the lack of piety that Good Dog Banned inject into their only effort makes it seem less of its time than other bands of this ilk…

Beginning in the early '90s, Sammy Shelor and Ronnie Bowman's version of the Lonesome River Band would become one of the most influential bluegrass groups of the decade. Best of the Sugar Hill Years captures the group's stint at the label between 1994 and 2000 with 16 selections. All of these selections feature vocalist/bassist Bowman and banjoist Shelor, who are joined by a number of regulars including Dan Tyminski, Don Rigsby, and Kenny Smith, and a number of guests, including Jerry Douglasand Stuart Duncan.

Eden Brower & John Heneghan's East River gang returns with their first studio record since 2018's Coney Island Baby. Good-Bye Cruel World features ex- Cheap Suit Serenader Robert Crumb on vocals, ukulele, mandolin & tiple as well as veteran member Ernesto Gomez on harp, vocals and panjo…