Hammer Down by The Steeldrivers - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

On their third album, the SteelDrivers continue to forge their own unique path in the world of bluegrass/acoustic music. They play music that sounds like bluegrass on the surface, but they usually eschew the high lonesome harmonies of traditional bluegrass for a more mainstream approach that often sounds like hardcore country gone acoustic. New guitarist Gary Nichols' lead vocals owe as much to rock as they do to country and bluegrass, and the subject matter wanders far astray of the usual concerns of bluegrass traditions. Everyone in the band is a seasoned Nashville vet, so while they never sound like they're trying to consciously stretch the limits of bluegrass, they do so just by being themselves. "Wearin' a Hole" is a hardcore country drinkin' song full of heartache and booze, with Richard Bailey's banjo playing what would be a guitar solo on a country track. The harmonic banjo and fiddle hook makes "Burnin' the Woodshed Down" a standout. It turns the usual lament about hard times inside-out when the singer decides to vent his anger with an act of arson. Nichols strikes an R&B chord on "Cry No Mississippi," a kiss-off to a faithless lover from a lover who holds his head up high as he tells her he "won't beg or crawl" or "cry no Mississippi." The opener, "Shallow Grave," is the closest the band comes to traditional bluegrass; it's an old-fashioned murder ballad that sounds like it's 200 years old, with Tammy Rogers contributing wailing lonesome fiddling and Bailey adding his desolate banjo picking.
© j. poet /TiVo

1. Shallow Grave

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Gary Nichols
Barry Billings; Composer
Lyricist: Gary Nichols
Barry Billings; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Gary Nichols
Barry Billings; Other

2. How Long Have I Been Your Fool

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Al Anderson
Chris Stapleton
Tammy Rogers; Composer
Lyricist: Al Anderson
Chris Stapleton
Tammy Rogers; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Al Anderson
Chris Stapleton
Tammy Rogers; Other

3. When You Don't Come Home

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Gary Nichols
Tammy Rogers; Composer
Lyricist: Gary Nichols
Tammy Rogers; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Gary Nichols
Tammy Rogers; Other

4. I'll Be There

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Gary Nichols
John Paul White; Composer
Lyricist: Gary Nichols
John Paul White; Composer
Composer Lyricist: John Paul White
Gary Nichols; Other

5. Burnin' The Woodshed Down

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Gary Nichols
Francis Specker Bradley; Composer
Lyricist: Gary Nichols
Francis Specker Bradley; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Gary Nichols
Francis Specker Bradley; Other

6. Wearin' A Hole

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Mike Henderson; Composer
Lyricist: Mike Henderson; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Mike Henderson; Other

7. Lonesome Goodbye

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Chris Stapleton
Mike Henderson; Composer
Lyricist: Chris Stapleton
Mike Henderson; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Chris Stapleton
Mike Henderson; Other

8. Hell On Wheels

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Leslie Satcher
Tammy Rogers; Composer
Lyricist: Leslie Satcher
Tammy Rogers; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Leslie Satcher
Tammy Rogers; Other

9. Cry No Mississippi

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Gary Nichols
John Paul White; Composer
Lyricist: Gary Nichols
John Paul White; Composer
Composer Lyricist: John Paul White
Gary Nichols; Other

10. When I'm Gone

by The Steeldrivers

Primary Artist: The Steeldrivers; Main Performer
Composer: Chris Stapleton
Mike Henderson; Composer
Lyricist: Chris Stapleton
Mike Henderson; Composer
Composer Lyricist: Chris Stapleton
Mike Henderson; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

10 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

34 minutes and 34 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1500x1500 px

Booklet

Available in PDF format

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

9/10 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Country, Bluegrass, Americana, Contemporary Bluegrass, Progressive Bluegrass, Country-Folk

Label

New Rounder

Music Distribution Service

UMG Global

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Feb 4, 2012

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

11661875722