More than 20 years after
the New Lost City Ramblers' last studio recordings,
Mike Seeger,
John Cohen, and
Tracy Schwarz got back together for
There Ain't No Way Out, a 26-track celebration of old-timey music, including bluegrass, yodel blues, spirituals, Cajun, and what is usually referred to generically as "folk" music. They haven't lost much of their edge, even if -- by their own admission -- there are younger, sharper players out there in the wake of the path they opened. Highlights include a sweetly sung "God's Gonna Ease My Troublin' Mind,"
A.P. Carter's "Anchored in Love Divine,"
the Dixon Brothers' "Weave Room Blues" (which has a
Jimmie Rodgers sound to it), "Cumberland Gap," "Shady Grove," "Skip to My Lou," and "Crapshooters Hop." They still harmonize beautifully, their instruments sing even sweeter, and the advantages of modern recording aren't lost on this sharp body of music. The notes, featuring contributions by all three players, are exceptionally detailed and informative about their history, as well as that of the songs.