Spirited

Eddie Adcock boasts stints with the "classic" Country Gentlemen, Mac Wiseman and Bill Monroe on his glittering bluegrass résumé. His wife, vocalist and guitarist Martha, joins the banjoist as well. The title track is a fiery instrumental that showcases the virtuoso picking ability of these two players trading leads. A cunning dip in tempo brings the foray to a close. The meat of the recording is comprised of the 11 other songs that are ostensibly bluegrass hymns, still featuring the stunning playing and singing (mostly from Martha) that make this collection a hallmark of contemporary bluegrass, regardless of topic. A particularly memorable track is in the Eddie-penned "What Love Can't Do." Eddie picks the melody and supports Martha with baritone harmonies as she provides guitar rhythm. They lyrics are poetic and insightful, the music skilled and melodic.