Bluegrass has become the musical opiate of the masses. After wallowing in unfashionable obscurity for decades, the caf?-society crowds have laid their alchemist's hands upon this great unwashed art form, making it worthy of not only their parlors but also of entering through the front door. The Del McCoury Band probably couldn't give a damn.
On "Del and the Boys," the band displays an intensity that would scare the hell out of the average bluegrass listener. On songs like "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," "All Aboard" and "Recovering Pharisee," the band sings of consequence, sin and redemption with a harrowing alacrity that might have caused Skip James to sleep with a light on.
