Hit List

Banjo-playing singer-songwriter Luedecke's wonderful throwback, rootsy sound-recalling the acoustically rustic world of Bascom Lunsford, Ralph Stanley, even Pete Seeger on topical efforts like the Wall Street commentary "Woe Betide the Doer of the Deed" and a sorrowful tale of pollution titled "The Palace is Golden" - works just as well within a group framework as it does solo. Of course, it helps when his band-mates include the likes of fiddler and mandolinist Tim O'Brien and guitarist, pump-organist and album producer Steve Dawson.
Luedecke has always had that rare musical ability to honour but not b trapped by tradition - efforts such as the melancholy "Machu Picchu", a restless "Lass Vicious", the unnervingly philosophical "The Rear Guard" and an awesome cover of Canadian folk legend Willie Bennett's wistful ode to the "Caney Fork River" vividly underscore this observation.