CMH Records

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The Pickin’ On Series, launched a little over 30 years ago, borne out of a group of bluegrass lovers and musicians and their passion for rock and outside music, continues with this collection of songs associated with music chameleon Post Malone. On paper it might look an unlikely musical combination, but the New York-born rapper has dabbled with various genres including hip-hop, trap, rock, r&b, pop and country. Iron Horse, the Alabama bluegrass quartet who have been involved in the series since the beginning, are joined by a new, younger generation of bluegrass singers and pickers including Water Tower, the Barefoot Movement, Holler Choir, Big Richard, JD Casper, MyVerse and Sean Jacob. 

A collection of delightfully pungent tracks, delivered in all their unashamed, reckless glory, the strength of the album is the instrumental work, which is hardly surprising given that the musicians have been around the block a time or two. Of course, it takes more than merely stating a case to prove their prowess, and as a result, with every track these musical compatriots demonstrate that they possess the effusive energy, high harmonies, instrumental dexterity, skill and savvy that provides the very essence of their undisputed technique. Surprisingly enough, these timeless tracks seem to lend themselves naturally to grassified arrangements, adding both novelty and nostalgia in equal abundance. What makes it all so special is the combined ability to keep the bluegrass recipe spiced up with genre-shifting. The various performers play in so many different styles while still maintaining a bluegrass sensibility, that every track opens new possibilities.

Iron Horse is one of those bands, an outfit made up of consummate professionals, whose devotion to bluegrass and its ongoing evolution is affirmed with each new outing. It’s hard to describe their vibe unless you see them live but imagine a hard rock or heavy metal intensity on bluegrass instruments, played at high volume, before very appreciative crowds. There’s something about Post Malone’s sweet song I Had Some Help that ensures the fact that no matter who covers it, or how many times one hears it, it’s bound to remain as indelible as ever. A great song stands up to any cover effort and still radiates with the same appeal each and every time. Iron Horse’s rendition is groovy with a melodic arrangement of banjo, mandolin and fiddles that swirl around the catchy vivid, break-up lyrics. They rein in their usual bombastic approach again for the equally appealing Guy For That. Gentle mandolin and banjo picking starts it off, then when the singing kicks in—‘nice’ as it is—the promising vibe sort of drifts in for an overall pleasant track.

The Barefoot Movement’s Wrapped Around Your Finger is a surreal radio-friendly meditation to indulge within. You don’t need to fully grasp the backstory to get sucked into its feverish delivery with the band’s innate ear for a warm melody. Noah Wall’s vocals are inspired and her fiddle playing adds extra depth. This is a group at the top of their game.  JD Casper steps up to revive Chemical, the song that marked Post Malone’s transition from hip-hop into more pop-leaning music. He further mines the dance-y-beat-and-slinky-atmosphere template with a sultry, swingy feel, replete with a driving fiddle and singalong vocal to combine over time to transform the listener to a different plane. 

JD also performs one of the two versions of Sunflower that bookends the album. The opening track is by LA-based old-time, bluegrass, punk rock band Water Tower. They open with a finely blended mix of banjo, mandolin, guitar and fiddle and vocal harmonies, then speed it up for a dynamic climax. Anyone who enjoys both traditional and contemporary bluegrass will appreciate that this is the work of a group who understand that the genre is sufficiently robust to withstand an amount of affectionate roughing up. The sound is pure bluegrass but with a freshness and vibrancy that seems to be missing in today's more traditional groups. JD’s fiddle-driven Sunflower is different enough to make it a viable album closer. These songs are vibrant and move as quickly as your heart does when you’re doing something you love, but the most compelling quality of the record is how fun it sounds. Highly recommended.

https://www.cmhrecords.com

July 2026