Chatham County Line – Route 23

The power and beauty of bluegrass lies not in technical ability, but in an unnamable honesty. Sure, a killer claw-hammer banjo or fiddle scrape won’t hurt your case, but they won’t make up for a lack of heart. Raleigh, N.C.’s Chatham County Line has heart, and the band’s sophomore effort is a bittersweet testament to the truth of the High Lonesome. While Chatham County visits familiar territory, like highways (“Route 23”), trains (“Engine No. 709”) and the pull of sin (“Ruination”), they pull it off with simple style. Producer Chris Stamey provides room for the band to breathe, giving the disc a warm, immediate feel.