Home (Billy Strings album)
| Home | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_Album_Cover.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 27, 2019 | |||
| Studio | Sound Emporium | |||
| Genre | Bluegrass | |||
| Label | Rounder Records | |||
| Producer | Glenn Brown, Billy Strings | |||
| Billy Strings chronology | ||||
| ||||
Home is the fourth studio album by American bluegrass musician Billy Strings, following Turmoil & Tinfoil and preceding Renewal. Released on September 27, 2019, the album stayed on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart for 77 weeks, peaking at number one and being the first studio album by Billy Strings to do so.[1] The album was titled Home simply for the fact that Strings was starting to "feel at home" in his Nashville residence and in the music industry at the time of the album's release.[2]
The album earned Strings his first Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in March 2021.[3] His song "Taking Water", one of the tracks on the album, was performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[4]
Overview and meaning[edit]
American singer-songwriter Molly Tuttle gave background vocals on "Must Be Seven". The lead track on the album, "Taking Water", focuses on groups of people being "left behind in society", while "Away From The Mire" focuses on what Strings states was "personal stuff between me and a family member".[5]
Reception[edit]
Home was positively received by reviewers and the public. Kenny Berkowitz of Acoustic Guitar stated "...the most startling thing about the album: the way Strings can channel the Grand Ole Opry one minute, fly his freak flag the next, and be perfectly at home in both."[6] Michael Davis of No Depression said "The songwriting [of Home] is cutting and intelligent" as well as stating that "Home demonstrates that Strings is primed to keep exploring the outer reaches of roots music."[7] Ron Harris of ABC News stated that "Songs like 'Hollow Heart' are beautifully delivered, but traditional bluegrass in approach and structure."[8] Carol Thompson of the Lansing State Journal states the album "exemplifies Strings' talent and frenetic, creative energy".[9]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Taking Water" | William Apostol, Jon Weisberger | 4:08 |
| 2. | "Must Be Seven" | Apostol, Aaron Allen | 3:29 |
| 3. | "Running" | Apostol, Weisberger | 2:59 |
| 4. | "Away From The Mire" | Apostol, Weisberger | 7:44 |
| 5. | "Home" | Apostol | 7:36 |
| 6. | "Watch It Fall" | Apostol, Allen | 4:37 |
| 7. | "Long Forgotten Dream" | Apostol | 4:28 |
| 8. | "Highway Hypnosis" | Apostol, Ronnie McCoury, Heaven McCoury | 5:08 |
| 9. | "Enough to Leave" | Apostol | 3:44 |
| 10. | "Hollow Heart" | Apostol, Weisberger | 2:35 |
| 11. | "Love Like Me" | Apostol, Weisberger | 2:52 |
| 12. | "Everything's the Same" | Jarrod Walker, Apostol | 2:55 |
| 13. | "Guitar Peace" | Apostol | 4:06 |
| 14. | "Freedom" | Apostol, Lindsay Lou | 2:35[5] |
| 15. | "Untitled instrumental" (Hidden track) | 0:29 |
Personnel[edit]
- The Band
- Billy Strings – guitar, vocals, banjo
- Billy Failing – banjo, vocals
- Jarrod Walker – mandolin, vocals
- Royal Masat – bass, vocals
- Additional musicians
- John Mailander – violin (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- Glenn Brown – Buchla CM100 synthesizer (1, 8, 13); vibraphone (4); shaker, finger cymbals, string arrangement, sitar (5); Harmonium (13)
- Molly Tuttle – vocals (2)
- Christian Sedelmyer – violin and viola (5)
- Kaitlyn Raitz – cello (5)
- John Churchville – tablas (5)
- Megan Campbell – vocals (5)
- Jerry Douglas – dobro (11, 12)
- Technical
- Glenn Brown – producer, engineer, mixing, mastering
- Lowell Reynolds – assistant engineer
- Dan Davis – assistant engineer
- Preston White – assistant engineer
- Evan Wilber – assistant engineer
- Sean Williams – cover art
- Bill Orner – design and layout
- Jesse Faatz – photography
References[edit]
- ^ "Billy Strings Chart History: Bluegrass Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ Garret, Woodward (October 2, 2019). "Billy Strings Talks His Brand of Bluegrass, New Album 'Home'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ "Grammy Awards for Billy Strings". The Grammy Awards. 22 April 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ Hudak, Joseph (July 21, 2020). "Bluegrass Phenom Rips Through 'Taking Water' on 'Kimmel'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ a b Budnick, Dean (March 15, 2021). "Track By Track: Billy Strings 'Home'". Relix. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ Berkowitz, Kenny (January 21, 2020). "Album Review: Billy Strings' 'Home' Moves Beyond Bluegrass". Acoustic Guitar. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ Davis, Michael (September 25, 2019). "Billy Strings Melds Tradition and Experimentation on 'Home'". No Depression. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ Harris, Ron (September 30, 2019). "Review: Billy Strings' breakout album takes listeners 'Home'". ABC News. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Carol (March 17, 2021). "Mid-Michigan native Billy Strings wins Grammy for 'Home', produced in East Lansing". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
