Four guys from the middle of Canada (or thereabouts), the Dead South has been playing its amalgam of bluegrass, folk (interpreted very broadly; across continents, even) and other musical traditions for more than ten years. The styles and interpretations vary wildly from song to song, though the acoustic setting remains the same.

The Dead South Chains & Stakes (Six Shooter Records)

The solid storytelling of each song is remarkably consistent as well. The Dead South is not creating its own musical universe, nor is it following any trend. Rather, this band's stock and trade are arresting works, songs that grab the ear and the brain with an equal snap.

The musical ideas do not always fit a traditional acoustic format, but that's one of the things that makes this band so intriguing. This isn't bluegrass cosplay, either. It's four musicians who throw all their influences in a blender and then strain out the seeds. The results are seamless, but the editing must be excruciating.

So yeah, the guys are out to kick ass with mandolin, banjo, guitar, stand-up bass and the occasional cello. And they do. I've been charmed by these boys for some time, and this album feels like the most ambitious and cohesive set yet. Ramble on.

Jon Worley