There have been a small handful of times over the last 30 years of seeing perhaps 100 bands/year where the vocals made such a powerful impression on me that I had a visceral reaction, stopping me in my tracks or sending a shiver down my spine. Â One of those was the first time seeing The Wailing Jenny’s, and understanding just what an a cappella trio could really sound like. Â Another was the first time seeing Ralph Stanley walk to the front of the stage, naked but for that black suit, and sing O Death. Â Both of those memories came clawing out of the recesses of my brain within 15 minutes of each other on my first listen to the latest from The Sweet Lowdown, Chasing the Sun.
The Sweet Lowdown is a trio of ladies from Vancouver Island in Canada. Â Amanda Blied is on guitar and vocals, Shanti Bremer is banjo and vocals, and Miriam Sonstenes is fiddle and vocals. Â They all have their parts in the band, and on any given listen you can find yourself liking one vocal or instrument over the other. Â But this album is really about the sum of the parts.
There are  four instrumentals (or maybe six, depending on how you count) on the disc.  Any and all of them are good bluegrass melodies.  The title song has a little more fiddle, while April 29th is a little more banjo centered.  The medley Hell Flu Jig/Margaret’s Jig/Brokedown Breakdown gives everyone a chance to shine.  While the group’s instrumental chops are still on display on 5 of the remaining songs, the vocals really become the centerpiece.  River Winding Down is inspired by the view from the air coming into Calgary during their 2013 flood.  Fallout projects a sadness over the continuing dilemma caused by the Fukushima nuclear plant.  You Can Find the North is an ode to what’s lost being a resident of a big city and Road Song is the girls take on the oft-explored topic of the life of a traveling musician.
 For me, the shining star of the album is Leaving.  Amanda, Shanti, and Miriam pour their emotions out over the heartbreak of leaving family behind.  It’s a powerful piece and I’m pretty sure it will cause open weeping by anyone the slightest bit homesick.  Even if Leaving isn’t your cup of tea, Chasing the Sun is a fine, fine bluegrass album and a great way to start a new year’s worth of music exploration.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.