"Bluegrass Now" review on "Quicksand"
Reprinted From November 1998 Issue of "Bluegrass Now" "Quicksand" Ever feel adventurous? You decide to try something relatively unknown and serendipitously find a gem? If you try this CD that's what you’ll. do. True, on a national level Mike Nadolson isn’t exactly a household name, but you might well end up putting this CD in your rack of favorites. Right along side the big boys. His vocals on "Nine Pound Hammer " have that "corn-fed and hand-spanked" feel that traditionalist will appreciate and hearing "Muddy Waters" makes you believe the creek’s really rising.
Dennis Caplinger is a name familiar to many fans of bluegrass because of his multi-instrumental talents and engineering prowess both. He produced this CD and plays banjo and fiddle on all cuts. While often known for pushing the envelope of banjo playing with swing progressions , masterful single string passages and jazz influenced licks, he’s also one of the few who truly deserve the accolade "he can play like Earl". The amazing dobro work here is none other than Mr. David Dias who also wrote the title cut. His playing on Muddy Waters helps to make it one of those "Worth the price o f the CD" songs. Rounding out the ensemble are John Moore, Kenny Blackwell and Bob Applebaum on mandolin. Vocal backup was provided by Walden Dahl, Dean Knight, Dave Richardson and Dennis. All in all a fearsome force of talent. A quality always difficult to define in bluegrass music is that "surge" or "push" that makes you feel you are being picked up and carried along with the tempo; it makes your pulse keep time and lets you sense the life flowing in the notes. Sometimes you hear it during those very late-night jam sessions at the good festivals. Mike’s music has this very quality. If you don’t find this in your local store ask them to get it! -Dave Ogershok
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Mike sings with
authority, confidence, warmth and clarity of meaning. His guitar solo work is
characterized by a solid, clean, percussive attack that emphasizes taste and precision at
the same time. The title cut, Quicksand, is a perfect example.
