“Flying the flag from across the pond, The Dixie Bee-Liners pushed against the boundaries of bluegrass to deliver a truly original - and utterly compelling - sound that amply justified their own labeling of the music as "Bible Belt noir...
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Noel Harvey, Acoustic Magazine (UK)
“While the instrumentation is traditional -- guitar, dobro, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and upright bass - the songwriting is astonishingly sophisticated and innovative...call it 'Bible Belt Noir' if you will: the band does. If this is the future of bluegrass, we've got a lot to look forward to.”
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Lucid Culture
"You might not be familiar with this band yet, but if you like bluegrass in the style of Alison Krauss and Union Station you will need to check this one out. Lead singer Brandi Hart has all the range and soul of Krauss, with perhaps even more versatility."
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John Walker, Americana Roots
"Steeped deeply in the history of blue-grass (the picking here is as deft and swift as any) and with an urban sensibility, these new-grass performers win you over by dint of their love of the material and their wonderful voices...each song is tackled with the same gusto and panache."
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David Cowling, Americana UK
"[The Dixie Bee Liners] have developed a sound combining traditional forms and sounds with creative innovation and quite contemporary lyrics. The result is a pleasing mix of the old and the new, often unfamiliar settings for familiar lyrics and sometimes just powerful renderings of traditional tunes...The combination makes for a lively and entertaining evening."
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Ted Lehmann, Bluegrass, Books, & Brainstorms Blog
"History in the making: Poised at the crossroads of the Crooked Road and Abbey Road...[Susanvile] is a masterpiece."
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Henri Deschamps, The Bluegrass Legacy
"Bluegrass mingles with blues, swing, and honky-tonk, and need I say, it would be a terrific CD for road trips of any length.... Breezy but substantial, The Dixie Bee-Liners should appeal to fans of modern bluegrass and far beyond."
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Bluegrass Unlimited
"...The Dixie Bee-Liners demonstrate some classy picking, which you'd figure with the practiced bluegrass and country rock vets in the band, but it's their voices that really stick with you - the sweet but pointed vocals and clean harmonies of Brandi Hart and Buddy Woodward, steeped in tradition, but with tones and rhythms that are very 21st century."
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Barry Mazor, No Depression
"From the lyrics and music to how it is all perfectly put together, The Dixie Bee-Liners have a sound all their own and, it's a pleasing lively sound! If this is the direction contemporary bluegrass music is headed, I'm all for it. In fact, I'll take a bit more!"
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Bob Cherry, Cybergrass
"When Susanville hit my desk, it scattered my Top Ten list to the winds...'Heavy' rocks the acoustic side like an American Fairport Convention or Fotheringay, and 'Restless' is insomnia rock with bluegrass tinges throughout...I've said this before and, yep, I'll say it again and again until people pay attention: The Dixie Bee-Liners ain't your Granddaddy's bluegrass band, nor are they just Americana. In my head, they transcend genre...Susanville is is a damn wonder."
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Frank Gutch, Jr., Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
"A dramatic bluegrass and Americana band, The Dixie Bee-Liners' second album [Susanville] is a departure from their previous Pinecastle album, 2008's RIPE. The band has pulled back a bit from typical bluegrass trappings, successfully aiming toward an "acoustiblue" recipe.... Those who take the time to experience the disc will find lovely vocals, spirited and challenging instrumentation, and perhaps a perspective on those we pass within the bustle of our lives."
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Donald Teplyske, The Lonesome Road Review
“...Captivating...breathtaking... This is a band that's boldly going where none has gone before...not afraid of minor chords and best of all, [they] have perfected the art of making things sound lonesome with their command of the modal sound. ”
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Dave Higgs, Nashville Public Radio
"Brandi has a sultry, killer voice that rivals any other female vocalist in bluegrass today...[RIPE] is fresh indeed - and highly recommended."
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Dr. Brett Matheson, Black Rose Acoustic Society, Sound Advice
“Rich instrumental layers soak RIPE, flavoring the Bee-Liners’ unique bluegrass sound like the rum of an aged musical fruitcake. ”
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Debora Wilbrink, Bluegrass Music Profiles
“Every once in a great while a new release comes across our desk that introduces a band that we know is going to be the next big thing in bluegrass music...The Dixie Bee Liners are one of those bands...(five stars)”
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Robert Bartosh, Roots Music Report
“This is a brilliant record, no doubt about it...remember when T-Bone Burnett figured out the way to sell five million Bluegrass records was to make 'Man of Constant Sorrow' a rock song? Wait'll the suburban good ol' boys hear RIPE.
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Tom Peterson, Victory magazine
“These seasoned musicians have taken Bluegrass to the next level...its like stepping into the pages of an American Civil War novel. Get ready to catch Bluegrass Fever all over again!
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Powersource
“The female vocalists must have come from heaven because they are too good for this planet... You need to listen to this CD several times in order to fully apreciate the beautiful lyrics to each song.”
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Al Shusterman, KCBL
“...I intended to play a couple of cuts, but wound up playing the ENTIRE ALBUM after callers kept asking who that was, and station personnel wanted to hear more and more. I've never done that before! It just kept getting better and better with each song. ”
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Rusty Brown, WEPG Radio
“Rarely do songs get stuck in my head like the ones from RIPE...[the] vocals and harmonizing make you daydream. The band's songwriting is especially impressive. Rarely is a band's second CD or project this ultra-good!”
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KDNK, Nina Schnipper
“I was immediately struck by their warmth, and the sucess with which they merge a more modern approach to songwriting with the traditional forms of bluegrass and old time music.”
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John Lawless, Bluegrass Blog
“From the opening instrumentals, to the clear fresh vocals and the subtle background harmonies, 'Down on the Crooked Road' draws in the listener. The lyrics paint a picture of the music and its heritage to the point that it gave me goose bumps.”
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Gary Williams, VaBluegrass.com, "The Ole Dominion Jamboree"
