New Music for January

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New Music for January

Balsam Range | Aeonic

What’s in a name? For members of Balsam Range, it’s a nod to their home—the quintet was born in Western North Carolina, near the Great Balsam Mountains—and a clue about their bluegrass bona fides, which draw from generations of Appalachian tradition. Up-tempo picking on songs like Beatles cover “If I Needed Someone” show off the instrumental precision that earned them the Entertainer of the Year distinction at last year’s IBMAs, but softer accompaniment serves its purpose, too, allowing their lyrical strength and subtle vocal harmonies to shine on numbers like “Angel Too Soon” and standout “The Rambler.”

Essential Tracks: “The Rambler,” “The Girl Who Invented the Wheel”