V/A - For A Decade Of Sin:

11 Years Of Bloodshot Records

(Bloodshot Records BS-112) 2005

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This is double CD collection from Chicago based indie label 'Bloodshot Records'... It's quite a wide ranging affair, best described by some blurb from their website:-

"Since 1994, Bloodshot Records has championed the music that lurks between genres. We've always been drawn to the good stuff nestled in the dark, nebulous cracks where punk, country, soul, pop, bluegrass, blues and rock n roll mix and mingle and mutate. We like artists who work over American roots forms with chains and velvet gloves with little regard for formality or protocol, who aren't afraid to molest and caress these forms and take music into uncharted and exciting waters. They don't listen to the taste-makers or trend-watchers - hell, most of the time they don't even listen to us.

What we all share is a punk/DIY ethic of expression; we all appreciate that music is only innovative and interesting when you're willing to take chances with it, to follow your instincts. By not bothering with stylistic straitjackets, we haven't made it too easy for anyone to get a solid grasp on what we do or what to call it - sometimes we don't even know, but that's what makes running this asylum so much fun. It's never boring."

So, not exactly the most obvious place you'd expect to find a Ralph Stanley track... But, in some ways a perfect fit.

Ralph is featured collaborating with Nashville singer songwriter Paul Burch, on a version of The Stanley Brothers Little Glass Of Wine. The track was recorded in RCA Studios in Nashville, circa 2002-4, and a video was filmed during the recording session. The video mainly features the final audio mix but swaps to the ambient studio 'sound' at the end. Personnel on the session are:-

• Paul Burch: guitar, vocal
• Ralph Stanley: vocals
• Fats Kaplin: fiddle
• James Alan Shelton: guitar
• Steve Sparkman: banjo

Some Stanley fans will probably hate much of the music on this compilation, but if you're into punk / indie rock / or the edgier modern country (Hank III / Split Lip Rayfield) it's a blast!

The 2xCD package is in a fold-out digipack with 24-page booklet.

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