Y'know that scene in Deliverance where that mutant kid is sitting on the porch and Jon Voight starts playing "Dueling Banjos" with him? That scene always scared me. I'm from the North. On the cover of Homegrown, Blue Mountain are back on the porch, poised for attack with their instruments.

And attack they do. Blue Mountain is deeply rooted in the raw side of country, cigarette-rasped voices growled over poverty-stricken guitars. Dense with bluesy images and dark textures Homegrown's spork is offset with a handful of country love songs (always wanted to use that phrase in a good context). In short, this album is full-tang genuine, no wooden nickles.

-James P. Wisdom