The Punch Brothers is a group of some of the most talented musicians in bluegrass today. They are often described as a progressive bluegrass band, and I feel that is the best way to put it. The main person that people may know from this group is Chris Thile, who used to play with Nickel Creek. However, there is loads of talent in this band that has gone unknown for far too long.

The Punch Brothers have often done songs by Radiohead and other artists that you would not expect to hear a bluegrass band cover, and that is what makes them so progressive. The first song on Who’s Feeling Young Now called “Movement and Location” has a vibe to it that clearly shows the influence that Radiohead and other bands that have progressed their genres have had on these musicians. In fact, there is also a cover of “Kid A” by Radiohead on this record, which is a cover that Chris Thile/Punch Brothers have performed live for a while.

One of the things that I find most entertaining about this record is the way that every song has a distinct feel to it that is unique to the Punch Brothers. A band with this much talent is able to achieve such interesting and progressive instrumentation that many others cannot achieve. On this record the Punch Brothers have stepped outside the box and tried to push the boundaries of what we think of as bluegrass. The sounds of instruments such as the banjo, and the mandolin and the fiddle are unique to bluegrass and therefore we could associate this as a bluegrass record, but this record achieves so many depths that it is hard to attach it to any one music style.

The Punch Brothers are truly a band coming together to achieve something great and push some musical boundaries along the way. This record is the latest installment in their growth as a band and I think it is another great step forward. These guys have been putting out great music since 2006 and each album has shown them growing together. So head down to your local record store and pick up Who’s Feeling Young Now, and take a listen to what the world of progressive bluegrass has to offer.

Cursive is a band that is no stranger to the concept album. They have put out some of the best concept albums the indie world has ever heard, starting with 2000’s Domestica. Their current release I Am Gemini brings out a much heavier version of Cursive than has been heard in a long time. This album is based upon the concept of twin brothers (one is good and one is evil) and their unexpected meeting.

This album also shows Kasher moving away from the more personal songwriting that he is known for. Kasher is a great lyricist and singer, but usually his lyrics tend to be based around something personal. On this album Kasher gets away from that and is able to write some fantastic lyrics that tie the concept of the story together, each song seems to build on the next to bring you further and further into the concept.

This album also brings out a heavier side of Cursive that has not been seen in a long time. On the track “Eulogy for No Name” for example there is an almost sinister sound to the track throughout the song, before the heavy riffs burst forth in about the last minute of the song and bring back feelings of Cursive as they have not been heard on their previous couple albums.

The song “Wowowow” is a perfect example of the diversity that this albums showcases, this song seamlessly transitions from the screams of Kasher to a slowdown pairing him with a female vocalist in a soft touch to end the song.

This album showcases a truly diverse band that has been making great music for years. This may not go down as the greatest Cursive record ever made, but it is a very solid album by one of the best bands to come out of Omaha and is well worth picking up from your local record store.