What Makes It Bluegrass?

This track comes from one of the earliest and best albums by premier progressive bluegrass outfit, The Seldom Scene, but what makes it bluegrass? What place has this track on even a progressive bluegrass record?

Maybe none (ymmv). But, here's what I hear:

A disaster song in the tradition of old-time country songs like "The Wreck Of the Old '97", which crossed over into the bluegrass repertoire. A subset of these is songs about the destructive power of nature, like "Muddy Water" or "Dream Of A Miner's Child" -- also a regular feature of bluegrass music.

High-lonesome singing, albeit smoother than the more traditional variety, by John Starling on lead and John Duffey on tenor, joined by Linda Ronstadt on high baritone. If at least one of the ensemble is singing at the top of their range, as Duffey is here, the emotional intensity -- a trademark of traditional bluegrass music -- is markedly increased. For all that, the pain in Starling's voice, squarely in the baritone range, is something you'd never hear, say, on an Eagles record.

More than anything else, it's those musical choices that make this great progressive bluegrass (There, I said it). Lesser bands would treat this same song like slick, modern country or tired country rock. An awful lot of bluegrass -- even the more traditional variety -- has the been-there-done-that sound that lands a disproportionate number of modern recordings in the "Used" bins at record stores (True story. If you're ever in L.A., you should check out the bluegrass section at Amoeba Music some time.)

But, don't believe me; judge for yourself. Listen to The Seldom Scene with "California Earthquake".