Bluegrass Enough

Purists may blanch at the drums and piano-that-should-have-been-a-banjo (Mr. Martin was notoriously, um, exacting with his banjo players), to say nothing of the fiddle-driven Cajun rhythm. But this record is fun from beginning to end.

Martin's voice may be weathered, but it's every bit as expressive here as on his classic recordings. It may not be pure bluegrass, but "Made In the Shade" has enough soul, humor, and drive to hold its own in any bluegrass playlist.