Playing Time – 36:54 -- I always enjoy hearing what the Pacific Northwest’s many fine regional bluegrass groups are up to. Mollybloom has been around since 1995, and they keep a fairly low profile. Their largely original, contemporary music is certainly deserving of a wider audience. These two recordings also show the phenomenal growth among this quintet that has remained solid with the same personnel of Dave Dahl (guitar), Ron Relaford (mandolin), Clark Blanchard (bass), Jeff Shippy (guitar, fiddle) and Matt Gray (banjo). Dahl, Shippy and Blanchard handle the vocals. None of them are standout lead vocalists, but they manage to present a mournful feeling and calibrate nicely on their harmonies. At times, phrasing seems a little forced and uncomfortable. “These Days” was released in 1999 while “Tillamook Burn” is their sophomore 2003 release and a tribute to firefighters everywhere. Recently, classically-trained Bob Rindy has replaced Jeff Shippy in the band. Few bands can boast the sheer amount of original material that Mollybloom can. Between their two album projects, Dave Dahl and Jeff Shippy composed eighteen songs. Matt Gray penned the instrumentals, “Too Late to Tune” and “Tillamook Burn.” Ron Relaford’s sole offering is an instrumental, “Brady.” Lyrics for the songs are included in the second project (Tillamook Burn) but not the 1999 album. Writing memorable songs is definitely a challenge. To fully succeed, a band with this much original material must fully tap the creativity, inspiration and motivation within themselves. I look for introspective lyrics with hard-hitting messages that listeners can relate to. “Hooks” are typically lines that draw listeners in and give us something special and memorable. Of course, catchy melodies are also needed. Mollybloom’s music has a contemporary flair, and relationships gone bad are the predominant themes. Sometimes their melodies and messages seem a tad alike and trite, and they come off as rather indistinctive. Mollybloom seems to be finding their stylistic footing in the jamgrass arena, and their greatest success may be found by pursuing that circuit and following. The genesis for a song like Shippy’s “Trainman,” for example, is clearly inspired by adventurous tastes. All of the pickers contribute strongly to the arrangements, with 1996 Oregon State banjo champion Matt Gray deserving of special mention. Shippy’s fiddle also offers some enchanting instrumental fills and twists. Songwriting is hard work, and only with a good deal of practice will one become comfortable doing it. As a craft, it can be learned. As a form of communication, a person must master the styles, ways and methods to say exactly what is felt within one’s soul. The prolific songwriters of Mollybloom clearly have talent and aptitude in this arena. Certainly, some of their songs seem to work better than others, and everyone will have their favorites. Mine is probably Dave Dahl’s “Crooked Road,” a well-wrought tale of an encounter with the Devil along with advice for us to seek redemption before it’s too late. So who are these guys? Dave Dahl, originally from Montana, now works as Music Therapist at the Oregon State Hospital. Massage therapist and music teacher Ron Relaford has played and taught mandolin, banjo, and guitar for over three decades. Clark Blanchard, a school music teacher in Silverton, Oregon, has performed in bands since 1963. Matt Gray has performed with the groups, Columbia and Everything’s G. Mollybloom’s strength is their willingness to push the envelope, try new things, and capitalize on their eclectic musical backgrounds and tastes. They appear to share a common vision for their music, as well as share a bond of friendship. The band’s arranging skills are commendable. As instrumentalists, the band members appear comfortable with various idioms, and their music is probably best categorized as Americana. The band is clearly developing its niche outside the more traditional center of bluegrass music. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)