While they have embraced a more pop/ rock sound, there is still plenty of fine folk energy and lots of banjo, some fiddle, lots of acoustic guitar and lots of louder guitars and even some fiddle on a couple tracks. Plus keyboardist/vocalist Sage McBride gets to sing a lot more on the CD, which is a very good thing.
“Leaving Town,” which is sung beautifully by McBride who searches deep within her soul for a touch of the blues, also features a catchy guitar riff and even a horn section.
“Cabin Fever,” is pretty much the perfect example of their new sound— lots of banjo and folk elements, but backed by a solid rock influenced rhythm.
They slow things down slightly on “Fossils and Tin” but they pick up the tempo midway through the song.
They end the CD on a haunting note “Jewel of the North,” about a well known hotel near Kenora, Ontario, where McBride is from.
McBride also sings another of the CD’s highlights “The Bear,” which is also powered by her piano.
Overall “In The Hills” is a fast paced, almost too brief release which is guaranteed to get your feet moving, your body writhing and leave you all hot and sweaty afterwards.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
CD: In the HillsBand: Shred Kelly
Genre: folk
