One can almost hear the overly excited television announcer hawking Absolutely Bluegrass, Vol. 1, "17 Chart-Topping ARTISTS!" while looking at the cover of this 17-track compilation from the Sugar Hill label. Despite the budget packaging, AB, Vol.1 is a pretty nifty collection that features some of the genre's brightest talents, both new and old. Progressive, contemporary, traditional and crossover offerings from Nickel Creek, Yonder Mountain String Band, the Duhks, Ricky Skaggs and Dolly Parton help keep this modern bluegrass anthology and Sugar Hill sampler nestled deep in the listener's favor and out of the truck stop kiosk/record store cut-out bin. ~ James Christopher Monger
