CADILLAC SKY

"Blind Man Walking" introduced Cadillac Sky as one of bluegrass music's bands to watch. Back with their stellar sophomore release on Skaggs Family Records, "Gravity's Our Enemy," Cadillac Sky takes one creative leap after another, proving that they are true innovators of the genre. "We use our instruments like a chemistry set, playing around and trying to conjure up sounds that create the right atmosphere for each song's lyric," says lead singer and principal songwriter Bryan Simpson, one-fifth of acoustic quintet Cadillac Sky. The band looks as much to Radiohead and Gnarls Barkley for inspiration as it does to Earl Scruggs or Alison Krauss, admiring the way they're able to mix, blend, and stand outside of genres to produce quality music.
"U Stay Gone," the album's energetic kick-off, has the soulful mountain sound (complete with organ) fans have come to expect from Cadillac Sky, with a haunting "call and answer" chorus featuring expert harmony vocals that remain a staple throughout the project. Their definitive bluegrass sound is echoed in songs like "Wouldn't Put It Past Love" (a song about what love will make one do) and "It Won't Be Over You" (which the band calls "the ultimate denial song"), each one demonstrating Cadillac Sky's unique ability to bridge the gap between traditional and progressive bluegrass musical styles. Humorous, yet not afraid to tackle deeper issues, Cadillac Sky delves into the topic of domestic abuse with "Bible By The Bed," their instruments signifying the subject's intense emotion with a lyrical twist at the end. "The Wreck," "Carousel," and "2 Good 2 Last" are somewhat pensive tunes with similar themes about humanity's short journey through life. "Baby Don't Cry" (a husband's apology to his wife after a moment of insensitivity) and "Everybody's Favorite" (about a girl destined for stardom with dreams of anonymity) further prove Cadillac Sky's dynamic storytelling strength while instrumentals "Thank You Esteban" and "The Majestic Swan" exhibit their virtuosic musicianship. More than anything, "Gravity's Our Enemy" is a complete record. In a world where most albums only have a few tracks that demand repeated listening, this is a record that will reward the listeners' ear from start to finish. It's a true headphone album, with tiny hidden touches that reveal themselves the more often, and the more carefully, it's heard.
Cadillac Sky first came together in Texas in 2002 when burgeoning hit songwriter Bryan Simpson (mandolin, vocals) teamed up with banjo prodigy Matt Menefee. They soon began collaborating with the virtuosic Ross Holmes (fiddle, vocals), and bass guru Andy "Panda" Moritz (bass, vocals). Most recently, they've completed the star formation with the addition of uber-talented David Mayfield (guitar,vocals) who has toured with the likes of the Avett Brothers, Andy Griggs, and up and coming songstress and sis Jessica Lea Mayfield. Combining hearts and hooks, the traditional and the revolutionary, and pulling sounds from all genres, Cadillac Sky's sound is the fruition of of a groundbreaking vision to create a acoustic band built for the 21st Century. The result is required listening!
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