Search - Jim Mills :: My Dixie Home

A solid project of traditional 'grass

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 03/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On "My Dixie Home," North Carolinian Jim Mills presents a collection of vocals and instrumentals made popular by the likes of Earl Scruggs, J. D. Crowe, Sonny Osborne, Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Doc Watson, Delmore Brothers, Granpa Jones, and Merle Travis. Jim Mills has played in various bluegrass bands (Summer Wages, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Bass Mountain Boys). He's been with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder since 1997, and Mills is a multiple winner of the IBMA Banjo Player of the Year Award. With this solo project, Mills gives us a perfect showcase for his technical skill on banjo, and the album offers some splendid traditional bluegrass.Supporting musicians include Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Dan Tyminski (guitar), Adam Steffey (mandolin), and Barry Bales (bass). Dan Tyminski, Ricky Skaggs, Tim O'Brien and Paul Brewster contribute the vocals, which comprise seven tracks. Tragic Romance, Are You Waiting Just For Me, Little At A Time, and Goin' Back to the Blue Ridge Mountains were my favorites of the vocals. The title track, My Dixie Home, kicks off the project with a "train-like groove." Take The D Train then includes a medley of Train 45, Sally Goodin,' and Mama Blues that use a different fifth string tuning. The J.D. Crowe tune, "Black Jack," is given the old greased lighting treatment with a fast, driving, uptempo beat. I especially enjoyed Mills' rendition of "I'll See You In My Dreams," that closes the album with his bluesy thumbstyle guitar. I was impressed that "My Dixie Home" was recorded in just a three day period in May, 2002 with "as little overdubbing and compression as possible to capture the live feeling" of the music. For a solid project of traditional 'grass, this is one that fits the bill and gets my two thumbs up. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)"

Finger Pickin' Good

Ben Fitzgerald | 04/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yep, the boy can pick. Jim Mills has mastered the banjer. Sure, he's slick, but he picks with heart and abandon. And while he has some big names on lead vocals, Mills remains the focus of this recording and the outright star. In truth, there's not much to be said regarding My Dixie Home. It's just plain old, down home, hard driving bluegrass at its purest and best. Mills gives no slack on any of the tracks. Kudos must also be given to the sound engineer who found the perfect balance that allowed the banjo to feature, without overpowering. Not easy. Why not five stars? Because where would I put Ralph? My picks: The hard driving opener - My Dixie Home and Country Blues - You'll never hear better. I mean the man just kills it! (And if you want to play along, the whole song is in the key of D. That's it, just D.)"

Great bluegrass essential

iluvlch | Colorado Springs, Colorado United States | 01/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wonderfully done. Very powerful playing and the song selection is great. I just wish there had been more. I look forward to when Jim Mills puts out another CD. I like his banjo picking and his guitar playing isn't too bad either."