The Way Low Down

The Way Low Down might employ your typical bluegrass instrumentation — mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and upright bass — and borrow a few things from the old-time music of the Appalachians, but the Denver-based quartet isn’t playing your traditional bluegrass music. The outfit, which has been together nearly a year, takes more cues from the Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show than, say, bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe, and it puts a slightly more modern spin on the material that makes up its debut, Take One. While the album is not an entirely foot-stomping and hollering affair, the Way Low Down injects Americana and roots music throughout the album and applies touches of reggae on some of the cuts, resulting in a completely solid effort overall.