Album Review: Billy Strings, ‘So Much for Goodbyes’

Waves of words, chords, and notes tumble through Billy Strings’ mind and body, flowing forth in atmospheric rivers of sound. He’s at one with his instrument on his cinematically unfolding new album, ‘So Much for Goodbyes,’ and his resonant baritone vocals echo with poignant introspection and hard-won wisdom.

Cascading guitar picking opens the spaciously unfurling minor chord of “I’m One of Those,” a paean to difficulties of leaving home and looking back and the desire to returning to the way things used to be. Mandolinist Jarrod Walker, fiddler Alex Hargreaves, and banjoist Billy Failing unfurl on the instrumental bridges. The up tempo “Burn the Other End” gallops through modulating keys and psychedelic expansiveness, with Hargreaves’ soaring fiddling weaving around Strings’ sizzling lead runs, while Bryan Sutton and Strings create a tender suite for guitars on the mournful ballad “Carry Us Home.”

Del McCoury joins Strings on the straight ahead bluegrass ramble “Lay Me Down.” Space jazz meets bluegrass meets psychedelia on “Lucid Daydreaming,” a frenetic gambol driven by time changes and counterpoint that mimics a raving, frantic consciousness sailing through a kaleidoscopic daydream. The gorgeous ballad “Mill Town Flood,” featuring ethereal harmony vocals by Lindsay Lou, tells the story of love, loss, and longing.

Alison Kraus joins Strings on the lilting country jazzer “Live to Tell” as Paul Franklyn lays down lush beds of steel guitar. Every musician stretches out on brisk instrumental “Bluewater Breakdown,” while the mournful “10,000 Miles from a Friend” captures the loneliness of the road and the yearning for home. The album closes with “Debra’s Waltz,” a sparkling instrumental tribute to his mother, whose art work graces the album cover.

‘So Much for Goodbyes’ showcases, Strings’ lyrical depth and inventive instrumental vision. Every song on the album reveals his ability to match the musical sound with the tone and mood of the lyrics and his willingness to explore fresh musical innovations fearlessly.

Billy Strings’ album ‘So Much For Goodbyes’ comes out on Friday 8/28 on Reprise Records.