AMG Review of Home Grown

Jason Ankeny
All Music Guide

A worthy follow-up to the fine Dog Days, Homegrown continues Blue Mountain's exploration of the vast reserves of American roots music, resulting in an eclectic and gritty effort highlighted by Cary Hudson's increasingly strong songwriting skills. Shifting fluidly from blistering workouts like the opening "Bloody 98" and "Black Dog" to the lovely "Myrna Lee" and the catchy "Babe," Homegrown is informed by melodic smarts absent from so many contemporary alt-country records; Hudson's parched, Dylan-esque vocals remain wonderfully evocative as well, helping establish an authentic sense of time and place.