Bound to Ride

Ralph Stanley had one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in bluegrass music, and perhaps in American music generally. His reedy tenor and his use of subtle melodic elaboration could have been trademarked. He was 78 years old when he recorded this album, but his voice still cuts through the mix like a knife through butter, and if his performances on songs like “Will You Miss Me” and “Man of Constant Sorrow” don’t make the hair rise on the back of your neck, you may need to have your pulse checked.