D. Rangers

Despite most of the members still being only in their early 20s, Winnipeg’s D. Rangers have quickly developed into one of the most inventive bluegrass bands in the country. This latest effort is an even bigger step forward in all areas, primarily the songwriting of front-man Jaxon Haldane, who also plays a mean banjo. "Love, Lust and Loneliness” is a guaranteed dance floor filler, while "Settin’ A Blaze” delivers a nice Texas swing feel, and "Social Season” does its part as the album’s mandatory weeper. Aside from that, the band are given free reign to show off their chops, and mandolin player Aaron Goss especially goes to town on "Crusty And Greasy.” The band have acknowledged being raised on punk and metal, and that "go-for-broke” attitude is certainly apparent all over this record. While they aren’t the first band to bridge these two worlds, The Paw-Paw Patch shows that they are among the best at doing it right now. Either way, the D. Rangers prove that bluegrass still has a vital place within the Canadian music scene.