album: Reflections in Question
artist: Pretend Friend
genre: bluegrass
release date: September 17, 2021
star rating: five out of five

review by Patrick Madden

First off, this album was my introduction to this group. As a classic country/bluegrass fan myself, it was a breath of fresh air. The instrumentation, which ranges from the happy-go-lucky folk to the melancholy of the blues, depending on the song, definitely reminded me what makes bluegrass such a great genre. The vocals, led by Grant Boesen, are crisp and beautiful; a high tenor to low falsetto, I would liken his voice to that of the lead singer for the Osborne Brothers.

“We Tried,” the third song on the album, is about how much time we spend with a phone or screen when we are missing the important things. The track after is a happy, lilting and playful instrumental, which is perfect considering it is called “Squirrel in the Attic.” “Lead Me On” is a great track; the vocals are almost sad, but still hauntingly catchy. My personal favorite song is “Wish You Well” – it is most definitely an earworm. It talks about how it would be easy to stay angry at someone who wronged you, but the consequences aren’t worth the satisfaction of revenge. The album ends with another heart-wrenching tune called “Angel,” a song about knowing the person you love is someone you can’t have.

All in all, I give Reflections in Question five stars. The lyricism, performance and quality are all on par with something I would expect to hear on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. So, if you want to hear an album with current-day bluegrass, this is a great place to start.