Nothin’ Fancy is a hardworking (and prolific) contemporary band from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley that has been together since 1994, after a couple members played for about a decade before that in The East Coast Bluegrass Band.  Nothin’ Fancy’s catalog or recordings includes about 17 albums, some self-released, others on Pinecastle Records, and their most recent on the Mountain Fever label.  With their personalized and contemporary original bluegrass sound that has built them a legion of followers, Nothin' Fancy is singer/songwriter Mike Andes (mandolin), Chris Sexton (fiddle), Jacob Flick (banjo, pedal steel on track 12), Jacobe Louzon (guitar) and James Cox  (bass). On this album, special guest artist Amanda Cook sings tenor on “Crash and Burn.”

Mike Andes' originals comprise two-thirds of the songs on this project with standouts being “Time Gone By,” “Here We Go Again,” “The Thought of Loving You,” his instrumental “Memories of Monroe” and “That’s What Bars Are For” with its novelty slant and colorings of Flick’s pedal steel guitar. As with his song on previous albums, Andes writes about more contemporary themes, and he incorporates some witty lyrical twists in “Dog Eat Dog World” and “Just an Old Farmer.”

Three tracks on this album were written by James and John Cox, and James sings lead with emotive delivery on “Little Island Love,” “The Things I’m Sorry For” and “Gone at Last.” The band’s cover of John Prine’s “Paradise” will also garner them some radio airplay.  

Nothin' Fancy has been a very successful, engaging and dynamic ensemble. Despite the whimsical nature of their band name, their albums have consistently been mighty fine and skillfully executed. If you take a "fancy" to solid, smooth, contemporary bluegrass, then Nothin' Fancy's 17^th album, “Here We Go Again,” will be met with considerable listening pleasure from those who aren't quite ready for a full-blown rawboned high lonesome sound. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)