On
Jim & Jesse's
Tribute to Bill Monroe, the brothers and their
Virginia Boys tackle the canon of their hero and peer. Mega-popular
Monroe tunes such as "Orange Blossom Special" crop up here alongside lesser knowns. Most of the tracks take a fairly true-to-the-original approach, and renderings of "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and "Footprints in the Snow" won't surprise any listeners familiar with the
Monroe versions (though, admittedly, the McReynolds brothers put more Opry polish on the proceedings and possess little of
Monroe's dark-holler intensity). A particular highlight here is
Jim & Jesse's nimble, speedy romp through "Uncle Pen."
–
Erik Hage, Rovi