Cold on the Shoulder
Tony Rice · 1984
36 min · 11 tracks · country music
A seamless blend of bluegrass and folk, rich with emotional storytelling and intricate guitar work.
Top tracks — play these first
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Wayfaring Stranger — This haunting rendition showcases Rice's mastery of melody and emotion, transforming a traditional spiritual into a deeply personal statement.
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Cold on the Shoulder — The title track exemplifies Rice's unique fingerstyle technique, blending intricate guitar work with poignant lyrics that resonate with themes of love and loss.
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Muleskinner Blues — Rice delivers a lively interpretation of this classic tune, highlighting his ability to merge traditional bluegrass rhythms with a contemporary flair while maintaining the song's playful spirit.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends bluegrass and folk with intricate guitar work, offering a solid yet familiar experience.
What we noticed
- Each track typically follows a traditional bluegrass structure but incorporates unexpected chord changes and arrangements.
- Several songs include layered harmonies that enhance the storytelling aspect, particularly in the vocal delivery.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short poignant storytelling moments
- gentle reflective afternoon vibes
- easygoing sing-alongs with friends
- bittersweet melodies for contemplation
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy, fast-paced music
- want longer immersive experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Cold on the Shoulder is Tony Rice's third studio album, released after his acclaimed 1983 debut. By this time, Rice had already established himself as a pioneering figure in contemporary bluegrass and acoustic music, showcasing his virtuosic guitar skills and innovative approach to traditional songs.
- Stylistic neighbors
- David Grisman· Chris Thile· Jerry Douglas
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Cold on the Shoulder 2:34
- 2 Wayfaring Stranger 5:23
- 3 John Hardy 3:29
- 4 Fare Thee Well 3:21
- 5 Bitter Green 2:45
- 6 Muleskinner Blues 4:23
- 7 Song for Life 3:00
- 8 Why Don't You Tell Me So 3:11
- 9 If You Only Knew 2:16
- 10 Likes of Me 2:55
- 11 I Think It's Gonna Rain Today 2:39
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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