This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“Caution: Listening to this CD while operating a vehicle could result in a speeding violation,” warns the back cover of bluegrass veteran Ricky Skaggs’ latest studio disc. I don’t doubt it for a second.
History Of The Future finds the fleet-fingered multi-instrumentalist and his world-class all-acoustic backing band Kentucky Thunder putting the proverbial pedal to the metal and tearing lickety-split through a roster of traditional oldies like Shady Grove and Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms, along with classic cover tunes like Carter Stanley’s The Old Home. They gear down now and again to pay tribute to Bill Monroe (the high lonesome Mother’s Only Sleeping) and nod to Ricky’s Nashville career (the more modern Too Far Down to Fall), but the infectious, celebratory spirit of the disc never wavers. So go ahead and blast it. Trust me, it’ll be worth the ticket.
