Review: Dan Tyminski Returns to His Bluegrass Roots on ‘God Fearing Heathen’

Dan Tyminski
God Fearing Heathen
(8 Track Entertainment)
3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Bluegrass veteran Dan Tyminski….EDM star? That was the case when, in 2013, the longtime Alison Krauss guitarist sang on DJ Avicii’s hit “Hey Brother” (a song he didn’t pen but accumulated one billion…and counting… streams). It introduced him to a potential new audience, one he further attempted to lure with his own tech-influenced rock release, Southern Gothic (2017). That felt a little stiff for the roots-based Tyminski, so he has now retreated to a more personal, backwoods sound on the follow-up.

It’s enough of a return to form for the promotional notes to hail this as a “sonic homecoming” and “his first pure bluegrass album in 15 years,” statements affirmed through each of these 10 tracks.

From the opening “Never Coming Home”’s jauntily performed but melancholy tale of a broken relationship (She didn’t cry, she didn’t try, she didn’t even say goodbye) to the closing tribute to one of his major influences “Ode to Jimmy Martin,” Tyminski revisits the rustic sound he clearly loves.

He gets superb assistance from his impressive, percussion-free, five-piece string band (banjo, fiddle, mandolin, Dobro, bass) who tear into these nine Tyminski co-writes (the only cover is a reprised/rearranged “Hey Brother”) with splendid results.

As a singer, the frontman is well known for providing George Clooney’s voice on Oh Brother, Where Art Thou’s “Man of Constant Sorrow.” He’s just as committed and sturdy here, whether it’s the plinkin’ and plunkin’ on the let’s get together people theme of “Never Met a Stranger” (I may not know you but I’ll call you neighbor) or the tale of a deaf, dumb and blind guitarist who was the greatest picker the world would never know on “G.O.A.T.,” which allows Tyminski and his band room to let loose with some lightning licks.

Banjo master Jason Davis gets almost as much spotlight as the frontman, especially on “Silence in Brandy,” a harrowing tale of a serviceman suffering from PTSD. Tyminski goes solo on the spellbinding title track (I cursed to Jesus with smoke on my breath / I gave him every reason to leave me for dead) where his clear, unaffected vocals seem influenced by those of James Taylor. 

At just over a half hour, the disc is on the short side, especially since it’s his first in six years. But the music is inspired, classy, and played with the reverence of someone who understands bluegrass and realizes, despite his brief flirtations with more contemporary sounds, this is where his strengths lie.  

Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images