New music: Gone country, sort of

Regular readers and close friends know how much of a fan I am of musician Warren Haynes. He could probably play “Happy Birthday” or “Chopsticks” and I would think it be worthy of a Grammy. Keep that in mind as I give you the following, brief music review. His latest solo effort, called “Ashes and Dust,” is a major departure from most of his work with Gov’t Mule, the Allman Brothers and other solo efforts. He collaborates with Railroad Earth, a rootsy, Americana group from New Jersey that I saw at Mountain Jam a few years ago (they were really good there!). Of course, I love the new record. The album borders on old-school country/mellow Neil Young. Only better. Check it out. Of course.