Since 1998, Jeff Austin has been known as the charismatic, self-taught mandolin player and singer from Yonder Mountain String Band. After his decision to leave YMSB in early 2014, Austin has been focused on one thing; family. “Varying career goals and creative pursuits,” as the band explained it on their Facebook page, and the birth of his new baby girl were reason enough for Austin to call it quits with Yonder, and dedicate his time to his new family. With a heavy heart and a dispirited fan-base, Jeff Austin parted ways with Yonder Mountain String Band.

Following his departure, in addition to the family life, Austin has started up his own solo project; The Jeff Austin Band. The band is made up of Danny Barnes (banjo, guitar), Ross Martin (guitar), Eric Thorin (bass) and Cody Dickinson from North Mississippi Allstars (percussion). Jeff Austin’s solo debut, The Simple Truth, is set to be released on February 10th and a new vibe is emerging from this particular gathering of musicians. The result is a vastly different sound than what Austin’s fans are accustomed to, and a sudden musical change of pace for this energetic master of the mandolin.

From the get-go, it is immediately apparent that a new course has been set. The opening song, “What The Night Brings,” is a radio-friendly, middle-of-the-road “easy rocker” as Austin puts it in the lyrics. This song is far more Alternative than he has ever sounded before. For those expecting to hear a sound similar to Yonder Mountain String Band, it’s up to you the listener, to decide whether this new direction is a pleasant or an unpleasant surprise.

The Simple Truth is indeed filled with surprises, and the band has a lot of new tricks up their sleeves. Shake Me Up is a smooth, Motown-inspired soul explosion, while other songs like “15 Steps” are super-catchy mixtures of Rock and Bluegrass. The album is extremely diverse, like the New Orleans-infused title track with an interesting blend of musical genres as well. Then there are songs such as “Run Down” and “Fiddling Around” that take us back to the Bluegrass roots to which Jeff Austin’s fans are accustomed. The latter song, “Fiddling Around,” is certainly a highlight from The Simple Truth. With that old familiar freewheeling progressive Bluegrass sound that we all know so well, this song is sure to be a fan-favorite.

Austin doesn’t forget to slow it down on “Over and Over” as well as on “Scrapbook Pages,” a slow, Country ballad that sits comfortably in between the assortment of different styles on The Simple Truth. Two other songs that must be mentioned are “Gatling Gun,” a hard rocking, story-telling, feedback-filled Rock/Bluegrass crossover, and the album’s final song, “Falling Stars,” which reels it all back in. This song’s mellow finger-picking style and deeply personal lyrics seem to put everything we’ve heard on the record into perspective.

Whether something completely different, something unexpected or something that feels just like home, it all seems to eventually make sense at the conclusion of The Simple Truth. It seems that Austin is trying diligently to stay true to his roots all while exploring new sounds and new frontiers. While standing by his family he is also musically standing by himself, yet making certain that he shines just as bright on his own, as he did with Yonder Mountain. That’s the simple truth.

By Joseph Conlon