Country Boy

On April 13, Isaac Cole turned 12 years old and he already has an album under his belt. Country Boy, Cole’s first album is a collection of country songs with a Christian influence. Hailing from outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cole is a self-proclaimed Country boy who likes hunting, fishing and playing with his Border Collie, “Oreo.” He is also a good singer. Songs like “God’s A Country Boy Too” fit Cole’s voice very well. The ballad, “Ordinary Man,” is also a touching song honoring the soldier who keeps all that we love free. It’s nice to hear such a young singer tackle such a mature topic. “Pray For The Fish” is another good song on this album. “Daddy Taught Me” is an age-appropriate song about all of the things a father teaches his son. Isaac Cole has a big future in front of him. It’s nice to see someone so young doing what he loves.

Bill Monroe 100th Year Celebration: Live At Bean Blossom

Last November, Rural Rhythm Records released the album, Live At Bean Blossom, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. This album consists of twelve Bill Monroe classics, all performed by different artists, ranging from Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out to Carolina Road to Wasson & McCall featuring J.D. Crowe. This live album is a true testament to what a huge influence Bill Monroe has had on Bluegrass music. With classic songs, like “Uncle Pen” and “Blue Moon Of Kentucky,” this album will be a historical reference in American music. Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press perform a magical version of “Blue Moon Of Kentucky.” The rolling banjo, quick tempo and vocal of Bobby Osborne bring this classic to life. Other standout songs on this live album are “Six Feet Under Ground” and “Molly & Tenbrooks.” Bill Monroe is a legend; and this album does him justice.

More Than Human

Christian Rock and Worship band, Piercing The Darkness, have a new album out, More Than Human. Produced by the URC team, the 10-song album has a combination of both Heavy Metal Rock songs and songs with a more laid-back approach. The title track, “More Than Human,” is an electric guitar-driven song about being a son of God. The vocal has quite a bit of reverb on it, which creates a unique sound. “He’s With You” is a slower, more relaxed song about God’s omniscience. The tones on the electric guitar on this particular track are excellent. “Junkie” sounds like a truthful song about one struggling with self-confidence. The hard overtones on this track may or may not be your cup of tea, but this group definitely has a unique identity. “My Savior, My God” is more of an ethereal track that has the same laid back feeling as “He’s With You.” It’s nice to hear a different take on Christian and Worship songs.

Different Places

In February, Canadian Country artist Adam Gregory released his new 6-song album, which features his new single, “High On You.” Gregory co-wrote four of the six songs, including this single. “High On You” is a mid-tempo song with a super-sexy groove about being addicted to his lover. Every woman in the world would want to hear this sung to them. Gregory has such a unique and identifiable voice, it’s hard to believe he won’t be a superstar. “Just Say It” is another song that really captures the emotion in Gregory’s vocal. This song about saying what’s on your mind to your lover is really infectious, as well. “Loves You Right” is a nice waltz and a good addition to the album. The last song, written by veterans Steve Bogard and Clay Mills, “Throwaway Day,” is an up-tempo, feel-good song that makes you want to get up and dance. Given the success Gregory has had in Canada, it’s time the United States catches on!

Rescue

Peter Eide has completed his fourteenth album, Rescue. Not only is this album a great collection of songs, Eide is donating a portion of his proceeds to the Highly Vulnerable Children’s Fund via Compassion International. This fund provides for orphaned children or children who have severely ill parents. It’s great to see an artist like Peter Eide using his musical talent to help others. Songs like “That’s What Family Does” obviously reflect Eide’s personal views, as the lyric says, “lift each other up, cheer each other on, we do it all because that’s what family does.” Other standout songs on the album are “Your Love Is Better Than Life” and “Take What I Have.” “Take What I Have” is a moving ballad with sparse production and a beautifully melodic chorus. This sincere song should be played over and over as a song of hope for all of us. Peter Eide is a great artist with a great voice and even more importantly, he has a purpose with his music, which is to serve others – all very applaudable.

Till The Sunrise

Canadian singer/songwriter, Matt Brouwer, released a new album, Till The Sunrise, in February. Brouwer’s personal lyrics, along with his extremely hooky melodies, combine to create a very compelling album. Teaming up with award-winning producer, Michael Omartian, proved to be a good move, as well. The opening song, and title-track, “Till The Sunrise,” has all the elements of a hit – an honest lyric, an energetic track and a believable vocal that makes you want to sing along. Other songs, like “Thornside,” have an Americana feel that fits Brouwer’s vocal very well. This particular song, an allegory about being trapped, has an edgy vibe to it that really adds a nice dynamic to the album as a whole. The final song on this album, “Outside Inside,” is a beautifully crafted work of art. The production is full of space, allowing Brouwer’s vocal to breathe. This song will definitely find its way into film and TV. This is a beautiful album. Check it out!

The Road Ain’t Long

Dee Rock certainly knows how to rock! On his latest album, The Road Ain’t Long, Rock combines his great vocal talent with the production chops of Tom Paden to create a Country Rock sound that is truly unique. The opening track, “Ripples On The Moon,” is a swampy song about making love on a boat at night. The edgy production fits Dee Rock’s vocal quite well. “Life Is Good” is another good song. Written by Rodney Clawson and Dave Robbins, “Life Is Good” is a feel-good song that makes you want to sing along. Dee Rock’s vocal is really unique and should stand out in a good way. “The Uniform,” which Rock and Paden co-wrote, is a nice tribute to the soldiers who keep our freedom alive. Rock shows a different side to his voice on this song, which is a nice contrast to the rocking “The Bible And The Belt.” This song talks about growing up in the sticks and learning lessons from both the Bible and his daddy’s belt. Good album and a nice contribution to Country music.

Chronology, Volume 1

For 30 years, the Lonesome River Band has been making records that both set trends and became extremely influential in the modern Bluegrass scene. To celebrate their 30 years of making music, the Lonesome River Band is releasing three 8-song EPs, one for each decade of their existence. On this album, the group tackles songs like “The Old Man In The Shanty” and “Laura Jean,” both which are driven by the rhythm acoustic guitar. The harmonies are unbelievably tight on “I’m Afraid To Love You Anymore,” which also has a blazing banjo solo. The group slows it down with the heartbreak song, “Mary Ann.” This song is a great example of the LRB that has been so successful for three decades. The musicianship is exceptional, the harmonies fantastic, and the arrangements are superb. “Hobo Blues” is another track on this album you should check out. The groovy bass line, along with the funky banjo playing is simply outstanding on this song, written by Billy Smith. The album ends with the instrumental, “Angeline The Baker,” which is primarily a fiddle and banjo song. This is also the only new track on this album. Let’s hope we have another 30 years to look forward to from the Lonesome River Band, as they are an icon in American music.

From You For You

Canadian Christian artist, Dan Macaulay, has a new album that hit the stores in April. This album, From You For You, is a collection of wonderfully melodic songs with lyrics that are extremely inspiring. The opening song (and title track) “From You For You” is an up-tempo Worship song that really sets the tone for the rest of the album. Macaulay’s vocal has a warmth to it that draws you in and lets you focus on the lyric. “Be Our Love” is another standout song on the album. The acoustic guitar and ethereal electric guitar combine to create a sound that is both fresh and hooky. The lyric to this song asks God to teach us how to embody His love. Other standout songs on this album are “Listening” and “Win With Love.” Macaulay has a great knack for songwriting and the production on this album is spectacular. When you combine great music with passionate lyrics about God’s greatness, it’s hard to go wrong! Expect great things from this album.

Geoffrey Andrews

Geoffrey Andrews’ self-titled album is simply fantastic. The voice that comes out Geoffrey Andrews is unearthly. His booming voice and range shine from start to finish on this album. The opening song, “A Miracle,” which Andrews wrote himself, is a gorgeous song and the vocal performance is Grammy®-worthy. The majestic production further supports Andrews’ huge voice on this song. Andrews speeds things up with the Countrified “If God Said This Was Heaven,” which does not showcase his range as well. He rebounds, however, with his version of “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Anthem.” It’s rare to hear a vocalist who is so in control of his voice. His tone is beautiful, pitch is perfect and his range is outrageous. I would love to hear an album of songs that only showcase his range. It is nice to have some tempo added, but the songs could have been a little better, when it comes to up-tempos. Regardless, Geoffrey Andrews is going to have a great career! Voices like this don’t come along very often!