Pinecastle Records has a reputation of releasing some of the best Bluegrass music and this CD, Reborn, by Mark Newton & Steve Thomas is no exception. Opening with “Old McDonald,” the duo takes us back to the farm with a fun twist on “eieio.” From there, they make a transition to the more serious, “The Key.” Newton & Thomas have a nice easy style that just makes you want to hear more!

Jeni Carr • JC • www.jenicarr.com

Kentucky native, Jeni Carr delivers an earthy and soulful country album of mostly self-penned tunes. Her vocals capture attention particularly on songs like “Over And Done.” The material is well written with the stand-out song being “Grace.” The production is solid and although sometimes edgy it maintains a nice country feel. This CD should garner Jeni Carr some attention in the music world.

Bobby Chitwood kicks off his album Gravity with the rockin’ and fun song, “Barn On The Rooftop” and ends it with the steamy “Put Your Lips Here (On Mine).” The CD shows a lot of depth and strong material from start to finish. Bobby’s vocals are appealing, confident and compelling and combined with a well-constructed production makes this album a must listen. Keep watching this Texan!

The Ball Family • Cowboy’s Last Words • www.theballranch.com

Western music has a rich heritage from Gene Autry to Sons of the Pioneers and The Ball Family continues to carry that torch nicely with the release of Cowboy’s Last Words. The family harmonies of Gary Ball, Sue Ball and Sherry Ball Luster are rich and authentic and mixed with a solid Western production makes you feel like you’re on the prairie underneath a beautiful Western sky.

Jeff Olson’s Tradin’ Big Wheels For Guitar Strings is a traditional country album interweaved with some truck drivin’ music and a little bit of a blues accent on occasion. Jeff wrote all eleven songs and conveys each one with a personal touch. The “big rig” story song, “The Legend of Black Mountain” highlights Jeff’s hard-core country vocals and writing skills.