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| Back To Past Reviews |
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| Past CD
Reviews 2016 by Brenda Madden |
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| March The Grascals • And Then
There’s This…
Doug Mays • Americana The Nashville Sessions
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May Swift Creek • Magnolia
John Heinrich • 3 Faces
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August Stephanie Layne • Eclectic
Jeff White • Right Beside You
The Cannondolls • Crumbs
Chet O'Keefe • Because Of You
Auburn • Love & Promises
Felicia DiVine • No! I'm Not A Stripper
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| September Kristin Scott Benson • Stringworks
Brenda Kaye Perry • I'm A Mama's Girl
Various Artists • Ladies of the South
Liberty • Liberty
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October Holly Norman • Taking Care of
Bluegrass
Kenny & Amanda Smith • Unbound
Dear County • Low Country
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| March |
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 The Grascals • And Then
There’s This…
www.grascals.com
And Then There’s This… by the The
Grascals is their first release since the
addition of John Bryan. John blends well with the
group and helps The Grascals continue their
award-winning contemporary bluegrass sound. Put
simply, this album is a listening pleasure from
the opening cut, “I Know Better” to the
final song, “Highway of Sorrow.” The
Grascals and bluegrass….it doesn’t get
any better! |
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 Mississippi Doug Mays •
Americana The Nashville Sessions
Mississippi Doug Mays has
released a 14-song CD entitled Americana The
Nashville Sessions. While the production is not
as “slick” as most Nashville
productions, there is something about Mississippi
Doug’s voice that is intriguing. Despite the
raw edges, there is an honesty with which he
delivers each song - especially those he
co-wrote, “Caribbean Moon,” “A
Dozen Roses,” Handsome Is Me” and
“When It’s All Said And Done.” |
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| May |
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 Swift Creek • Magnolia
www.swiftcreekmusic.com
Swift Creek’s second album, Magnolia
includes seven songs written/co-written by band
member, Kevin Brown. The band has developed a
bluegrass sound that is well-blended and
cohesive. Of particular interest in this group of
songs is “Rattle Them Bones” and
“Bluegrass Hurricane.” Swift Creek
concludes the CD with a first-rate version of the
familiar “Ashes Of Love.” Look forward
to hearing more from Swift Creek. |
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John Heinrich • 3 Faces
www.johnheinrich.net
John Heinrich is well-known
in Nashville as an accomplished studio musician
as well as being in demand for live performance.
This eclectic collection of songs features
John’s expertise on a variety of instruments
from bass, steel guitar and acoustic guitar to
flute and sax. In addition, John wrote/co-wrote
five of the tracks and also added his vocals to
“Leap Into The Storm Of Time.” This
album aptly spotlights the talents of John
Heinrich. |
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| August |
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Stephanie Layne • Eclectic
www.stephanielayne.com
Stephanie Layne’s
album, Eclectic, pushes this singer/songwriter
further down the road to her musical dreams. Her
songwriting artistry and full-bodied vocals
continue to mature. From the opening song,
?Cowgirl Tough? to ?One Nation Under God? and the
final song, ?Ride,? Stephanie Layne displays a
proficiency for country music and delivers a
notewor-thy performance. |
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Jeff White • Right Beside
You
www.jeffwhitebluegrass.com
Jeff White’s album
Right Beside You is a collection of bluegrass
material flavored with a little country and folk.
Jeff, a bluegrass flatpicking guitarist, brings
not only his pickin’ style into the
spotlight, but also shares his notable vocal and
songwriting skills. From Bill Monroe’s
?Travelin’ This Lonesome Road? to his
self-penned songs, Jeff White hits the mark
throughout the project. |
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The Cannondolls • Crumbs
www.cannondolls.com
The Cannondolls is
comprised of Caitlin Cannon and Kate Willyard on
vocals and Alissa Wolf on fiddle. These three
talented ladies combine their creative forces to
fashion a di-verse Americana project. All songs
on the EP were written by Caitlin and Kate and
their harmonies blend well with each song
interpretation. "Diamonds and Gold" and
"Crumbs" stand out on the album. |
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Chet O'Keefe • Because Of
You
www.chetokeefe.com
Chet O’Keefe’s
CD, Because Of You is an Americana treasure. This
singer/songwriter’s smoky vocals are
flavored with folk and blues influences. He is a
clever storyteller and masterful interpreter of
songs. Chet’s skills glitter on this
project, but shine especially bright on
"Blue Martin" and "Because Of
You." Chet O’Keefe is an artist who
creates "outside the box," which allows
him to construct authentic and impassioned music. |
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 Auburn • Love &
Promises
www.auburn.org.uk
The band, Auburn has
captured lead singer, Liz Lenten’s sultry
blues style on their latest album, Love &
Promises. All twelve songs on the project were
written by Liz, except "If Everyone Was
Listening" which she co-wrote with Mark
"Gus" Gustavina. The depth of emotion
Liz conveys with each single word is fascinating
especially on "Miss You Blues" and the
title cut, "Love & Promises." |
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Felicia DiVine • No! I'm
Not A Stripper
Felicia DiVine’s
album, No! I’m Not A Stripper, is an
unconventional project. This edgy, rock flavored
CD, begins rockin’ with "Domestic
Engineer" and rolls into "Act Like A
Man," both high spirited numbers and ends
with the gritty "Sparta, I’m Coming
Home To You." A fiery performance by Felicia
DeVine gives this project originality and spunk. |
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| September |
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Kristin Scott Benson •
Stringworks
www.ksbbanjo.com
Kristin Scott Benson, best known as a member of
The Grascals, has released her own album
entitled, Stringworks. The album is half
instrumental and half vocals and features her
excellent banjo pickin’. She has brought in
artists like Claire Lynch, Chris Jones and Grant
Williams to add the vocals as well as adding her
husband, Wayne Benson on mandolin. This project
is an amazing mix of bluegrass and banjo. |
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Brenda Kaye Perry • I'm A
Mama's Girl
Debusk Entertainment
Brenda Kay Perry’s latest release I’m A
Mama’s Girl is 14 tracks of solid country
music. The ballad, “Would I See Me,” is
the most stirring song on the album, but the
rousing song, “The Devil And Angel
Agree” and the up-tempo “Honky Tonk
Your Memory Away” are also
attention-getters. Although the project is simply
produced, it is an enjoyable listen. |
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Various Artists • Ladies of
the South
The Ladies Of The South CD is an eclectic
collection of female artists produced by blind
producer, Joey Stuckey. The Official Music
Ambassador for his hometown of Macon, Georgia,
Mr. Stuckey features on this project twelve
artists he has produced over the last 6 years.
Included are the Shadow Bandits, Kim Meeks,
Vanessa Moses, Katherine Daniel, Louise Warren
and more. There’s something for everyone on
this project. |
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Liberty • Liberty
The gospel group, Liberty has released a 10-song
self-titled CD. The first track, “A Divine
Appointment” sets the tone that runs
throughout the collection. With songs like
“Stop Running From God,” “Weep
Tears Of Joy” and “What If,” they
have delivered God’s message through music.
While the production is limited, the message of
faith and hope is very much alive on this
project. |
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| October |
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Holly Norman • Taking Care
of Bluegrass
www.hollynorman.com
Holly Norman’s album, Taking Care of
Bluegrass: A Tribute To Elvis is an incredible
bluegrass album! It’s always difficult to
remake hit songs, but to cross genres as well, is
a lofty goal. Holly Norman definitely has reached
that goal. This collection of Elvis songs has
been magnificently redone. Her vocals are
authentic and the arrangements are impeccable. It
includes twelve Elvis songs plus an original
entitled “Long Live The King.” |
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Kenny & Amanda Smith •
Unbound
www.kenny-amandasmith.com
Kenny & Amanda Smith have released yet
another exemplary bluegrass project entitled,
Unbound. IBMA’s Emerging Artist in 2003,
this husband-wife duo’s talent continues to
mature with this group of well-selected songs. As
always, Kenny’s extraordinary
flatpickin’ style compliments Amanda’s
angelic vocals. Songs of particular interest are
“Hills Of Logan County” and “Every
Pilgram Needs A Highway.” |
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Dear County • Low Country
www.dearcountry.com
The debut album for California band, Dear County
is entitled Low Country. The band - Arrica Rose
(lead vocals, guitar), Mark Lynn (lead guitar,
vocals), Nelson Saarni (bass, vocals), Julia
Napier (percussion, vocals) and Michael Smartt
(drums) combine a variety of genres to create a
remarkable blend from opening song, “On and
On” to the final song, “Ellenae.” |
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