Reviews

JOE MULLINS AND THE RADIO RAMBLERS HYMNS FROM THE HILLS Rebel Records Reb-CD 1839 Joe Mullins’ new gospel recording is evenly split between two approaches. On one side are seven songs recorded solely by Mullins and his band, the Radio Ramblers. Several of those are new songs, including the rousing “He Loves Me” by band…

GLENN GIBSON WHEN TIMES ARE HARD Glenn Gibson is a resonator guitarist who has put in side man and studio time with Charlie Sizemore, Marty Raybon, Karl Shiflett, and Dale Ann Bradley. With this recording, he steps out from that role and assumes that of songwriter and lead vocalist. All of the songs here are…

GARY RULEY AND MULE TRAIN THE SOUTHERN INN AND OUT LIVE Gary Ruley and Mule Train is a large, somewhat free-floating ensemble of talented musicians from in and around Rockbridge County, Virginia. Some eleven names are listed in their press notes, and five of them, plus two guests (fiddlers Nate Leath and Shannon Wheeler) appear…

CRAIG MORRIS BANJOLOGY Bluegrass is an egalitarian music. It is grassroots music. There are folks who go to festivals who never even get to the stage, they are so wrapped up in playing the music. Some folks can’t help but share their music with others. Craig Morris is a fine banjo picker and he gathered…

CLOVER POINT DRIFTERS # 2 UNPLUGGED The Clover Point Drifters are a bluegrass band from Victoria, B.C., Canada and their membership includes Mike Kraft (banjo and vocals), Larry Stevens (resonator guitar and vocals), Dan Parker (mandolin and vocals), Alan Law (guitar and vocals), and George Robinson (bass and vocals). Their latest collection consists of 14…

CARPENTER & MAY Violin Shop Records VSR-003 It is obvious by the end of the first song on this new album by Fred Carpenter and Tim May that the virtuosity expected from these two wonderful musicians is in full effect. A wonderfully arranged take on the Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out,” the opening cut…