Reviews

Snow White Memories

Irene Kelley is one truly gifted tunesmith who also happens to be blessed with a sweet, expressive voice.  Her many compositions have been recorded by everyone from Rhonda Vincent, Clair Lynch and the Osborne Brothers to Alan Jackson, Loretta Lynn and Trisha Yearwood. Kelley’s latest outing is yet another treasure trove of stylistically varied originals…

Read More »

Hangovers & Heartaches

It’s not often that bands go on a 10-year hiatus and decide to give things another go.  Traditional bluegrass fans should be glad an old gravestone inspired Maine-based Breakin’ Strings to make the trek to Nashville to produce Hangovers & Heartaches. Cliff Gelena, a third generation bluegrass performer, heads up the group with lead vocals,…

Read More »

Life’s Been Good

Based in the New York area, the band is led by Ed Krizni (guitar), and is joined on this project by Ron Trotta (banjo), Bill Turner (resonator guitar), Travis Wetzel (fiddle, mandolin), Alice Harmon (dulcimer), Larry Greybill (bass), Joe Fili (fiddle), and Justin Sitler (banjo, guitar).    This release is a 2-CD 40-song collection of…

Read More »

Closer Than I’ve Ever Been

Daniel Crabtree, a gifted and divinely inspired songwriter with an engaging roughhewn vocal style, is a man on a mission.  As he explains in the press material accompanying his fifth album: “I believe a spiritual battle is going on inside man and the world …. As Christians, we should be willing to take on the…

Read More »

Still Standing

North Carolina’s Gospel Plowboys are a group seriously dedicated to spreading the word of Christ through music. The group is Michael Jenkins (guitar, vocals), Kris Miller (vocals), Andrew Brown (bass, mandolin, vocals), Alec McCallister (fiddle), David Brown (bass, vocals), and Peden Williams (banjo). Joining the band on this project is guest Chris Burton (banjo).  The…

Read More »

The Wishful Thinkers’  Hall of Fame

The Matchsellers are a mid-Western group based on the duo of Andrew Morris (guitar, vocals), and Julie Bates (fiddle, vocals). They are joined on this new project by Brian McCarty (mandolin, vocals), and Brandon Day (bass, vocals). The “Wishful Thinkers’ Hall Of Fame” is an imaginary collection of characters which the project purports to be…

Read More »