BECKY BULLER

BECKY BULLER
CREPE PAPER HEART

Dark Shadow Recording
DSR201801

   The first thing you need to know is that there’s plenty to love on Becky Buller’s latest album besides the classic bluegrass gospel “Written In The Back Of The Book” and the driving “Speakin’ To That Mountain.” Buller is riding a wave that has taken her to the top of the bluegrass world in recent years. She was the 2015 IBMA Songwriter Of The Year and followed that by winning the 2016 IBMA Female Vocalist Of The Year and Fiddle Player Of The Year. This album offers assurance that she’ll likely be on the stage again in 2018.

Buller wrote or co-wrote 11 songs on the effort, except the bonus track “Phoenix Arise.” In addition to her top-shelf vocals, the album offers contributions from Sam Bush, Rhonda Vincent, Claire Lynch, Frank Solivan, Rob Ickes, and Ned Luberecki, among others.

As expected, there are simply no weak links in this compilation. There is storytelling in “John D. Champion,” soul in “Heart Of The House,” a bouncing instrumental in “Cair Paravel,” and just about everything in between. Crepe Paper Heartwill surely give repeat buttons a workout on players across the country. (www.darkshadowrecording.com)MKB