MISSY RAINES AND THE NEW HIP, NEW FRONTIER

MISSY RAINES AND THE NEW HIP
NEW FRONTIER

Compass Records
746042

   Missy Raines is a kick-butt bassist, and with seven Bass Player Of The Year trophies from the IBMA, I’m not alone in my opinion. Frankly, her vocals hadn’t really captured my attention, and I had completely underestimated her talented pipes until this CD. What an incredible voice!

With this project, Raines pulls out all the stops with her dusky, emotive alto on each of the ten tracks. “A lot of these songs share a common theme about renewal, pushing yourself out there, taking the past and letting it be the support underneath you, but continuing to go forward. Some days it’s painful, sometimes growth hurts a lot,” says Raines. She nails the interpretation of the lyrics in a song selection that is somewhat heavier than her normal choice.

Raines’ band, the New Hip, lays down some cool grooves with guitarist/co-producer Ethan Ballinger, mandolinist/acoustic guitarist Jarrod Walker, and drummer/percussionist Josh Fox. Sam Bush’s mandolin and vocals catapult the rockin’ “What’s The Callin’ For,” and Zach Bevill of the Farewell Drifters and former New Hip drummer Robert Crawford help hammer out the band’s evolving sound. Though her roots are firmly planted in bluegrass, Raines has eased over more into the folk/Americana genre. Her soul-searching exploration of music continues to propel her forward. I can’t wait to hear what new frontiers lay ahead. (Compass Records; 916 19th Ave. S.; Nashville, TN 37212, www.compassrecords.com.)BC