THE BURIE FAMILY, HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

THE BURIE FAMILY
HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

No Label
No Number

The Burie Family has a creative business plan in action: release a new record, then take the year off to try other projects, playing just one performance date, one already finished even as I type this. Interestingly, or oddly or presciently, they titled the record Here Today, Gone Tomorrow. Let us hope that does not prove permanent. The band has too much talent and positive energy to disband so early in their careers.

A sunny, upbeat disposition underscores most of the 12 tracks offered here. No less than five of the tunes are religious songs, starting with the third track, “Warfare,” sung convincingly by mandolinist Nate and his bass-playing brother Joe. That’s followed by an excellent cover/adaptation of “To Know Him Is To Love Him,” here transformed from one kind of love song to one of a spiritual direction. The trio harmonies of Bethany, Rebekah, and Tiffany makes this a special track. More poignant, though nonetheless uplifting, is Tiffany’s soldier’s story of courage and acceptance, “Don’t Cry For Me.”

On the secular side, the band opens and closes the album on a swinging note, “Lady Be Good”/“Kentucky Means Paradise” at the front, “Powder Your Face With Sunshine” at the end. Both are light, relaxed and in a word, tuneful. They just ooze optimism. That same feel bleeds over into “I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could” (given some nice melodic twists) and Bethany’s original “Good In Goodbye.” They also include two instrumentals, “Cherokee Shuffle” and “Georgianna Moon Waltz,” both very good and both giving Nate and fiddler Rebekah and guitarist Bethany a chance to display their instrumental skills, which though not flashy or stunning, enhance whatever song they’re playing and make this a pleasing album as a whole. (www.theburiefamily.com)BW