'This is the second recording from the Jason Boone Band of Mississippi. Their first, when they were a four-piece band, was an allgospel CD. This current project is predominantly secular, and the band has added Jeffrey Boone on fiddle. He joins Jason Boone (guitar and vocals), Don Robinson (banjo, guitar, and vocals), Lee Ely (mandolin and vocals), and Johnny Rawls (bass, clawhammer banjo, and vocals) in what is a highly-polished & entertaining group, one that offers a nice blend of contemporary and traditional stylings.
There are eight originals (including Don Robinson's banjo instrumental, "Bent Creek") and six covers. Among the most notable originals are Robinson's "Sunday Morning Without You" with its "Highway Forty Blues" feel and two gospel songs, one each from Boone ("He'll Still Be There") and Rawls ("Thoughts So Dear To Me"). The covers of the country/pop classics, "Welcome To My World" and Buck Owens' "Loves Gonna Live Here," are also standout tracks and great selections. Ron Stewart's "Georgia Bound," opens the album with great energy and gets a bright, crisp treatment.
With Boone, Robinson, and Rawls, the band has three topnotch lead singers. Boone has the high, clear, slightly-twangy lead. Robinson has the lowerpitched, smoother, and more country-sounding lead. Rawls is sort of in the middle; he's higher than Robinson, but smoother than Boone. Each provides not only a nice contrast, but also helps to underline the core point of the song, be it Boone's energy on "Love's Gonna Live Here" or Robinson's weariness on "For Sale By Owner" or Rawls' sentimentality on "Thoughts So Dear To Me."
While all this fine singing is going on, the instrumental work is of high quality and wellconsidered. Good playing, good singing, and good material choices add up to a recording worthy of wide recognition! '
Bill Wagner