I’m happy that bluegrass seems
to be gaining popularity again, because this music raises my spirits, makes me
feel that the world is a decent place, despite all evidence to the contrary. These
instruments have a cheerful sound, and this album’s opening track, “Your
Remarkable Return,” has an optimistic bent that I appreciate. “I’ll admit I dreamed about you/But I swore I
wouldn’t dwell on things that couldn’t be/I thought time was a healer/And I
believed that I was free.” “Your Remarkable Return” was written by Chris
Jones and Jon Weisberger. It’s followed by “Letters To Brendan,” which has a
more serious tone and subject, a tale told from the perspective of a young soldier,
and features some nice harmonies. “I
miss you more than you’d ever know/Not a sign this war is ending soon/I didn’t know
Virginia nights could be so cold/More often now my thoughts have turned to home.”
This one was written by Chris Jones, Thomm Jutz and Jon Weisberger.
“Looking For The Bridge” is an
emotionally engaging song that moves at a good pace, and features some great
playing. “And I’m finally giving in and
admitting to the truth/Instead of just pretending that I’m not losing you.”
Still, there is optimism here; I think that is inherent in these instruments. “And if I stare off in the distance, seeming
kind of lost/Just know that I’m looking for the bridge.” Chris Jones begins
“I Can’t Change The Rhyme” with some cool stuff on guitar. I dig his vocal
performance here, particularly those moments when he dips low. The more I
listen to this album, the more I enjoy this track in particular. The band
really shines in that wonderful instrumental section at the end, a very cool
little jam that hints at what this band must be like in concert.
The album’s only cover is Steve
Winwood’s “Back In The High Life Again.” It’s an interesting and unexpected
choice, though the original does include mandolin. David Johnson plays fiddle
on this track. This rendition is giving me a fresh appreciation of this song.
That’s followed by “Nyhan’s Regret.” My body and spirit have always responded
to Irish music (for what are probably obvious reasons), and this wonderful
instrumental tune lives and thrives in that common ground between bluegrass and
Irish folk music. I absolutely love this
track, which was composed by Mark Stoffel and Gina Furtado, and features Liz
Carroll on fiddle. Then Megan Lynch Chowning joins the band on fiddle for “I’ll
Watch Her Sail,” a song with more good harmonies. “And she’ll sail on an easterly wind/The same wind that blew her to me/And
I know I can’t stand in her way/So I’ll just watch her sail out to sea.”
“Bend In The Road” is a
cheerful-sounding tune to raise our spirits, its opening line reminding us “Sometimes a journey takes a little patience.”
There is optimism, there is strength, there is a brighter tomorrow. We all need
this now. That’s followed by “I Shouldn’t Even Be Here,” another tune that
really works for me, perhaps because of these lines: “The board is clear, let’s start a brand new game/So pop the cork, make
a toast/Drink in every drop of this new day/Everything from here on out/Is just
another gift that came my way/I shouldn’t even be here.” Perhaps we can
adopt that attitude without having to nearly lose everything. I try to refrain
from taking things for granted, and am grateful for music like this that helps
us through these dark times. There is a whole lot of good in this world, but we
need to remind ourselves of that, for sometimes it’s not as apparent as it
could be. You know?
“Who You Want Me To Be” has a
kind of pretty, sweet vibe right from the start. And there is a humor to this
one, its first line being “Somewhere in
some other life I mastered almost everything I’ve tried.” I love the
honesty of this song, and I love the work on banjo. “I can’t be who you want me to be/I can’t be who you want me to be.”
This one was written by Gina Furtado and Chris Jones. Then “Own The Blues” has a
kind of laid-back country vibe, with more nice harmonies. This is another of my
personal favorites, in part because David Johnson adds some wonderful stuff on
pedal steel on this track. And check out these lines: “I know too well those days are gone/In good time, I’ll move along/For
now please just allow this dream to last.”
The disc concludes with “Glimpse Of The Kingdom,” which features Tim
Surrett on dobro. “When I see someone
reaching out to help a stranger/I get a glimpse of the kingdom.”
CD Track List
- Your Remarkable Return
- Letters To Brendan
- Looking For The Bridge
- I Can’t Change The Rhyme
- Back In The High Life Again
- Nyhan’s Regret
- I’ll Watch Her Sail
- Bend In The Road
- I Shouldn’t Even Be Here
- Who You Want Me To Be
- Own The Blues
- Glimpse Of The Kingdom
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