Zach Williams And The Reformation - A Southern Offering

Zach Williams And The Reformation - A Southern Offering
2011, Zach Williams And The Reformation

Zach Williams And The Reformation proves that growth is a good thing on their impressive sophomore album, A Southern Offering.  The band's previous effort, Electric Revival, was written solely by Williams.  This time out, Williams brings lyrics and his soulful rock voice and the rest of the band crafts the music.  The result is a stunning ode to the history of southern rock n roll, displaying the influence of bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Molly Hatchet and the Black Crowes.  In the process, Zach Williams And The Reformation has created a vibrant and modern album.  Producer Kevin Beamish (REO Speedwagon, Stevie Wonder, Elton John) helps capture the dynamic sound of ZWR with a live energy and a sense of polish that brings out the rough beauty of the music.

A Southern Offering opens with the vibrant southern friend rock n roll of "Gravy Train", a joyous number full of all the panache of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special.  "Mason Jar" is a solid piece of songwriting with a mildly soulful vocal from Williams.  "Fool's Moon" plays like it could be a Bob Seger outtake, and has a melody that will stay with you.  "Picture Perfect" is a mellow rock ballad that makes the most of Williams' soulful voice against a blues backdrop that does the title justice.  "The Fix" opens with a guitar riff that sounds like something cooked up by ZZ Top, and blows up into a full rock sound on the chorus that's infectious.

"Motels And Highways" is a world-weary lament of a man who makes his living on the road.  ZWR picks up steam on "Rock N Roll Me", a blues rocker that sounds like a southern fried Zeppelin tune if David Coverdale were sitting in for Robert Plant.  There's real energy in this tune, which is among the best on the album.  "PO Box And A Postcard" is a speculative number building off the ideas in "Motels And Highways".  ZWR sounds a lot like the Black Crowes here, as Williams ruminates on love lost.  "Wishing Well" and “Sky Full Of Treasure” close things out in consistent yet unsurprising style.

Zach Williams And The Reformation impress on A Southern Offering.  With a sound steeped in classic southern rock yet updated with a modern edge, ZWR stands to capture the attention of several generations of classic and southern rock fans.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Zach Williams And The Reformation at www.zwrnation.com or www.myspace.com/zwreformation.  A Southern Offering is available digitally from Amazon.com and iTunes.

Mike McCarroll – Honky Tonk Dreams

Mike McCarroll – Honky Tonk Dreams
2010, Mike McCarroll Productions

Mike McCarroll was indoctrinated into music at an early age, dancing around the kitchen with his mom to Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” and “All Shook Up” as a toddler.  It wasn’t until enlisting in the army during the Vietnam War that McCarroll picked up a guitar and began to have a sense he could create music.  In the 1960’s and 1970’s it was rock n roll that lit McCarroll’s lamp.  By the late 1970’s McCarroll had made the jump to southern rock, and in the 1980’s was reborn of country music.  The birth of the alternative country movement awoke something in McCarroll that had been there all along.  He began to write country/rock tunes for his own enjoyment, and by 2008 he had released his debut album, the critically acclaimed At The Crossroads.  McCarroll returned in 2010 with Honky Tonk Dreams, refining his outlaw country sound and putting appealing distance between himself and the commercial country pack.

Honky Tonk Dreams opens with “Cash Crop”, a low key southern country-rock tune that explores the difficulties faced by small time farmers and the lengths they must at times go through to survive.  The farm’s new lifeblood grows in line between the rows of corn.  McCarroll sounds like a cross between Paul Gross (Due South, Men With Brooms) and Garth Brooks on “The Devil In The Mirror” while exploring the dark, unknown side of human nature.  “Honky Tonk Dream” finds McCarroll channeling the spirit of Jerry Reed in a good-time tune that looks forward to the weekend as a way to get through the week.  “I Had It All” is a song of heartbreak, lamenting a love lost and the fact that he let her slip away. 

“If The Devil Brought You Roses” is a stellar mix of country, rock and blues.  McCarroll, in character as a less-than-ideal man, asks for another chance, or at least one more roll in the hay.  This mid-tempo creation is as catchy as anything you’ll hear on country radio, but the level of personality and commitment in the performance offered here is striking.  This song will stick with you.  “It’s All About You” is a kiss off, country style.  The title takes on a double meaning in a tongue-in-cheek turns that’s highly entertaining and fun.  “Merle Haggard Jack Daniels & Me” is all about drinking, classic country music and the sort of brotherly commiseration that can only occur at your neighborhood bar.

McCarroll stands up for Indie artists everywhere on “Pop-Style Cookie-Cutter Formula”, informing pop/country music executives what they can do with the songs they want him to play.  The honky-tonk arrangement is laced with the rebellious feel of early rock n roll.  “Southern Pride” is an ode to southern rock and some of its greatest purveyors.  McCarroll takes another shot at the music industry here, lamenting labels’ determination to essentially ignore a market for which there is still significant interest.  Along the way McCarroll references some of his own influences, including The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Charlie Daniels Band, the Atlantic Rhythm Section and the Charlie Daniels Band.  “Waitin’” is a bit of light-heard, mid-tempo country fun.  “Waitin’ On The Whiskey To Work” takes a slightly darker turn about drowning your sorrows.  This isn’t a light drinking tune; it’s a serious, all hands on deck get drunk and forget song.  “What You Gonna Do” finds McCarroll back in the honky-tonk, leaning dangerously close to early rock n roll with a musical blend with elements of Garth Brooks, Hank Jr. and Jerry Lee Lewis.  This is a potential country hit, being the most commercial tune on the album without the air of trying to be.

Mike McCarroll takes a lifetime of musical influences and channels it through his own quintessence to create a sound that is simultaneously modern and classic.  Picking up the mantle from gentlemen such as Hank Williams Jr. and Garth Brooks, Mike McCarroll does his own thing, his way.  McCarroll has a way of blending intelligent lyrics, the irreverent spirit of rock and roll and first class musicianship into songs that are eminently listenable and call you back again and again.  McCarroll’s attitude toward the pop/country ways of Nashville virtually assures that Honky Tonk Dreams probably won’t get the airplay or national attention it deserves, but is a fine example of the sort of great music that happens on the fringes of Nashville once the bills have been paid.  Honky Tonk Dreams is one of the finest country albums to surface in 2010.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5) 

Learn more about Mike McCarroll at www.mikemccarroll.com.  Honky Tonk Dreams is available as a Honky Tonk Dreams or Honky Tonk Dreams from Amazon.com.  Digital versions are also available via iTunes.

Jackyl - When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide

Jackyl - When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide
2010, Mighty Loud Entertainment/Fontana Distribution

Jackyl might never recapture the buzz and glory of the early-to-mid 1990’s, but apparently nobody told them this. On their latest album, When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide, Jackyl digs into a 1980’s inspired sound and yet sounds as fresh as can be. With influences ranging from AC/DC to southern rock n roll, Jackyl goes back to their roots and manages to write some of their best material to date.

When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide opens with "Loads Of Fun", a catchy piece of 1980's hard rock with serious pop sensibility. It's a great foot forward for a band looking to reclaim its glory days. "I Can't Stop" is an old-fashioned glam rock party song; well-done but done-before affair. Jackyl maintains their catchy glamour on "She's Not A Drug" and "My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaines @ss", the latter of which is an off-beat celebration of the south and its many charms. The band runs out of momentum in the middle, but claws back with "When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide", sounding more than a bit like a cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Black Crowes.

"Just Like A Negro" pays tribute to African-American contributions to American music and culture, particularly rhythm & blues both in and of itself and as one of the prime roots of rock n roll. Jackyl gets into their trademark sound with "Deeper In Darkness" and "Freight Train", going over the top in classic style. The cover of Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz" is amusing, done in the original a Capella style. This leads into the closing track, where Jackyl hits the aptly named "Full Throttle" in a song about motorcycling.

Jackyl still has their feet firmly planted in the 1970's and 1980's, but refuses to turn into a dinosaur on When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide. Jackyl's latest is a solid effort likely to appeal to old fans and add a few new ones along the way.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Jackyl at http://www.jackyl.com/ or www.myspace.com/jackyl. When Moonshine And Dynamite Collide is available as either a CD or Download from Amazon. Digital copies are also available via iTunes.

Dick50 - Late Show

Dick50 - Late Show
2010, East Folks Music

Dick50 is, among other things, the backing band for Delbert McClinton. Creative souls themselves, the band plays and writes their own material when they’re not supporting McClinton. Dick50’s Late Show is a charming album mixing elements of Rock, Funk and Soul in a blissed out, melancholy package. The band shows a distinctive ability to craft catchy melodies and arrangements while exploring sounds from garage to blues-inflected pop. Highlights include the funky "Flyin' Now", "Medicine Man", the raw garage anthem "Dirty South" and the Black Crowes inspired "Goldilocks". This is a band that's fun to listen to at home, but likely a whole lot more fun in a roadside bar on a Saturday night where Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special share billing on the jukebox with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Hank Williams, Jr. Late Show is entertaining.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Dick50 at http://www.dick50.com/ or www.myspace.com/dick50band. Late Show is available as either a CD or Download from Amazon. A digital version is also available from iTunes.

Review: Billy Gewin - River Of Stone

Billy Gewin - River Of Stone
2010, Billy Gewin

Billy Gewin has spent a decade and a half as part of the Indie scene in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the last ten years he has released three solo albums while playing in cover bands, doing session work and recording other people’s projects in his home studio. On Gewin’s latest album, River Of Stone, he displays a charming vocal style and honest, straight-forward songwriting. Both qualities make River Of Stone eminently likeable.

River Of Stone opens with "These Days", a song about hitting a point in your life where the troubles of young adulthood are behind you and the path forward looks clear all the way to your dreams. The mildly upbeat arrangement is pure country/rock; perhaps even reminiscent of the southern rock style of Lynyrd Skynyrd. "The Hand I Hold" is a fatalist's anthem; done in an Americana style that makes it sound like a classic from the late 1960's or early 1970's. Gewin changes perspective quickly on "Can't We All Play Together", a tongue-in-cheek song that explains how a fantasy can come out all wrong. Gewin offers up a heartfelt tune in "The Other End (Of The Telescope)". Gewin's imagery is a bit out of the ordinary, but the tune succeeds on the basis of an easy delivery and comfortable Americana arrangement that will grab on you and not let.

"Hard As We Try" is an affably mellow country rocker, as is "River Of Stone", although the album has a somewhat complacent feel at this point. Gewin shakes off this atmosphere with "My Cousin Margaret", a fun story song about a cousin who comes to town once a year to cause a little trouble before returning to her job with the ATF. "Pancakes" finds Gewin reminiscing about one of the "little things" that sticks out in your mind about a relationship long after many of the larger details have been forgotten. It's an endearing tune that will hit home with a lot of listeners. Gewin closes out with "Can't Stand Up", a paean to being overwhelmed by the love of another. It's a sweet song in an affable arrangement and seems like the best choice on the album for single.

Billy Gewin is eminently likeable on River Of Stone, using a solid, charming voice and easy to hear Americana arrangements to run his slightly out-of-left-field lyrical imagery by listeners. You may feel a bit lost amidst Gewin's lyrical turns at times, but the music will keep you coming back. River Of Stone is a treat.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Billy Gewin at http://www.billygewin.com/ or www.myspace.com/billygewin. You can purchase River Of Stone as either a CD or Download through CDBaby.com.

Review: Blackberry Smoke - Little Piece Of Dixie

Blackberry Smoke - Little Piece Of Dixie
2009, BamaJam Records

It's now the end of September, 2009, and I have been waiting all year for a truly kick-a$$ rock album to cross my desk. We've had some decent efforts; albums with strong songs but nothing that really melts your face from the opening chord to the last faded rhythm. Until now. Atlanta's Blackberry Smoke releases their sophomore album on September 29, 2009. Little Piece Of Dixie rocks hard with country and blues riffs and a southern fervor that hasn't been seen on the rock scene in close to twenty years. This is outlaw country, Rock N Roll style, and if you get in their way you'll be swept up in the musical powerhouse that is Blackberry Smoke.

Little Piece Of Dixie opens with Good One Comin' On, the ultimate Rock N Roll weekend party song. If you pine away all week for that first beer on Friday night then this one is for you. Charlie Starr's voice fits perfectly into the band's sound, and the energy never wavers. Like I Am is a classic theme with a twist. Can you love me like I am? It's very well written with Country and Blues informing the heavy rock sound. Bottom Of This is dark and virulently catchy; a guy's tune, to be sure, but it might just help rekindle a lost genre, Hard Country. Up In Smoke sounds like a song you just need to hear live. It's incredibly catchy with thrilling guitar work, and very danceable.

Who Invented The Wheel is a classic. The narrator here is looking for anyone to blame for the downfall of his relationship. Anyone but himself, that is. This one will play well to commercial radio because we've all been there at one time or another; the theme is universal and the arrangement is flawless. I'd Be Lyin' takes Like I Am a few steps further in a highly entertaining bit of Outlaw Country-Rock. Here the narrator tells you not only what he's like, but also things that he's done, thought or said. Blackberry Smoke has a great populist theme for troubled times in Prayer For The Little Man. The sound here is toned down more to the country side, and would likely play well on Country radio. Never ones to rest, Blackberry Smoke jump right back into the heavy rock sound with Restless. This is a tune about a guy whose appetites are out of control, and is well captured in song. Shake Your Magnolia is a catchy Country-Rock tune that could cross over genres and would be a strong commercial candidate for Country Radio. Blackberry Jam closes out with Freedom Song, a fun extended jam with a little bit of Grateful Dead (on steroids) in its ancestry.

Blackberry Smoke knows how to rock. What's more, producer Dan Huff (Megadeth, Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts) has managed to capture the raw energy that fills Blackberry Smoke's live shows on Little Piece Of Dixie. This might just be the best pure Rock N Roll album of the year, and it should be in the conversation on the country side. Expect Blackberry Smoke to be all over the radio this fall.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Blackberry Smoke at http://www.blackberrysmoke.com/ or www.myspace.com/blackberrysmoke. Little Piece Of Dixie drops September 29, 2009. You can pre-order the CD through Amazon.com. Expect wide availability in both digital and traditional formats.

Review: Kenny Young Project - Kenny Young Project

Kenny Young Project - Kenny Young Project
2009, Tommy Naples Music

Kenny Young's story is a common one in Indie Music these days. Young grew up around music, playing and singing in school ensembles before starting a band, Tribulation with his father and brother. Tribulation started out as a Classic/Southern Rock cover band but over time Young started writing originals and incorporating them into the how. Also with time came a wife and family and hard decisions. Young put music on the shelf for a 9-to-5 and steady paycheck, but the music never left him. Years later, with children mostly grown and becoming musicians themselves, Young stepped back on-stage and into the studio. His return EP, Kenny Young Project precedes a full length release this fall, and mixes the elements of Classic and Southern Rock that have fueled his music dreams from day one.

Kenny Young Project opens with We'll Find Love Again, a bouncy, upbeat Country-Rocker about getting up off the floor and trying again that was written for a broken-hearted friend. The song is infectious with a melody that will recur when you least expect it for days on end and has the hooks to break the wall of commercial Country radio with the right opportunity. Krazy is the by-product of quiet time on the back porch and a few beers; it's an entertaining song that will get your toes tapping and but a smile on your face. Waiting is pure mix-tape material; a love song that looks back over years together with someone special in a gentle arrangement. Young gets a lot of vibrato on the vocal here which could be a bit distracting for some, but the song is decent enough to overlook it. Carousel is a new version of a song Young wrote years ago for his first band, Tribulation. It's a curious entry, as it sounds like it was written by someone completely different, but then again, it was. Carousel is a strong song in its own right, but the perspective and lyrical acumen is more raw. Carousel therefore offers a great look at the development of Young over the years as a songwriter.

Kenny Young Project is a brief glimpse at what is to come, but if the EP is any indication, Young has more than sufficient talent to stay with us for a while. Young displays a deft touch with lyrics and an ability to craft gentle Country and Rock arrangements that go down easy but make you want to get up and dance. The presentation is a bit too wholesome for commercial Country or Rock radio, perhaps, but there is a definite pop sensibility in the songwriting that will hook casual listeners into fan-hood. Check them out!

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about the Kenny Young Project at http://www.tommynaplesmusic.com/. You can purchase the Kenny Young Project EP as a download through iTunes.

Review: Go Time! - Speak

Go Time! - Speak
2009, Go Time!

Chicago's Go Time! was born from the demise of longtime Windy City faves Prairie Town, coming together in October, 2007 with Prairie Towners Scott Niekelski (lead vox/ guitar); Mark Marketti (bass) and Steve Grzenia (drums) casting their lots together. Go Time! wasn't complete until ex-Cromulents and ex-One Million Monkeys axeman Paul Schmidt came along. 2009 sees the release of the debut album from Go Time!; Speak draws from the same well as fellow Mid-Westerners The Psychodots (aka The Bears); mixing a working-class vocal ethic with mildly crunchy rock tunes you can really dig into.

Speak opens with You Know, a relatively monochromatic rocker with a Lowest Of The Low guitar style and a mildly catchy melody. This is bar rock at its most essential; not highly memorable but good enough for a Saturday night. Rust To Rust picks up the pace a bit with an edgy guitar opening and a driving rhythm to kick things into high gear. Niekelski sounds a bit like Ian Anderson on vocals. This is an excellent tune, built on a melody you won't be able to shake and a compact, concise arrangement that keeps things moving nicely. My Suicide is a high-energy, upbeat song about giving up and walking away; more about change than death, the song is a thoughtful for a rock tune that features some killer guitar work. Too Far Gone has a classic Southern/Garage Rock sound, like something Skynyrd might kick around in practice.

Wait And See continues with the Southern Rock style in a catchy and solid tune that likely plays well in front of a crowd. The relationship angst here is a bit atypical for the style but works well. Hey Day breaks out the Rockin' Rhythm N Blues in a dark tune that sounds more like the Tragically Hip than anyone else I can think of. No Sense To Lend harkens back to the 1960's Folk/Rock scene with a tune that's a decent listen but doesn't make a significant impression. Just Don't Know Why, on the other hand, is highly danceable Rock N Roll that will have you up and moving before the intro's done. Cost lays it open with a bit of Guitar/Pop/Punk that's as fun to listen to as I'm sure it is to play. Imagine if the Ramones and The Knickerbockers jammed together; it might sound something like this. Go Time! closes out with similar energy on the guitar rocker Cut And Run.

Go Time! is a strong band with decent material and a fun and frothy Garage aesthetic. Speak is a fitting debut for a band that's steeped in the past but hasn't forsake the future. The melodies in here range from average to above average, and there's a distinct emphasis on structure (thanks to the rhythm section of Marketti & Grzenia) that allows the band to stay tight in spite of the Lo-Fi approach. Speak is worth checking out, although I suspect Go Time! has more impact live than comes across on CD.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Go Time! at www.myspace.com/gotimeband1. You can purchase Speak as either a CD or download through CDBaby.com.

Review: Diana Catherine & The Thrusty Tweeters - The Spirit Ranch Sessions

Diana Catherine & The Thrusty Tweeters - The Spirit Ranch Sessions
2009, Diana DiGiovanni

Toronto's Diana Catherine & The Thrusty Tweeters want to take you on a trip. Rock, Blues and Country will be meted out in the appropriate portions as you travel down the dusty trail of Catherine's muse on the band's debut album, The Spirit Ranch Sessions. Musical gypsies; delightful enablers of the terpsichorean muse; whatever you wish to call them, Diana Catherine & The Thrusty Tweeters will delight you eleven songs full of toughness, vulnerability and panache.

The Spirit Ranch Sessions were recorded at the aptly named Spirit Ranch in Florida in 2008; produced by Bud Snyder (The Allman Brothers) and Matt Blackie (also the drummer). The album has a little bit of everything. Diana Catherine plays guitar and harmonica in addition to singing duties, and is joined by Kevin Robinson on guitar, Nic DiSanto on bass in addition to Blackie. The Spirit Ranch Sessions opens with Walk; part honky-tonk and Americana and a real pleasure to start things off. The arrangement is reserved enough to allow Catherine room to roam on the vocal line and she makes a great first impression. Sober (Is Too Hard To Stay) will give you an idea of what might happen if Kirsty MacColl ever embraced country music. Travelin' Man is one of those songs that is so familiar the first time you hear it you'll swear it's a cover, but it's not. There are some turns in the chorus that are reminiscent of Neil Young however, but the song is very well written and well performed.

Long Road breaks out some Lynyrd Skynyrd southern rock but sticks to an understated ethic ala Cowboy Junkies. Things slow down a bit on the second half of the disc. Train Song stands out as the beacon of the second half of the disc and is probably the best song on the whole disc. Lucinda was a pleasant listen, but songs like Last Dance, 4 Leaf Clover and Drifting just felt a bit bland after the first half of The Spirit Ranch Sessions.

Diana Catherine & The Thrusty Tweeters have embraced a sound that mixes the genteel side of Americana with Southern Rock; when they're on they're really on. The first half of The Spirit Ranch Sessions is very strong, but the disc gets a bit bland as it progresses, leaving a brilliant 5 or 6 song EP stretched out to an above average but slipping at the end full-length LP. Diana Catherine has a unique blend of toughness and vulnerability to her voice that will guarantee listeners and the band is quite good instrumentally, so I suspect this is not the last we'll be hearing from them. Put Diana Catherine & The Thrusty Tweeters on your "to-listen" list.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Diana Catherine & The Thrusty Tweeters at www.myspace.com/dianassound or http://www.dianacatherine.com/. You can purchase a copy of The Spirit Ranch Sessions at House Of Bands

Review: The McKrells - Traveling Man

The McKrells – Traveling Man
2008, Thorntree Music

The McKrells are legends in Upstate New York, as well as being highly respected internationally in the Celtic music scene (Not to mention they are Wildy's World's Artist Of The Month for March of 2009). The band created a hybrid of Celtic and bluegrass sounds that earned them the appreciation of every crowd they played in, whether in a small pub in Ireland, their home base of The Parting Glass in Saratoga Springs, NY or even Carnegie Hall. The last few years have seen major changes in personnel and sound, but the heart of The McKrells; Kevin McKrell’s songwriting and voice, remains. Their latest CD, Traveling Man, was released in 2008 on Thorntree Music. It’s a change for longtime fans, but not necessarily an unwelcome one.

Traveling Man opens with the title track, a light and airy bit of Celtic influenced pop that will get your feet moving. This leads into the Bold Fenian Men, offered here as a low-key Celtic rocker. Kevin McKrell is in fine voice here, and harmonies from daughter Kate McKrell complete the aesthetic. McKrell offers up a primo performance on Shores Of America. Kevin McKrell’s voice has an iconic quality to it that is unforgettable, and Shores is the perfect opportunity to hear why.

Christmas Day is performed in the style of classic American Folk music by Kevin McKrell on guitar and vocals with harmonies from daughter Kate McKrell. It is a hopeful tune that strives for light at Christmas in darker times and is quite apropos amidst current events. One of two personal favorites on the disc is Two Peas In A Pod, a wonderful “silly little love song” that you’ll have on continuous replay. It’s a cute little mix-tape candidate that’s highly infectious and unforgettable. McKrell works in a glory days song on Ronnie’s Golden Mustang; if you’re a child of the late 1960’s or early 1970’s then this song will hit home (particularly with the Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grand Funk Railroad, John Lennon/Yoko and Lynyrd Skynyrd references), but every generation expresses these sentiments sooner or later.

My other personal favorite is The Motel de Marquis Lafayette. With clear roots in the Celtic and American Folk traditions, this is a virally infectious tune that will get stuck in your head for days, perhaps weeks. Traveling Man closes out with Tunnel Tigers in a bit of Celtic Funk/Rock (listen to the bass) that’s highly enjoyable.

There’s no doubt there’s been a big change in the sound of The McKrells. The strong Bluegrass element of their sound has departed, but it has turned the remaining McKrells back to their Celtic roots. The resultant CD, Traveling Man, is refreshing and immensely enjoyable album. As a writer and arranger, they don’t get much more talented than Kevin McKrell, and the rest of the band is top notch. Do yourself a favor and put this at the top of your listening list for St. Patrick’s Day. You won’t be disappointed.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Kevin McKrell and The McKrells at http://www.kmckrell.com/. You can purchase a copy of Traveling Man at www.cdbaby.com/cd/mckrells8.