The addition of guitarist
Mike McAdam
(an original
Duke
for
Steve Earle
) helps round out a sound that's been a big enough movement in
traditional country
music for its fans to merit a unique moniker -- "
Pinmonkey
Junkies." Those junkies have enjoyed the band's feel-good blend of
bluegrass
,
Eagles
-inspired Cali-
rock
, and down to earth
country
over the course of two albums; a hit single (
"Barbed Wire and Roses,"
which did well on the
Billboard
singles chart and also the
Americana
market); and tours with
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
Willie Nelson
, and
Lee Ann Womack
. The raw and plaintive, soul-searching title track is probably the deepest emotional moment, and gentle turns like
"Coldest Fire in Town"
bring to mind the best simple-strumming
and
Poco
tunes of the late '70s.
The Pinmonkeys
, however, are mostly about having fun, speaking their mind, and even discussing their troubles over danceable, twangy grooves, as they do on
"Train Don't Run by Here No More,"
Dolly Parton
's brilliant refusal to stay
"Down,"
and the
gospel
-fired
"Can't Have a Hand on Me."
Holding things together no matter the vibe and tempo and wringing every last emotion out of the tunes is frontman
Michael Reynolds
, whose high-toned emotional voice stands out among modern
country rockers
but may remind folks of the brilliant
Timothy B. Schmidt
. ~ Jonathan Widran