On the sepia-toned cover of the
Kenny & Amanda Smith Band
's
Tell Someone
, a man stands up in the back of a Studebaker pickup truck, facing a seated, outdoor audience. While the subject of the photo may seem rather obscure today, it was, back when Studebakers where still made, common for ministers to preach from any available pulpit.
, then, is
's pulpit, and their fundamentalist-Christian sermon is delivered in 13 songs, or chapters. Stylistically, the band wraps each song in
bluegrass
banjos, guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and tight harmony.
Amanda Smith
handles most of the leads, and her
country
tinge adds a touch of authenticity to what might have seemed too smooth thanks to the clean production and precise harmonies. The band is a crack unit, with
Kenny Smith
on guitar,
Jason Robertson
on mandolin,
Jason Davis
on banjo,
Daniel Carwile
on fiddle, and
Zachary McLamb
on bass, and the material is likable and handled well. The
have carved out an interesting niche on
, marrying
contemporary bluegrass
musicianship and vocal styles to
gospel
lyrics. For fans who like the rough and tumble of old-fashioned
,
will appear lacking in emotion; for those who always thought old-time
too much of a free-for-all,
will be a welcomed change. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.