The Coldest Part of Winter

It seems apt to release ' in the middle of February. It's also an interesting coincidence that the Virginia-based released the album during the 2002-2003 season, one of the coldest Southern winters in recent history. One imagines a certain comforting warmth, however, in a new album by one of ' most steady hands. Listeners will not find anything radically different on ' latest outing, and that is as it should be. Instead, listeners will find what they've come to expect: fine picking, vibrant vocals, and a lyrical emphasis on the values of the past. Mandolinist , banjoist , bassist , and fiddler join for a dozen traditionally based songs/instrumentals. Most of these pieces, like and only run for two to three minutes, meaning that the emphasis is placed on the songs themselves and that the instrumental accompaniment primarily works to underline the songs. This leaves ' voice, which is as fine and steady as always, front and center on lovely pieces like For Southerners and lovers suffering from cabin fever, should provide just the right tonic. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.