TINA ADAIR BAND—BORN BAD—Tab Music Group, No Number (compact disc)
DAVE ADKINS & REPUBLIK STEEL—THAT’S JUST THE WAY I ROLL—Rural Rhythm RUR-1112 (compact disc)
NICK AMODEO—No Label, No Number (compact disc)
DIX BRUCE & JULIE CLINE—LOOK AT IT RAIN—Musix CD 110 (compact disc)
DUKE CITY SWAMPCOOLERS—COOLER HEADS PREVAIL—No Label, No Number (compact disc)
FELLER & HILL AND THE BLUEGRASS BUCKAROOS—Blue Circle Records BCR-035 (compact disc)
JIM GAUDET AND THE RAILROAD BOYS—REASONS THAT I RUN—Real Life Enterprises MH-804 (compact disc)
HOLLOW GROUND—ROADS TRAVELED—No Label, No Number (compact disc)
KILLER TECHNIQUE: MANDOLIN—BY SUZANNA BARNES—Mel Bay MB30074 (book)
DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER—ROADS WELL TRAVELED—Mountain Home MH14612 (compact disc)
BRUCE MOLSKY—IF IT AIN’T HERE WHEN I GET BACK—Tree Frog Records TF 1301 (compact disc)
MOUNTAIN FAITH—BATTLEFIELD—Pisgah Ridge/Crossroads Music PR14592 (compact disc)
VOLUME FIVE—RUN—Mountain Fever Records MFR130219 (compact disc)
TOSHIO WATANABE—THE FICTION TWINS—Red Clay Records RC-126 (compact disc)
Additional Releases
BLUE CANYON BOYS—NEXT GO ’ROUND—No Label BCBCD-005. This latest release from the Colorado-based group kicks off with a Jason Hicks original, “Up On The Hill.” Hicks also penned “Down Along The Cove,” “Like A Heart That’s Grown Weary Of The Blues,” and “Down In The Misery,” a story of the hardships of coal mining. Other originals include Gary Dark’s “Next Go ’Round” and “Heartaches Welcome.” Included on the project are selections from Buck Owens (“Before You Go”), Carter Stanley’s “Harbor Of Love,” and ”Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine,” and Josh Graves’ “Roustabout.” One track is “Going Up,” a Vern Gosdin song taken from the CD re-release of the 1964 The Hillmen project. The Blue Canyon Boys are Drew Garrett (bass), Chris Elliott (banjo), Gary Dark (mandolin), and Jason Hicks (guitar). An enjoyable project. (Blue Canyon Boys, P.O. Box 528, Eastlake, CO 80614, www.bluecanyonboys.com.)
KATHY BOYD & PHOENIX RISING—LOWGROUND—No Label, No Number. This group from Oregon performs throughout the West and has produced a nice project of original material mainly based on the songwritings of Tim Crosby and Tom Tower. Crosby is the main picker in the band who plays fiddle, mandolin, resonator mandolin, and guitar. Other bandmembers include Kathy Boyd (bass), Tom Tower (banjo, resonator guitar), and Dennis Nelson (guitar, harmonica). Tunes from Crosby include a vocal and instrumental take on “Billy In The Low Ground,” along with “Rattlesnake In The Woodpile,” “Dust Bowl Days,” “High Low Jack And The Game,” “Bottom Of The Jar,” and “To The Begging.” Selections from Tower include ”Death Grip,” “Shaniko,” and “Crossroad Haunting.” Boyd contributes “Look Away” and Nelson offers ”Ways And Means.” This is a well-done project which is sure to be a favorite of the band’s following. (Kathy Boyd, P.O. Box 3747, Tualatin, OR 97062, www.phoenixrisingband.org.)
GRASS ROUTES—BAILEY’S DEAL—No Label, CD-GR3796. Grass Routes is a bluegrass group based in Connecticut. Members include Joe Lemeris (banjo, resonator guitar), Bill Reveley (mandolin, fiddle), Marilyn Toback-Reveley (guitar), Dave Orlomoski (mandolin, guitar), Joe DeLillo (bass). Pulling from an assortment of material from Tim O’Brien, Hank Williams, Nanci Griffith, Bill Bryson, and Bobby Charles, the group offers a nicely produced and recorded project. Selections include “Less And Less,” “Your Old Standby,” “Church Street Blues,” “I Wish It Would Rain,” and “Tennessee Blues.” The group has nice harmony delivery and instrumental arrangements. A couple of originals are included from Lemeris (“Bad Fret”) and from Reveley, the title cut “Bailey’s Deal.” Overall, it’s an enjoyable project. (www.grassroutesbluegrass.com)