CD Reviews

Dec

2008

Balsam Range - Marching Home

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RATING:

Producer: Jerry Salley
Label: Mountain Home Music Company/Crossroads Music
Website: http://www.balsamrange.com

The members of new bluegrass quintet Balsam Range had all played together previously, but never as this formation until the forming of the band. After performing together on a couple solo recordings by group members, the band started to get together and pick in each other's homes just for the fun of it - and eventually Balsam Range was officially birthed.

There's no denying that all five of these players are exceptional musicians. The group consists of Buddy Melton, Caleb Smith, Marc Pruett, Darren Nicholson, and Southern Gospel favorite Tim Surrett (Isaacs, Kingsmen). Their debut album, Marching Home, is full of popular bluegrass numbers - a good number from the Bill Monroe catalog (as the album was originally intended to be a Bill Monroe tribute record).

The album kicks off with the barn burning "The Train's Ready" before slowing things down almost immediately with "Blue Mountain." Balsam Range is really at their best on the more upbeat numbers - especially "I'm Just As Wrong", "Burning Georgia Down", and infectious "Calloway County Flood".

Like most bluegrass groups, Balsam Range covers everything from Gospel songs (like the fantastic "Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord", "I Hear Your Sweet Voice Calling" or "The Boat of Love") and typical bluegrass fare about life, love and happiness on cuts like "Goodbye Old Pal", "Come Back to Me In My Dreams" and "Blue Mountain".

The group shifts between vocalists - focusing on fiddle player Buddy Melton, acoustic guitarist Caleb Smith, and Surrett. Admittedly, the band sounds best with Melton's solid tenor, but Southern Gospel fans will love Surrett in the lead role for obvious reasons. Marching Home also features Joe Diffie on lead vocals on "Come Back to Me In My Dreams" as well as guest vocals from Jerry Salley and Doyle Lawson.

Whether you're a fan of bluegrass or not - there's no denying that Balsam Range is one fine group of musicians. Jerry Salley's production work on Marching Home is fantastic, but Southern Gospel purists probably aren't going to find much to like here. Balsam Range is definitely going to appeal to fans of Surrett's time with The Isaacs as opposed to the Kingsmen - but even then this is pure bluegrass and doesn't feature anything else musically. Bluegrass fans will love - Southern Gospel plans probably won't.

Buy Now

Song List:

1. The Train's Ready
2. Blue Mountain
3. Calloway County Flood
4. I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling
5. Burning Georgia Down
6. Could've Fooled Me
7. Goodbye Old Pal
8. Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord
9. Marching Home
10. Come Back to Me In My Dreams
11. I'm Just As Wrong
12. The Boat of Love
13. Travelin' This Lonesome Road

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