Mabelle - Ben Atkins

'Mabelle' is full of diverse sounding songs with a great country feel.

Ben Atkins is such a wonderful writer I cannot get over the fact that all songs (except for one) were written by him. The voice fits the songs, the music fits the lyrics, and everything has come together perfectly.

At first, title track "Mabelle" reminds me a little bit of Jack Ingram but not for long as the melody progresses and he sings about wondering if the devil is knocking on Mabelle's door since she never smiles. Upbeat "Last Hard Bible" was penned by Kasey Chambers and is about how money can buy everything but love.

Noone else is to blame but himself for all of life's troubles in "I'm To Blame," with its honky tonk beat. Living on your own is fine when you are listening to "I'll Come Around" because eventually society will get to you and you'll give in to tempations. "Milo Johnson" has a bluegrass feel as we look at the life of a man throughout solos of mandolins and dobros.

"You Pulled Me Down" has a hard edge as Ben pours out his feelings about how a woman he saw pulled him down so low he never wanted to get back up. "Ask Me Why" closes the album with sensitivity along with such lyrics as "You ask me why I love you. But what can I say. There ain't nothing else in the world that would make me feel this way."

If you are a fan of Texas country, or just country music in general you will want to check out 'Mabelle' by the Ben Atkins Band. There are songs tinged with a bluegrass sound, honky tonk toe tapping, and a rockin' side is shown too.