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Newly signed to BNA records, this self-titled album is certainly a good one. For those that say there aren't any new traditional artists coming to country music, they surely have not heard Pinmonkey. The album is filled with a mixture of country and bluegrass, as well as some jazz, and a bit of gospel. There are two covers that you would not expect on a country album. The song "Fly" was a hit for Sugar Ray, and the song "I Drove All Night" was a hit for Cyndi Lauper. Hearing the renditions Pinmonkey has laid down on this album, you would never know the songs to be anything but country tunes.
Pinmonkey also has some help on two of the tracks. Ricky Skaggs joins in playing mandolin on "Augusta," and Dolly Parton lends her vocals to a song she herself wrote and recorded, making the track even more exceptional. The blend of voices is sheer perfection.
One of the more interesting facts is that Pinmonkey plays all their own instruments on the recording. This is nearly unheard of, and especially for a debut album. Most artists use studio musicians, but BNA felt confident in their sound, and one listen will tell you it's definitely the right decision. What you hear is the same sound as you would hear if you saw the band live. The whole album has a very acoustic feel to it.
There honestly isn't a bad track on here. From the country rock feel of "Slow Train Comin'" to the gospel plea of "Stay With Us."
Michael Reynolds sings lead and also contributes two songs to the disk with a look at mortality in "Jar of Clay," and the smooth sounds of "The Longest Road."
One song that carried over from their Indy album, Speak No Evil, is "Augusta," which speaks of the Georgia town, singing "Oh Augusta take me in." This is where you hear Ricky Skaggs excellent mandolin work.
While all the songs are wonderful, my favorite would still have to be the cover of "Fly." The song is one that will get you dancing. This is a sure hit.
The first single from the album was "Barbed Wire & Roses," which peaked at 25. Like most of the songs on the album, this showcases the excellent harmonies these guys have. They sound incredible. The second single is the Cyndi Lauper cover, "I Drove All Night," which should do well on country radio. They sure do make the song their own with their arrangement. You would have never guessed this was a pop hit.
If you're looking for something new and fresh in country music, look no further than this album. One listen, and you too will call yourself a Pinmonkey fan.
Song List:
Sound clips and Album cover courtesy of BNA Records.
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