Hometown News – Hometown News

After experiencing the pitfalls of being on a financially insecure record label, Hometown News decided to take things into their own hands and have crafted a fine sophomore album that blends traditional country with folk-like harmonies. It’s a record full of great songs that hopefully will find its way into the hearts of many fans.

Being a professional musician is often a hard road to hoe but through perseverance, artists like Hometown News manage to survive to showcase their skills to the masses. After being signed to VFR Records in 2002, Hometown News immediately scored a Top 40 hit with their humorous debut single “Minivan.” While the second single was being released, VFR closed its doors. Undeterred, Hometown News continued to tour, and released this new self-titled record in conjunction with Quarterback Records.

“33, 45, 78” leads off the record it is an upbeat, nostalgic look at music of the past always seems to sound better than the music of the present. “Brand New Me” is a fun upbeat song while first single “That’s Country (To Me)” finds Hometown News discussing how their hometown makes them feel. The James Taylor-like “Here I Go Again” is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year. Wrapped in a simple melody, it’s just an elegant and poetic piece of music. “If I Could” is a banjo-laced Simon & Garfunkel-like song that takes me back to those records my Mom and Dad used to play when I was growing up.

Using simple, often-poetic lyrics, Hometown News’ self-titled sophomore album is so good that I wonder why this kind of honest, from the heart country music isn’t played on mainstream country radio. I guess it’s just radio’s loss and the CD listener’s gain for this CD has now entered my list of the 10 best CDs of 2005.