Recreating a lively and rousing bluegrass sound of yesteryear is the vision of Tommy Brown and the Country Line Grass from Louisville, KY.  This project, on the Lavenir Records label, comes on the heels of Brown's successful Hay Holler label release in 2001 called "Mountain Bluegrass. "That album's title explains their music pretty well, and this new release adds another descriptive adjective, "Hard Drivin'." In this reviewer's opinion, their next project could very well be called "High Lonesome" or perhaps "High-Steppin'" or maybe even "Hell-Raisin'." You get the idea.

Tommy Brown and the CLG offer many quick paced musical romps here, and their get-up-and-go is at times reminiscent of Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys especially when they cover Chubby Wise's "Cacklin' Hen," Carter Stanley's "You're Still to Blame," and Clinch Mtn. Boy Steve Sparkman's "Stanley Tone March." Another hustling number previously recorded by Ralph Stanley is one penned by Earl Sykes called "A Robin Built a Nest on Daddy's Grave."

There are some new songs on this album. "Streets of Chicago," written by Clyde and Marie Denny, is a song of longing for home back in Tennessee. Four originals come from the pen of mandolinist Glenn Alford, of Kentucky. His soulful ballad, "How Lucky I Was," is a nostalgic recollection of happier days as a young man on the farm.  With the exception of the Carter Family's "Worried Man Blues," this project closes with a strong original emphasis from Alford. "Jackson County Mines" is a story of how those dark, deep tunnels lead to lives of trouble and toil. "I'll Soon Be There" and "Eddyville Prison" have standard bluegrass messages and progressions.

Banjo-player and lead singer Tommy Brown and his band play traditional bluegrass with pride. There's no self-consciousness here. They're fully aware of their band's identity, and they're fully comfortable with that. The band has two other lead vocalists, Glenn Alford and Paul Priest. Besides Priest on guitar, there are two other guitarists in the group - Brian Myers and Max Alford. Brian hails from Indiana and does some nice lead guitar work. Tommy Brown's young son, Jereme, even adds a second banjo and some vocal harmony to the mix.  Paula "Boggie" Alford is the band's stable upright bass player.

Tommy Brown and the County Line Grass would be real crowd-pleasers at bluegrass festivals that have strongly traditional formats. They specialize in mountain-style bluegrass, with a unique blend of uptempo instrumentals and heartfelt songs. There's plenty on this disc to captivate a traditional bluegrass music fan. "Hard Drivin'" has a rustic essence, and the County Line Grass' brand of bluegrass  is about as visceral and time-honored as they come. Watch for their red and silver bus with the license plate that reads, "HRD DRV." (Joe Ross)

 TOMMY BROWN & the County Line Grass  - Hard Drivin'
Lavenir CD-1101
PO Box 541002, Cincinnati, OH. 45254-1002
www.lavenirrecords.com OR www.tbclg.com
 
Playing Time - 43:25
Songs - 1. Pardon Me, 2. How Lucky I Was,3. Streets Of Chicago, 4. Cacklin' Hen, 5. Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (But Nobody Wants To Die), 6. You're Still To Blame, 7. The Old Man's Story, 8. Stanley Tone March, 9. Robin Built A Nest On Daddy's Grave, 10. Jackson County Mines, 11. I'll Soon Be There, 12. Worried Man Blues,13. Eddyville Prison