Small Town Life

Summer Brooke & The Mountain Faith Band

2017 - Mountain Fever Records.  This group is labeled as Americana and Folk, nonetheless I would have to label them as progressive Bluegrass.  They are made up of four talented musicians including Summer Brooke McMahan, Cory Piatt, Brayden McMahan and Nick Dauphinais.  Although this is their fourth album, this is our first introduction to them and their music piques my interest.  The album consists of eleven cuts including seven originals written by the band themselves.  These originals include “Lazy River,” “Bring The Heat,” “Lead Me On,” and a beautiful instrumental called “Jawbone Hill.”  They also include what they consider an original song called “1969.”  The lyrics to this song are ones that the listener could easily relate too, however it’s the baseline melody that throws this review off.  The baseline melody is quite similar to one that I’ve heard before.  This song opens with the melody that is synonymous of a song that Fine Young Cannibals song “She Drives Me Crazy.”  This slowed down melody continues as a baseline melody throughout the entire song.  When I hear such pilfering, I question all the people who are involved in this project.  Is anyone really listening or paying attention to music anymore?  I think not, other wise they would not have included this song on this project. Speaking of melodies, there are several songs on this project in which Summer is singing different songs but using the same melody. My other complaint comes with the cover of Lady Antebellum’s song “Perfect Day.” Covers only prove that you can be a garage want-to-be artist.  On the flip side there are a few songs on here that are worthy to seek.  These songs include “Who Will You Be,” a traditional Irish song with “God’s Blessings,” and the band captures an historical story with their song “Queen Anne’s Revenge.”  Nonetheless, none of these songs are worthy of hitting our list of Top Songs of 2017.  For first introduction to this band, it did pique my interest.  I long to hear what comes next from them.  I only hope that they learn from the mistakes made on this project.  $$ 

(This review was printed in the September / October issue of Strictly Country Magazine.)

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