Hillbilly Heroes

Hammertowne

2017 - Mountain Fever Records.  This is our first introduction to the Hammertowne band and we are quite intrigued.  This band is made up of five skillful musicians that include Chaston Carroll, Scott Tackett, Bryan Russell, Brent Pack and Dave Carroll.  In fact  it is Dave’s magical touch as a songwriter that brings this album to the forefront of Bluegrass music.  Dave wrote and co-wrote half of the songs on this twelve cut album including the opening song called “Don’t Ever Cross A Moonshine Man.” He is a master storyteller and the proof is in his song “Scorcher Carroll’s Farm.” Fellow band mate Bryan Russell is also an accomplished storyteller as well and the proof is in his self penned song “Wicked Woman.” If it weren’t for the cover of the none-traditional Gospel song “The Dream” written by Bill Castle that was recorded by a wide variety of entertainers including Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, this album would have been nominated for the Spirit Award’s Album of The Year.  Nonetheless, we did find two songs that we will nominate for the Spirit Award’s Song of The Year Award and add to our list of Top Songs of 2017.  These songs include a beautiful tribute to the legends of Bluegrass with “Hillbilly Heroes” and a soft ballad about losing a loved one in “A Day In The Life Of The One Left Behind.”  This album includes everything that a great bluegrass album must have including a song about the coal miners in “The Roof Is Coming Down.”  The album closes with a fun, fast paced but elegant instrumental called “Lights & Sirens.”  In the end this group captures your attention from the first note and lets you ride the wave of delicate picking and intoxicating vocals though to the last note played.  This album makes you stand up demanding more from this multi-talented group! Indulge yourself in fine music as this! $$$$

(This review was printed in the September / October 2017 issue of Strictly Country Magazine.)

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