Mountain Faith That Which Matters (CD)

Description

Further Details Title: That Which Matters Condition: New Genre: Country Format: CD Description: EDITORIAL REVIEWS CD REVIEW This contemporary Bluegrass band from Sylva, N.C. is led by the excellent singing of Summer McMahan. The band was showcased on the TV series America s Got Talent : they didn t win, but they again have a solid, well produced album here featuring three original songs by Ms. McMahan. LET MY LIFE MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HE S IN CONTROL, CONDEMNATION, etc --Dave Freeman - County Sales Newsletter As the 2015 bluegrass tour season is winding down and professional acts look back on the year that was, can anyone have a bigger story to tell than Mountain Faith? They appeared repeatedly on national television as contestants on America s Got Talent, were nominated for an Emerging Artist of the Year award from the IBMA, and are now celebrating the release of their second album for Mountain Fever Records. Next month they ll embark on a tour of US military bases in the Middle East, and on December 27 they will sing the National Anthem at the NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons. Many of these opportunities came as a result of their visibility on TV this summer. An Air Force officer responsible for entertainment at bases around the Persian Gulf saw them on America s Got Talent, and is flying them out to entertain the troops at several spots in that volatile region. But this week the focus is on That Which Matters, their brand new record which continues in their vein of performing a mix of modern bluegrass with elements of country, pop, and contemporary Christian music in an upbeat and engaging style. With only a few exceptions, all the songs feature the endearing vocals of fiddler Summer McMahan who is poised to accept the crown of bluegrass it girl any moment now. She is a lovely young woman with an equally beautiful voice who charmed a large segment of the American public on television. There are some things that are very difficult to fake, and her earnestness and enthusiasm on America s Got Talent did as much to keep them going week-to-week as the joyous nature of their music. And that shines though here. From the opening strains of Someone Prayed, a song Summer wrote with mandolinist Cory Piatt, to the last notes of There Is A God, her cover of a 2009 Lee Ann Womack hit, you are encouraged to believe every word McMahan sings. There can be no doubt that she believes, something she shares with the other band members including her brother Brayden on banjo, dad, Sam, on bass, and Luke Dotson on guitar. It s not required that you share their faith to thoroughly enjoy the music on That Which Matters, though. These talented youngsters want to share it with you all the same. Been There Done That, from Jerry Salley and Aaron Wilburn, tells the story of a sinner looking back on a wasted life, and Summer s Brother John relates the power of grace and prayer against even the most hardened heart. If you can remain dry eyed by the end of that one, you re a tougher egg than I am. Bluegrass fans will really enjoy Run To Meet Him, another contribution from Summer and Cory, with its clever switch between a dark minor-keyed chorus and a more upbeat set of verses. Special kudos to Brayden for his cool, low-tuned banjo on this one. Condemnation is another grassy number that grooves along with a driving, mid-tempo feel, where Piatt delivers a simply wicked mandolin solo on bouzouki in the manner that Adam Steffey describes as mean. The Mark Wheeler song carries the familiar mountain modal sound so common in bluegrass today as a duet between Summer and Luke. Southern Gospel gets a nod with Let My Life Make A Difference, and He s In Control. The latter has also recently been recorded by Blue Mafia and is a staple on their live show. This extra-bluesy song from Mark Kofahl, Justin Rivers, and John Darwin Rowsey gets a fine restatement here from Luke Dotson on lead vocals with Summer taking lead on the choruses. Their version is a bit less gritty and gutty, but equally powerful in rendition. If you love good harmony singing, this one is for you. Dotson also delivers a strong performance on Marcia Henry s Absent From The Body, which gets a driving grass arrangement. --Bluegrass Today Instrumental tunes don t often appear on bluegrass gospel recordings. When they do, it s generally an instrumental version of a known gospel standard. How Great Thou Art comes to mind. Here, however, the instrumental title tune is a composition from Mountain Faith s mandolinist Corey Piatt. And it fits. The joyful upbeat tune flowing, rippling, and intricately arranged is well in keeping with the overall aim of the recording. It may not be a gospel song, just as Been There Done That and Emily (It s Love) are not strict gospel songs, but it does, as those other songs do, underscore that a positive message, a joyful noise can be offered in many ways. This is Mountain Faith s second recording. The music here starts and finishes with a polished, airy sound built around the smooth and somewhat wistful lead vocals of Summer McMahan. There are times, such as on the Wayfaring Stranger -like song Condemnation and the slightly funky, slightly modal Run To Him, when she and the band give it a bit of sharp emotion. You can add Absent From The Body, an uptempo more traditional bluegrass vocal sung by guitarist Luke Dotson, to that list, as well. Mostly, though, the softer side dominates. That works quite well with the triumphant recovery of Been There Done That and the highly contemporary feel of Emily (It s Love), which offers a bit of extra studio production, an ever-evolving arrangement, and pop rhythms. Both are good catchy songs that lift the spirit. So is the rapid energy and momentum of Let My Life Make A Difference and, in many ways, vocally and instrumentally the album as a whole. --Bluegrass Unlimited Artist: Mountain Faith No Of Discs: 1 Country/Region of Manufacture: USA Record Label: CD Baby EAN: 0799666642623 Missing Information? Please contact us if any details are missing and where possible we will add the information to our listing.