Rhonda Vincent – All American Bluegrass Girl

It may not be possible to review this record without noting that Rhonda Vincent, who bares more skin with each new release, continues that trend on the album’s cover. The racy photo seems at odds with an “All American Bluegrass Girl” who invokes the spirits of Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, and Lester Flatt with the title track.

That noted, there’s some solid music here. Vincent’s touring band, the Rage, is at the core of five cuts. Josh Williams’ warm harmonies carry “Rhythm Of The Wheels”, a driving train song and one of the album’s catchiest tracks. Bassist Mickey Harris joins Williams to polish Roy Acuff’s “Precious Jewel” to a fine luster. Vincent plays mandolin on her own powerful instrumental “Ashes Of Mt. Augustine”. And “Jesus Built A Bridge To Heaven” (with three nails and two crossties) has the makings of a gospel classic.

The supporting cast includes Stuart Duncan, Bryan Sutton, and Randy Kohrs. Bobby Osborne lends support as Vincent revisits his “Midnight Angel”. Dolly Parton delivers a blistering duet vocal on the gritty “Heartbreaker’s Alibi”.

But “God Bless The Soldier”, a well-intentioned number Vincent wrote after a visit to Fort Hood in central Texas, falls flat. The image of men and women “defending our rights” or “keeping our family, flag, and country free” and “righting the wrongs” tends to oversimplify the present conflict. God bless them, absolutely, but at this point there’s so much more to say.