The mailman brought the latest CD from The Gibson Brothers today, “Ring The Bell” on Compass Records. I’ve listened to it several times and decided I’d write a review for my blog. I wanted to write an objective and critical piece which is difficult because I’m such a fan of theirs and also I just like the guys on a personal basis. Fortunately the album is so darn good that critical objectivity can meld with my fan like feelings. This is an excellent album with some of the best original songs and some of the finest songs written by other artists that the band has ever recorded.
The Gibson Brothers now, definitively, have their own sound. It has emerged and been honed and refined over the last five albums. The opening notes of any of their songs are clearly identifiable as being theirs. The harmonies, instrumentation and pace of their music are distinct and different from any other band. Maturity that retains a sense of freshness is the hallmark of this group of songs. It’s a keeper, for sure.
The opening notes of the first track, “I Know Whose Tears”, a Joe Newberry song, grab the listener with Clayton Campbell’s dissonant mournful fiddle. It’s a beautifully crafted song captured and delivered with the drive that is found in Gibson Brothers live performances. Another Newberry song, “Jericho” is on track seven and it too fits the band perfectly. Other songs by other artists, “The Wishing Well” by Shaun Camp and Paul Kennerly, “Angel Dream” by Tom Petty and “Just An Old Rounder” by Marshall Warwick all get the Gibson treatment with excellent results. And the title track “Ring The Bell” by Chris O’Keefe is a masterpiece of Bluegrass Gospel. Drive is a word that I overuse in describing Gibson Bothers playing. Even the softest most sentimental ballad has an edge and forward motion that sticks in the listener’s brain and becomes background music playing in his brain days later.
The songs written by Eric and Leigh Gibson also show that the brothers are at the top of their game. “I Can’t Like Myself”, “What Can I Do”, “Forever Has No End” and “That’s What I Get For Lovin’ You” are all collaborative tunes from both brothers, with help from Mike Barber and Joe Walsh on the first song and Bob DiPiero on the second , and are all strong and suitable for release as a single. “Forever Has No End” with its lilting melody and clean, clear harmony is particularly pleasing. Two songs are real standout pieces of “North Country” music and they each have an agricultural theme. “Farm Of Yesterday” by Eric is so personal and heartfelt a song, both in its lyrics and in the voices of the singers, that it does something that recorded music rarely accomplishes and that is it delivers a real emotional impact that actually affects the listener. “Bottomland” by Leigh has a similar effect. It’s easy to hear the truth (with a capital T) in those songs. These songwriters don’t just bang out some words and melodies. They write thoughtful and real poetry and bring it to the music so that both parts are perfectly wedded. They aren’t afraid of quiet space in their phrasing and they know exactly how to kick things up to get the listener’s attention. It’s some powerful work they do.
The Gibson Brothers band is stronger than ever. I loved former mandolinist Rick Hayes who played with the band for some time, but his style always seemed a bit laid back for this group. New mandolin player, Joe Walsh, plays with the same edge and drive (there’s that word again) that all the other players in the group have. Clayton Campbell on fiddle is impeccable, Mike Barber pushes the beat and plays stand up bass with the very best in the business and Leigh and Eric are as accomplished on their instruments as they are with their voices, and they are extremely accomplished with their voices. Two guest musicians, Mike Witcher on resonator guitar throughout the album and Erick Jaskowiak on percussion on track eight, add some nice touches.
This is a truly fine album and a suitable follow up to “Iron and Diamonds” the brothers previous number one outing. Do I have any complaints? Only one and that is about packaging. I miss the liner notes that graced the previous few albums. How’s that for nit-picking? So go out and buy this album. If you’re not a bluegrass fan now you will be after hearing these guys. If you are a fan you’ll see how well The Gibson Brothers band represents bluegrass music to the world. It is good music played right.
Have a fine day.
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