Roots66: Music: Reviews: Blue Moon Rising - On the Rise

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Bill Yates Webmaster, Roots66.com 1911 Arlene Avenue Oxnard, CA 93036-2704	or	Erika Harding Roots Productions 60 South Anacapa Street Ventura, CA 93001
Please note that we review music in the categories listed in the links above. CDs submitted for review are not returnable and no guarantee is made that a CD will be reviewed.

	CD Review
	Buy this CD from the artist or the label Blue Moon Rising On the Rise Lonesome Day LDR 007 Produced by Ron Stewart, Blue Moon Rising, and Randall Deaton Chris West - guitar, lead baritone & bass vocals Justin Jenkins - banjo, baritone vocal Randall Massengill - guitar, lead & tenor vocals Keith Garrett - mandolin, guitar, lead baritone & low tenor vocals Tim Tipton - bass Ron Stewart - fiddle Randy Kohrs - Dobro
	Review by Bill Yates, Roots66.com On the Rise is an appropriate title for this album as Blue Moon Rising is certainly that. The band's name is a tribute to bluegrass legend Bill Monroe. The five-member band out of East Tennessee's third album is a fine collection of performances of both self-penned tunes and covers. The band members, Chris West on guitar, Justin Jenkins on banjo, Keith Garrett on mandolin, Randall Massengill on tenor vocals, and Tim Tipton on bass are joined here by Ron Stewart on fiddle (and who also produced) and Randy Kohrs on Dobro. The band is less than five years old and they're not just young and energetic, they're dang good. "That girl's memory" and his old Martin guitar in "This Old Martin Box" are the singer's main comforts now that his musical touring has lost him his love. In "Papaw Taught Me," Tim Tipton and Chris West have penned a tribute to a poor dirt farmer grandfather of the kind you don't see much any more. "The Next Big Thing" is a song of looking for love after recovering from a broken love affair. "The Crime I'm Guilty Of" is, of course, the murder of his intended. Moral, ladies: don't laugh at a suitor proposing maarriage. Chris West has the lead vocal here. A "Cold Kentucky Night" embodies the feelings of losing your love. West's "He Arose" is a beautiful, moving expression of faith in the risen Christ. Keith Garrett handles the interesting guitar figurations precisely and the three-part harmonies blend very well. "I Keep Callin'," complains the singer, but his love isn't answering because she's found someone else. "Sling Blade" is a very nice instrumental with successive virtuoso turns by Justin Jenkins on banjo, Keith Garrett on mandolin, Randy Kohrs on Dobro, Chris West on guitar, and Ron Stewart on fiddle with Tim Tipton's steady bass tying it all together. He may not have had much learning but "The Old Time Preacher Man" knew the Word of God and had a great influence on the singer. "Modern Day Outlaw" is a morality tale on how things can get out of hand when you aren't careful. A young soldier "Far Away from Home" missed his home in Tennessee when he went away to war and again when he is old in a retirement home in this tribute to those who have sacrificed for us. The familar old gospel song, "Holy Manna," is given a sincerely energetic but reverent treatment. Want a truckin' song? "Big Wheels Turnin'" is as good as any and better than most. On the Rise is a fine bluegrass album. The songs are well-written and excellently played. The music is energetic but always in control. While soundly in the bluegrass tradition, the band still makes everything sound fresh and bright. The musicianship is top notch and that includes the songwriting. There's always something satisfying with a band that can create their own material. The arrangements are very well done and the recorded sound is superb. If you like bluegrass, and even if you don't think you do, give Blue Moon Rising a listen. You will enjoy them. My Favorite Songs: "He Arose," "I Keep Callin'," "Big Wheels Turnin'" Rating: 4-1/2 notes Copyright 2005 William Theron Yates 6/8/2005 1) This Old Martin Box (Carroll, Tayla Brook Publishing/BMI) 2:39 2) Papaw Taught Me (Tim Tipton, Chris West, Arigusta Music/BMI) 2:17 3) The Next Big Thing (McClung, Mountain William Music/BMI) 2:53 4) The Crime I'm Guilty Of (Chris West, Arigusta Music/BMI) 2:57 5) Cold Kentucky Night (Ayers, Save the Farm Songs/BMI) 3:23 6) He Arose (Chris West, Arigusta Music/BMI) 3:30 7) I Keep Callin' (Chris West, Arigusta Music/BMI) 2:22 8) Sling Blade (Justin Jenkins, Keith Garrett, Arigusta Music/BMI) 3:11 9) The Old Time Preacher Man (Chris West, Arigusta Music/BMI) 3:25 10) Modern Day Outlaw (Chris West, Galley, Arigusta Music/BMI) 3:38 11) Far Away from Home (Keith Garrett, Arigusta Music/BMI) 3:00 12) Holy Manna (Public Domain) 2:44 13) Big Wheels Turnin' (Merle Haggard, Spencer, BMI) 3:01 This review is copyrighted but may be quoted in whole or part provided credit is given such as "--Bill Yates, Roots66.com". If you post the review on a web site, please link to http://www.roots66.com if you can.

Last updated 6/9/05.
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