I have been finding some pretty incredible artists this year and I’d like to feature a few in this version of quick hits. These guys (okay there’s one common thread) are singer songwriters of the highest order. Their acoustic jams will get toes tapping and most likely generate some smiles. So kick back, relax, and give these guys a chance.
In point of fact these guys all deserve their own reviews. Are you interested in reviewing an album but don’t know where to find good albums? Start with one of these and email us. If it’s quality, we’ll run it on the site. Email us at eartothegroundmusicblog@gmail.com. [All writing for our site is on a volunteer basis.]
Hiram Ring has the gift of the troubadour. He has literally traveled the world and carries with him a journeyman’s grace in his writing and singing. What makes his sound so unique isn’t his voice or even his chords, rather there’s a sincerity in his voice. From his strumming to his articulation, the listener is almost forced, or should I say chaperoned, into believing Hiram’s poetic lyrics. Beginning to end Ring engages both with his own faith as well as the encounters of a broken world. His ability to bridge that gap with aurally-pleasing sounds makes this a joyous album.
Aaron Moses is a country artist, from Nashville and everything. His sound is not so much Dierks Bentley as it is a bit more old fashioned, perhaps Doc Watson, but put to the more contemporary sounds of recent country music. His style is particularly engaging on “I Love You Darlin’,” a seemingly standard country song that takes listeners down a melancholic yet loving road. With vocal tones more familiar to listeners of Coldplay than most country music, Moses managed to preserve a genuine country root in both sonic structure and lyric themes. What I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t always sound like a country album, but it is one. It is a good one.
Matt Bradford – No Reason to Cry
I’m pretty sure this dude’s name is actually Matt D. Bradford, with the “D” short for “dobro.” This album is a twangin’ good time. His vocals aren’t bad either! The gritty tone of his voice makes him sound like a quintessential country singer and the ever-present steel guitar helps make the sound work. This is the kind of album for tried and true country fans that are fed up with the commercial country machine. While he doesn’t reflect a specific era in country music, his depth and devotion to the genre is evident in songs like “The Way I Love You,” a song that seems timeless.
