NEW
ROADThe Message
BY ROBERT STEELMAN
The Message marks the sixth release from this northeastern Tennessee-based bluegrass gospel band. New Road has been spreading the gospel for 11 years. There is no better tool for spreading the message than bluegrass music. After a couple of tracks it becomes evident that the band is quite adept musically. The credits reveal that there is a some fine songwriting talent among the ranks as well. Better than half of the songs were either authored or co-written by guitarist/vocalist Gary Kidwell. The leadoff song Kidwell’s Render Your Heart sets the tone for the entire album. Just A Little More Time is a lively composition that deserves to be heard often. There’s also a nice bluegrass version of Dottie Rambo’s Thank You For The Valley and an a capella arrangement of the traditional They Whipped Him Up The Hill. New Road is genuinely committed to getting the message out. BMP