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Sure to turn heads with their spirit, energy and heartfelt m

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 11/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 42:00

SONGS: I Am The Man Thomas; Brothers Join And Pray; Another Soldier; Keep The Faith; Give Me Jesus; Here On My Knees; Gonna Be A Happy Day; Damascus Road; Stand Still and See; God Is Still In Control; He's My Rock; Two Pictures; Weapon Of Prayer



From Ohio, NewFound Road is a delightful bluegrass gospel band that is sure to turn some heads with their spirit, energy and heartfelt music. The band is Tim Shelton, Tim Caudill, Rob Baker and Carl Williams Jr. Rhythm guitarist/vocalist Shelton has already achieved a fair amount of acclaim with his solo album, I Stand Amazed. Bass-player and songwriter Caudill's versatility has found him much session work in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Although the youngest member of NewFound Road, mandolinist/singer Rob Baker is no stranger to bluegrass music, and he recently won a share of the 2001 IBMA Entertainer of the Year award as a member of Rhonda Vincent's band. "Junior" Williams primarily picks the banjo and sings tenor with NewFound Road, and he recently spent six years touring with The Bishops, a popular southern Gospel group. On this talented band's debut album, the core members are joined by Rob Ickes on dobro and Rickie Simpkins on fiddle. The result is a unique, fresh, honest sound that lifts your spirit.



This project features a large number of originals, most notably six penned by Tim Caudill, one from Rob Baker, and one collaborative effort of all four band members ("Another Soldier"). Bakers' "Brothers Join and Pray" begins as a tasteful rawboned duet, with guitar and mandolin, that builds to a full chorus. Of Caudill's compositions, I took an immediate liking to the happy, upbeat, joyous "Keep the Faith" and "Gonna Be a Happy Day." He does some equally fine songwriting with the emotional and passionate ballad, "Here On My Knees," and the hard-driving instrumental, "Damascus Road." Caudill's "He's My Rock" features some tasteful Travis picking, and the cut has been receiving considerable radio airplay as a result of being included on the Prime Cuts of Bluegrass.



"NewFound Road" serves as an excellent debut for this fine talented band and their fresh, rousing, and invigorating Gospel sound. (Joe Ross, staff writer for Bluegrass Now, Roseburg, Oregon)

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