Search - Rhonda Vincent :: All American Bluegrass Girl

Vincent a Likeable and Engaging 'American Bluegrass Girl"

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 05/30/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Til They Come Home, Forever Ain't That Long Anymore, Don't Act



Spotting a million-dollar polish pose donned with a sultry rock chic look, Vincent's glossy album cover looks like it belongs to a Ashlee Simpson's photo shoot. But bluegrass purists fret not, for "All American Bluegrass Girl" is a solid bluegrass effort with a searing contemporary edge. If one needs convincing, on the title cut, Vincent pledges her allegiance to the genre when she sings: "Each morning I greet the mornin'/Lester Flatt was singing/on the Martha White show/Big K on the banjo/I'm an all American bluegrass girl/and proud of where I've been." Backed by her impeccable The Rage band and producing this set with her brother Darrin Vincent, "All American Bluegrass Girl" is a tight set with fervid sounding uptempoes as well as some heart stirring ballads.



Instead of just name dropping, Vincent actually calls in one of bluegrass' pioneers Bobby Osborne to duet with her on "Midnight Angel." Though Vincent has had cut this tune before, this new rendition boasts an augmented verse courtesy of brother, Brian Vincent. Further, Osborne is not the only musical elite to share the microphone with Vincent, but close friend Dolly Parton also makes an appearance. Though billed as a duet, in reality Parton merely adds harmony to the chorus of "Heartbreak Alibi." A turgid number with fiddles performed at bullet speed, "Heartbreaker's Alibi" finds the ladies giving a two-timing creep a verbal showdown.



However, the album's showstoppers are actually the ballads. Though there may have thousands of songs dedicated to expounding the angst of a broken heart, "Forever Ain't That Long Anymore" ushers in a hermeneutic that is illuminating and assuaging. Also, quite searching is narrative-oriented "Till They Come Home." This Bryon Hill and Mike Derkle joint-composition presents montages of relationships short-changed by the atrocities of war. With Vincent's delicate girlish vocal swirl, she brings a sensitivity to this heart tugging tune so befitting of the song's lyrics. A little less acerbic and bordering on the more maudlin side is "Prettiest Flower There," is a dirge-like ballad dealing with the death of Vincent's grandparents. Like most bluegrass albums, Gospel numbers are indispensable. "Don't Act," is an infectious driving number, about being an authentic Christian. With its toe-tapping beat, though a little on the cliché side is "Jesus Built a Bridge to Heaven."



Despite being a diverse album of ballads and hard-driving uptempoes, covering a plethora of issues from love to war to Christianity to death, the songs here are expected and somehow safe. Most of these issues have been dealt with in all her bluegrass CDs and there's nothing that would surprise long time fans. But, perhaps that's the shade that has vitiated Vincent from reaching newer heights. Nevertheless, there's enough good stuff here that makes this American bluegrass girl interesting, engaging and genial."

More bluegrass than Alison Krauss

John A. Gregorio | Castalian Springs, TN | 06/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have no problems with the reviewer who hates gospel songs and bluegrass (capital B), although he failed to really review the cd and seemed to critique himself.

I can see why he would like Alison Krauss rather than Rhonda Vincent since about 60% of the later Krauss cds are more pop than bluegrass. A rule of thumb is if she sings it more pop and if Dan Tyminshi sings it is more bluegrass.

This Vincent cd is pure contemporary bluegrass with maybe a dash of pop/country in some songs. Her song selection and the band are top notch. Her mandolin playing is solid but is not amazing as is Ron McCoury, Sam Bush or David Grisman.

As far as the controversy about the cover and what she is wearing: Grow up America!"

Her best album yet

P. Butler | Greeneville, TN United States | 06/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As previously stated, I am a traditionalist bordering on a dinasaur. I have been following Rhonda Vincent from her earlier pure bluegrass albums, through her efforts to reinvent herself as a Nashville diva & back toward to her present CD. Although the earlier efforts were uneven, she has never gotten credit for her pure talents. The best evidence I think is where she does covers of other artist's hits. Her renditions of "Don't Lie" & "When I Close My Eyes" put Trace Adkins & Kenny Chesney, respective versions to shame. This CD contains the best song selection, the best production (no attempts to overproduce like most of Nashville these days) & best vocals by Ms. Vincent. As far as the cover photo, since when has it been a bad idea for an attractive woman to get dressed up & look glamorous?"