Tommy Shaw has released an album of bluegrass songs that is put near his best ever solo effort to date. In fact, I will go as far to say as this thing is dern-tooting good from beginning to end.

Yes indeed, ya gots to admit that little Tommy Shaw did a plumb good job with this one. At first, there are a few OMG or WTF moments, but once you get past that, then you realize this sucker ain’t half bad. Heck fire, Tommy can sho-nuff play the heck out of that there mandolin. In fact, Tommy wrote or co-wrote every song on the album. Just gets yourself some sarsaparilla and listen as Tommy sings songs about President Harry Truman and his wife’s home cooking, including her mouthwatering fried chicken and greens. He even tells tales of his daddy and actually sings the words, “ Never let the jug run dry.” It don’t get no more bluegrass than that.

The bottom line here is that you will need to open your mind. Once you do that then your ears will follow along. It will take you a spell to get used to Shaw’s familiar rock voice singing songs about the southland, but once you dig in then you’ll have to admit this music is as comfortable as Grandma’s feather bed. I would have liked to hate this album, as I can be one closed minded, sum-bitch, but as soon as the first notes of “The Next Right Thing” came on, I found myself tapping my toes and slappin’ my knee.

While this one may not be for everybody, it is a true album of bluegrass music made for nothing more than the joy of the music itself. I would reckon the damn tunes just make Tommy feel good. When something is done for the right reasons, and done this well, one may not like it, but they should appreciate it. Few people could think this outside of the box and get away with it. For that alone, Tommy Shaw, I tip my hat to you. Now, where did I put my Scoal?