Lessons In Stone (Rebel, 2002)

Longview sounds nothing like the part-time gig that it represents for its well known membership. This, their third album together, shows them functioning as a seamless entity. They all have their own roles within the band - Dudley Connell on guitar, Don Rigsby on mandolin, Glen Duncan on fiddle, Joe Mullins on banjo, Marshall Wilborn on bass and James King on several key lead vocal turns. The remainder of the vocals are shared between the traditional-sounding trio of Connell, Rigsby and Duncan.

A smoother Stanley, a more traditional Blue Highway or a looser Kentucky Thunder would all be adequate descriptions of the attitude and aptitude displayed on these musical îLessons." They primarily tackle forgotten classics and traditional fare, from the Dixie and Tom T Hall penned title track to Jimmy Martin's "Across The Sea Blues" and Carl Story's "I Hear My Mother Weeping."

Everything Longview records takes in the longer view of the music they so obviously love to play. So much so that they can come together every so often like this and make it sound like they perform together every night.