Love is a Journey (Skaggs Family, 2005)

Texas singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Keith Sewell is perhaps best known for writing songs for Ricky Skaggs, Montgomery Gentry and others. His resume includes stints with Skaggs’ band, Kentucky Thunder, the Dixie Chicks, James Taylor and Sam Bush. His new collection feels like a bluegrass album with pop music sensibilities. He won’t make you forget Monroe or Stanley, but there’s much here to sink your teeth into.

Swell wrote or co-wrote all the songs with pop music icons Wendy Waldman and Kenny Edwards collaborating with Sewell on several. The strongest songs are the love song, “A Man Out Of Me” and “We Go Around.” “Duncan Station” is a terrific instrumental.

Sewell shows himself to be a talented picker, playing all the guitar parts. He’s backed throughout by an “A” list of today’s bluegrass players, including Scott Vestal, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush and Andy Leftwich.

Sewell’s songs more than stand on their own. Plus, the picking’s great.