Rambler's Call (Rebel, 2010)

Joe Mullins has a lifetime of bluegrass history. The son of Paul "Moon" Mullins, he formed and played with Traditional Grass in the early '90's and has spent time as a bluegrass DJ and radio station owner. The songs here are an excellent mixture of bluegrass and country, all played with a pure bluegrass sound. The band mates take turns at singing lead and the various harmony parts, making for vocal diversity. They are all good singers and topnotch musicians. This band takes a backseat to no group with their excellent musical abilities.

This CD boasts works from composers well known in the bluegrass-country world. The title song was written by Aubrey Holt (The Boys From Indiana). Boston Jail, a Porter Wagoner standard is here along with songs from Loretta Lynn (a driving Smoke Along The Track) and Marty Stuart and Connie Smith (Farmer's Blues). Gospel is represented by a great rendition of that beautiful standard, Heaven's Green Fields and a fine a cappella version of Don't You Want To Go Home. They show off their picking skills with a smoking Charlotte Breakdown.

Mullins and band offer fine, traditional bluegrass from start to finish.