Reviewed by Paul Poulton

A set of six sturdy country gospel songs from a man who has in the past toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Dickey Betts. Steve has stuck pretty close to the middle of the country road but even so you can from time to time hear the type of snarling vocal Leon Russell may have sang, particularly on "I Ain't Givin' Up On Jesus". The track breaks rank with the other songs on the EP, it's not too far away from something that Robert Plant may have sung with his latest Band Of Joy project. The other songs use some engaging chord progressions but never veer far from safe territory. The general rule seems to be, intro, which hints at things to come, pull back a little for the verse then throw everything in along with the lap (stainless) steel kitchen sink for the chorus. But of course that's how some country lovers enjoy their music. Steve is fairly new to country gospel, he has some heart-warming points to make and he makes them with conviction using his expressive voice, it's like Greg Allman with less rasp. He also has the ability to sing in a higher register, which he uses very nicely on "Invisible Hand". The radio hit from the album is "Eighty Acre Church" a song about a farmer ploughing his fields.

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