STYLE: Country RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 24339-13137 LABEL: Daywind 8715102 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RELEASE DATE: 2007-07-31 RRP: £10.99
Reviewed by Ian Hayter
Austins Bridge is Mike Kofahl, Jason Baird and Justin Rivers, a young trio whose debut on Daywind Records is an accomplished set of rocking new country songs which are eminently singable and infectiously rhythmic. Bubba Smith is the producer and he has clearly brought the best out of this group. The opener, "He Will Carry You", sets the scene for the rest of their eponymous album, although the country influences get stronger as the tracks progress. With excellent support from (amongst others) Tommy White on pedal steel and dobro, Aubrey Haynie on fiddle and Ilya Toshinsky on banjo and mandolin, the three front men turn in some great performances on "I Am Free", "Dry Bones", "Jesus You Are" and nine other strong songs, the majority written by Justin Rivers. I suspect we haven't heard the last of these guys.
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