Reviewed by Oscar Hyde

Byron Rice, a CCM veteran formerly performing under the name Byron Keith, discovered that he was HIV-positive some years ago. Sadly, Rice faced a great deal of ostracism from within the fairly insular Nashville CCM community; he poured his experiences with the people "who point their finger like a gun / count up all of my sins" into the writing sessions for this album. Lost in the Woods is thus incredibly personal, vulnerable, and autobiographical, whether Rice is reinforcing his confidence in his own identity, pledging to listen to people who need to talk, or wondering, 'Daddy told me I'd one day change the world / but do I have to wait that long?' The recording quality, while not exactly lo-fi, is certainly very down-home, in keeping with the general Americana vibes; apart from the acoustic guitar, just about the only instruments that pop up are slide guitar, bluesy electric licks, and electric piano. It all makes for an intimate and moving experience, and if you have an interest in lyric-focused albums, it's definitely worth listening to Rice's thoughts and story.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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