So the other day when I was flipping around on XM Radio I heard a song that caught my attention and looked down to see the artist’s name. The name was Carrie Hassler, so today I went to Rhapsody and downloaded her latest album CHHR2. CHHR2 is the second album released on the Rural Rhythms label by Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain and it’s a good one! The album was released in 2008 and was produced by Jim Van Cleve of the band Mountain Heart. From Carrie’s Myspace page:
The album made its debut at 5 on Billboard’s Top 50 Bluegrass Chart (retail sales), climbed the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 15 Album Chart and many more. The first single, “I Can Go Back Anytime” hit 1 on the May 2009 Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 with the second single, Faith & Hope also hitting the 1 spot on Power Source Magazine’s Top 10 Bluegrass Songs. The Alzheimer’s themed tune, “Stranger in His Mind” recently won Strictly Country’s Country of the Year. But it doesn’t stop there, another single, “Country Strong” was released in the U.K. and hit the 1 spot on UK Radio.
There’s a lot of good picking on this album from the Hard Rain and Carrie’s vocals are wonderful! Carrie and Hard Rain are based in Pikesville, Tennessee. The members of the band include: Travis Anderson on bass, Kevin McKinnon,Keith McKinnon, Zach Gilmer, and Jamie Harper on fiddle. You can read their full bios here Again from Carrie’s myspace page:
“This is a top-notch bluegrass band, an Alison Krauss on high-octane gas. While some of the songs (Country Strong, Seven Miles to Wichita come to mind) wouldn’t feel out of place on a say, a Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride or even Faith Hill album, this is a kick-tail bluegrass band with incredible instrumentalists on fiddle, banjo, dobro and mandolin. All led by Hassler’s sweet and strong classic country voice.” – Mac McDonald, Monterey, CA – The Herald
“Energetic and crisp, CHHR 2 is a hard-driving bluegrass album that showcases one of the most talented and imaginative sets of musicians in the genre today.” The9513.com
I agree wholeheartedly with the above comments from top to bottom this is a great album with lots of good picking and great vocals. Aside from the previously mentioned “Country Strong” and “I Can Go Back Anytime” other tracks that I liked were “Fickle Heart” which has some nice fiddle and mandolin! ” One Way Track to Nowhere” has some great lyrics to go with the vocals and strong pickin’. Oh, heck once again all the songs are good, so just go listen! I’m listen to track 11 “1800 Miles” and it’s another good one!
Here’s the very powerful “Stranger in His Mind”
And “I Can Go Back Anytime”