JOHN DRISKELL HOPKINS AND BALSAM RANGE

Daylight

2013-01-26

As a founding and current member of the Zac Brown Band, guitar player/writer/singer John Driskell Hopkins has plenty of experience with the country/rock music scene. Daylight, however, is his first solo release. Teaming up with North Carolina bluegrass band, Balsam Range, this Atlanta artist has made an album of contemporary country music, with bluegrass leanings. Many of the songs here would be right at home on any contemporary country radio station, such as the throwaways "Be My Girl", "How Could I" and the duet "Bye Baby Goodbye". It's when things get bluegrassy that Daylight really shines. "She Don't Love Me Today" sports fun lyrics and vocal harmonies. There is the darkly humorous "The Devil Lives in a Mason Jar". Fast-paced bluegrass instruments and vocals back Mr. Hopkins gravelly voice on "It's Not Ok" and "Shady Bald Breakdown" is obviously "Foggy Mountain"-inspired. Rebecca Ruth

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 05/2007

    Various Artists
    A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

  • reviewed 04/2006

    Rachel Sage
    The Blistering Sun

  • reviewed 02/2007

    LUCINDA WILLIAMS
    West

  • reviewed 02/2006

    THE LITTLE WILLIES
    The Little Willies

  • reviewed 05/2007

    CROOKED STILL
    Hop High

  • reviewed 09/2008

    DIGNEY FIGNUS
    – Talk of the Town

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.