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 01/2009

    OTIS GIBBS
    Grandpa Walked a Picketline

  • reviewed 05/2008

    SERA CAHOONE
    Only As the Day is Long

  • reviewed 07/2011

    JONATHON EDWARDS
    My Love Will Keep

  • reviewed 10/2014

    DEAD FINGERS
    Big Black Dog

  • reviewed 12/2006

    SWEET WEDNESDAY
    Wherever You Go

  • reviewed 09/2011

    DRIFTWOOD FIRE
    How to Untangle a Heartache

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.