About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

From the very beginning of All American Bluegrass Girl, Rhonda Vincent isn't wasting any time stating her purpose. She came to sing about God and America, and she ain't gonna stop ?til she gets it all out.



Pros

• "All American Bluegrass Girl"
• "Heartbreaker's Alibi"
• "Til They Come Home"
• "Prettiest Flower There"

Cons

• None

Description

• A well-written musical tribute to God, America, and bluegrass music

• As always, Vincent is well-supported by her outstanding band, The Rage
• Beautiful contributions from Dolly Parton and Bobby Osbourne

Guide Review - Rhonda Vincent - All American Bluegrass Girl

The title track features Vincent laying the groundwork for what is a tribute to America through music. In it, she sings about growing up in Missouri to become a lady in bluegrass ? a style of music that is traditionally not exactly populated with female greats. Nonetheless, Vincent sings, "though I might be from Missouri, I?m as bluegrass as can be."

As the album goes on, she continues to prove herself right. Granted, she doesn't entirely surpass the work of the other major lady of contemporary bluegrass (Alison Krauss), but Vincent does create some incredible work.

Highlights include the support the troops numbers "God Bless the Soldier" and "Til They Come Home," on which she shares the spotlight with Dolly Parton and Bobby Osbourne, respectively. Although these songs are lovely, in a year replete with protest albums, Vincent keeps her roots in gospel and bluegrass, careful not to stand up for or against the war.

Vincent even wrote three of the songs herself this time around, and I daresay they're three of the biggest highlights on the disc, including "Ashes of Mt. Augustine" ? the brightest moment of all.

While Vincent is in the foreground working her skills, her band ? The Rage ? hardly fall behind. In fact, Big K (Kenny Ingram) rips it wide open with his dexterous banjo picking; and Josh Williams' mandolin flutters through runs like an enchanted breeze.

Overall, a great disc.