Troubadour Review
Tim Flannery, known as Mr.Hustle when he played ball for the San Diego Padres, has a musical side that shines with bluegrass flavor in his new release Kentucky Towns. This is Flannery's sixth CD and, from a bluegrass perspective, definitely his best to date. Having grown up in Kentucky and weaned on bluegrass and mountain music, Flannery returns to his roots in Kentucky Towns. This is the real deal in bluegrass music, high and lonesome vocals presenting sincere lyrics with great instrumentation, punctuated with banjo, dobro, mandolin, and fiddle in addition to Flannery's guitar. Kentucky Towns includes seven original cuts and three traditional bluegrass numbers, all worthy of a listen.
     "The Road Into Town" starts with a down the middle strike right over the bluegrass homeplate. "Kentucky Waltz" a slow traditional favorite, showcases Flannery's resonant and melodic voice with a nice seamless transition to Bill Monroe's driving instrumental " Big Mon" featuring the fine fiddling of Dennis Caplinger. On "Bury Me Beneath The Willow" Flannery is joined by his brother Tom to project the family mountain harmony flavor.
   Kentucky Towns was produced by the multitalented Caplinger who plays fiddle, banjo,dobro, and mandolin. (I'm sure he could make music with a broomstick if he                                 wanted to, the man drips with talent.)  Also backing up Flannery on this great album is a stellar cast, which include Bill Byson (Desert Rose Band, Laurel Canyon Ramblers), Sharon Whyte (Chris Hillman, Eve Selis Band) Jeff Berkley (BerkleyHart) and Doug Pettibone (Lucinda Williams, Joan Baez). If you like good ol' down home bluegrass, you will enjoy this very fine album.
                                                                  The Troubadour