Customer Reviews

Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think that when Bill Monroe died in 1996 there was a lot of concern among bluegrass fans about what would happen to the music in the years to come. We shouldn't have worried. Though based on musical traditions older than the hills, Bluegrass music is enjoying salad days unlike anything in the music's storied past. Right now there are probably a dozen bands that sing better and play better than almost anything that existed during Mr. Monroe's lifetime. For the first 70 years of recorded Bluegrass a hot and new talent would come along every five or ten years, it seems like. Since the break-up of the prototypical band - the one with Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs, how many BIG bands came to prominence in the next several decades? The Osborne Brothers.... Jimmy Martin.... J.D. Crowe.... The Country Gentlemen.... The Newgrass Revival....

When Alison Krauss came onto the scene our heads turned. Same with Nickel Creek. Now my head gets turned a few times a year! Who the heck ARE these guys? Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain are all talents previously unknown to me, yet they have recorded an album of blistering bluegrass and heart-wringing country ballads that aren't just good. These tunes shake your bones and get under your skin. Take a listen to the opening track "Restless State of Mind". If your toes aren't tapping and your body swaying call for the undertaker.

Seriously - Carrie Hassler has serious game as a bluegrass/country vocalist. Hard Rain has serious chops - joining the Infamous Stringdusters as a band with so many instrumental options that you just can't WAIT to hear the next hot break from the next hot player. Check out the instrumental "Sensabaugh Tunnel", opening like a wonderful cross between an Irish Fiddle tune and a syncopated Jazz riff, then evolving into a full speed bluegrass breakdown.

I wish Bill could have lived to hear what is being played today. This CD is as good as it gets.

I'm so glad I accidentally stumbled across this album. Top songs for me -"Restless State" & "Seven Miles". Smooth, memorable lyrics. Musicians are incredible - wonderful sound and Carrie's voice sets a beautiful tone - a bit of Alison Krauss with a kick.

This album is a good reminder of why I love folk and country so much. It gets you back to the roots. Love it! Good luck Carrie and band!

I love bluegrass, but I'm not by any means a member of the "Bluegrass Police," those people that consider themselves the guardians of the true bluegrass sound. I consider this to be a relatively traditional recording, but it has a tight and punchy sound that lends a modern feel. The picking and singing is great throughout, and the arrangements are first class. I only wish that more of the record had been recorded with the real Hard Rain instead of the studio giants that appear on about half the cuts. Why do people do that?

Carrie Hassler is a new rising star in bluegrass music. Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain is "hard driving bluegrass" in one song and soulful bluegrass with the next. Definitely worth the listen.

Playing Time - 33:53 -- Rural Rhythm Records' recent emphasis on "New Traditions" has resulted in their signing Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain. Produced by Jim Van Cleve, rough mixes of the early sessions were sent to the label's president, Sam Passamano. "From the very first song we heard, which was `Seven Miles from Wichita,'" remembers Passamano, "everyone at the label was just blown away by the power, beauty and diversity of Carrie's voice. Her ability to move with such style and grace from hard drivin' bluegrass to traditional country to gospel to an emotional ballad is simply amazing." I heartily agree. The up-and-coming artist from Pikeville, Tn. started out singing at an early age but never found her "true place" until she sang her first bluegrass song and the sound, warmth and feeling that bluegrass gave her. The band's first single, "Seven Miles from Wichita," has memorable melody and lyrics. Carrie fronts the band with her magnetic and somewhat sassy voice telling us tales about life. "Love is our business, and business is good" is one of her hooks.

Carrie has a preponderance of songs about broken hearts or being somewhere enroute running hither and thither. I guess my only recommendation would be to look for songs with new creative themes ... topical material and messages we don't always hear in bluegrass and country music. Then again, maybe they just want to play it safe on their debut. The band covers drivin' material from Jennifer Strickland, Lisa Ray, Rebecca Lynn Howard, and others. They're very good songs. The title cut, from Mark Houser and Jimmy Bilbrey, talks of loosening "these chains in a big ol' town and drivin' to Kentucky in a hard rain" to rediscover country roots. Acoustic country repertoire includes a cover of Webb Pierce and Wayne Walker's "Leavin' On Your Mind" and Morgane Hayes/Rory Lee's "Now That She's Gone." The instrumental "Sensabaugh Tunnel" begins in 6/8 time before being propelled into a fiery breakdown tempo. It's followed by the quartet's a cappella "Least That I Can Do," from the pen of Tammy Griffin. Like the label she's now on, Hassler's contemporary bluegrass pays considerable respect to sound roots tradition with a cover of Carter Stanley's "Our Last Goodbye."

From the first notes on the album, the band's strong drive also features Josh Miller's banjo, Josh Swift's dobro, Kevin McKinnon's mandolin, Keith McKinnon's guitar and Travis Anderson's bass. Guest musicians include Clay Jones, Adam Steffey, Darrin Vincent, Steve Reece, Jim Locke and Katie Kerkhover. Carrie has worked with Dave Peterson and 1946, Mountain Heart, Lonesome River Band, Fritts Family, Rhonda Vincent, Shadow Ridge, Lovell Sisters, Cumberland Gap Connection and Kentucky Wind. Josh has been engaged in bluegrass to funk music, appears on the Lovell Sisters' debut album, and has also recorded with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Born and raised in southwest Virginia, Kevin McKinnon had toured with Jeanette Williams' Band before joining Carrie's in late-2005. His brother, Keith, is not only a great guitarist but a very solid fiddler as well. While exploring other musical styles, Travis stays in touch with bluegrass roots by playing with the Bottom Dollar Band and his family band that now includes two younger sisters on fiddles.

Carrie Hassler says she's blessed with all the love and support she needs to keep moving on. Besides a husband and young son, she also now has the band of her dreams - one that is exciting, innovative, stimulating and astute. Young folks are restless, and they keep on the move. Will this group be a revolving door to bigger bands? Is this band just a one-hit wonder, or are they committed to continued growth and reaching even higher goals with their bluegrass music? They've got the talent and potential to go plumb to the top. In her opening cut (written by bandmates Miller & Swift), Carrie sings of being "off to California one more time with the breeze, tryin' to catch your breath somewhere in between." That sentiment could easily characterize this band's lunar launch, as well as their busy days ahead. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

This CD is an absolute winner. The pickin' is excellent and Carrie's vocals are unbelievable. Every true bluegrasser must have this CD.

I heard one of the songs off this CD on Pandora and liked it so much I immediatly placed an order for the CD. I had not heard Carrie Hassler and her band before, but am now a solid fan. Great music, beautiful voices. Love it all.

I discovered Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain by receiving a mailing from a new PR company I had requested an artist mailing from. Never heard of her. I really am glad that I got this CD because she really impressed me from song one. There is so much good stuff going on in Bluegrass today. You have your traditionalists like Del Coury and Ricky Skaggs and more new grass stuff like The Duhks and The Greencards.

Hassler's CD sounds like she likes Alison Krauss a lot as I can hear her influences in the disc. Jim Van Cleve, from Mountain Heart and Solo Artist for Rural rhythm Records produced this and plays a lot on it. Basically, it is both Mountain Heart and Hassler's Hard Rain playing on this album.

Honestly, this has more of a pop type sound and is not quite as polished as an Alison Krauss or Greencards recordings, but the quality is excellent, my only beef is sometimes there are so many instruments, it gets in the way of the vocals. Cleve uses lots of special effects on the instruments like some compression and chorus, which I like. Hassler has lots of great material here, but I think the recording is too busy in many spots, like on the instrumental "Sensabaugh Tunnel", there is a dual guitar spot, mandolin, fiddle, the music is almost frenetic, everyone sounds like they are in a race, rather than trying to blend together, just my thought.

"Least That I Can Do" is a slow gospel tune that is sparse with nice harmonies, the four part harmony sounds great with some very inspiring lyrics.

"Hard Rain" is a nice mid tempo song that is my opinion a bit overproduced with too much going on and the vocals should be louder. Real nice melody with a modern pop sound.

"Now That She's Gone" - This is a beauty of a sad story song. Nice production, not overdone. Just guitar, mandolin, Dobro and bass with vocals. Really, this is a good sounding disc, but there are small things that would sound better with a major label budget and sound. I have heard many recordings a lot worse than this, overall the sound is smooth and clean.

"Leaving On Your Mind" - Hassler does a great job on this old country classic. The strings have a nice touch.

"Leaving You Behind" is another mid tempo love song with a pop influence to it. A lot of the melodies are similar on these songs with same type of production, but that's bluegrass, you can get caught up in the genre and that is okay.

Hassler has a very nice voice that needs to be the main attraction, not all of the instruments. Would love to hear her make a CD with just her band or some top sessions players like Bryan Sutton, Jerry Douglas, Larry Franklin and so on.
This gal has a future and some good friends like Rhonda Vincent in the bluegrass world. This CD is doing well several months after release.

I just heard of Carrie and Hard Rain, though Jamie Harper. But I have known Jamie Harper, fiddle player, for a long time, he is awesome. Carrie and the boys jam on their debut cd. I like tunes, Hard Rain, Going On The Next Train, and Love Is Our Buisness. Buy it now you won't be disappointed, I promiss you, Great Cd!!

This album is an excellent bluegrass/country album. I have been a country music fan for years, and this is one of the best pure country CDs I've heard in a while. Most country music today is just noise (like made by Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, and other losers)...and this album was actually suprisingly good. There were about two songs on this album that I didn't like...but overall it was good. I think Carrie must be a new comer because I just recently heard of her, but she is a very good singer and harmonizes well. Although she can't compare to old time country veterans like Charlie Daniels, Lynn Anderson, and Dolly Parton, she is doing a very good job. I enjoyed this album. Excellent. Good Job Carrie