Footprints: A IIIrd Tyme Out Collection

Footprints: A IIIrd Tyme out Collection gathers 15 songs recorded by the group, the majority between 1995 and 2000. The exceptions are two of the collection's best songs, the previously unreleased "Footprints in the Snow" and "One Kiss Away from Loneliness." Both tracks are permeated with bluegrass soul and country grit, and Russell Moore sings each lyric as though he's lived it. IIIrd Tyme Out is at its best when the mandolins (Steve Dilling), fiddles (Mike Hartgrove), and banjos (Wayne Benson) are blazing on traditionally flavored material like "Lovin' You Goin' Blind" and "Raining in LA." Dilling, Benson, and bassist Ray Deaton also join Moore on tight harmony. This all comes together beautifully on the classic "Milk Cow Blues," a freewheeling bit of sexist blues, interestingly preceded by "I Pray My Way out of Trouble." The results seem more pedestrian when IIIrd Tyme Out tackles contemporary ballads like "Erase the Miles" and "Letter to Home," and while the performances of these songs may be heartfelt, they're too similar to other contemporary ballads by other bluegrass bands. Overall, Footprints: A IIIrd Tyme out Collection provides a solid introduction to the band, and, with the addition of "Footprints in the Snow" and "One Kiss Away from Loneliness," one that old fans will also want to pick up. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.