Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Down the years I've heard a lot of country gospel albums. But for me this is one of the best I've ever heard. In case you didn't know, McCarver is a singer and songwriter who's recorded and toured first with Confederate Railroad and then as a solo - often appearing with his "redneck friend" David Allen Coe. In a recent interview Cody called this, his first all gospel album, "outlaw gospel" and it's certainly a long way from today's pop-tinged sounds of most mainstream country and the cornball nostalgia of Gaither's Southern gospel. This has the grit and earthy passion of the secular outlaw country exponents like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings while the mix of self-composed songs and evergreens like "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" and "Wayfaring Stranger" is well judged. Production and arrangements by McCarver himself is excellent with the bluesy lead guitars of Ted Tuck and Jimmy Dormire particularly effective. One high point is the guitar riff on "I'll Fly Away" which gives the ancient Albert Brumley standard a new lease of life. But it's McCarver's own compositions which are the strongest, like the opener "The Lord's Will" with its autobiographical verse about praying for freedom for his father - serving time for murdering his wife's lover. After his father's death in the cells Cody came to realise that his much loved dad now had freedom in Heaven. Just as good a song is the closer "I'm Gonna Meet Jesus" which lists all the people Cody was looking forward to meeting in Heaven, including Abraham, Moses, the apostles, his father and grandfather and. . .best of all. . .Jesus of Nazareth. Cody's marvellously expressive, world-weary voice brings authenticity and pathos to all the songs here and one is left confident that 'The Lord's Will' will find plenty of listeners beyond its "redneck" niche.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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