Reviewed by Matthew Cordle

You have heard Will McFarlane's guitar work before, whether or not his name rings a bell. His career has seen him working with artists like Bonnie Raitt, The Pointer Sisters and Jackson Browne and he currently plays as part of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Stylistically, this CD is somewhere along the lines of blues rock/pop with a bit of country. There are strong nods to Gary Moore, Bonnie Raitt (surprise, surprise!) and possibly Michael Bolton. There is great playing from the horns section (from Muscle Shoals), and there are guest appearances from ex-Outlaws bassist Rick Cua and backing vocals from Lenny LeBlanc. Lyrically, all the songs are inspired from Scripture passages which are listed, and Will has a way of framing important spiritual truths in a light lyrical style - e.g., "If you're faithful with a little, God can make a little a lot." The best track is "Back In The Circle (Blues For The Prodigal)" - a simple song with a soulful feel that sounds like a "classic". Maybe it's just me, but this album did not leave me particularly satisfied as it sounded a little contrived. Perhaps it's because Will doesn't have the angst of someone like Gary Moore!

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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