Based in Nashville, guitarist and singer-songwriter Tim Raybon has a new album out on the Pinecastle label. No longer fronting the group called Merle Monroe, in 2021 Raybon began recording under his own Tim Raybon Band’s name. This album’s top-rated musicians also includes Andy Leftwich (fiddle, mandolin), Cody Kilby (guitar), Ben Isaacs (bass), Gavin Larpent (Dobro, banjo) and Russ Carson (banjo). 

Raybon sings all of the vocal parts on this bluegrass project, most of the material penned by Raybon.  The band opens their confident, cohesive set with Raybon’s “Leaving Cleveland,” and they work through the program with other nostalgic, travel and family themed songs like “1959,” “That Reunion,” “I Told My Momma and Daddy Goodbye” and a snappy western swing offering, “Headed Back to Tulsa.” Raybon’s songs typically have poignant, engaging messages. He also demonstrates his up-tempo songcrafting with standout tracks like “Sally Johnson” and “Ilene Baker.”

Other songwriters on the project contribute “Nothing So Blue” (by Robert Brandon Powell) and Raybon’s co-written title track with Lee Arnold Bach called “I Could Get Used to This.”  Somewhat countrified, the band’s incandescent bluegrass music is calibrated with a solid, stylish, radio-friendly twang. It’s highly-developed music to relieve the stress of today’s current world distractions, and it encapsulates heartfelt emotions and captivating visuals. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)