Jim Hurst & Missy Raines Synergy

Highly sought after studio musicians in Nashville, Jim Hurst and Missy Raines combine their musical talents on Synergy their second recording from Pinecastle records. The style is varied as it ranges from country blues and bluegrass to folk. A completely acoustic roots CD featuring Missy Raines' bass prowess, and the guitar picking and strumming of Jim Hurst. Just listening to the combination of the two instruments it is not hard to tell why many artists are waiting in line to get them to play on their recordings.

Instrumentally sound recording, and the two instrumental numbers "Guidology" and "Automotive Breakdown" (both written by Hurst), and "Cincinati at Night" (penned by Raines) show the talent of the two musicians. The rest of the songs were picked from other songwriters, and leave a disappointment to the core project. Even the more up tempo recordings have a laid back approach to the
vocals. I'm sure this would work very well in the club or coffee house setting, but leaves me feeling a bit left out as a CD project.

Jim Hurst and Missy Raines have pleasant enough voices, and they do shine on a couple of numbers, namely "The Longest Part" and "Buzzed". The rest of the CD is a bit cold and standoffish on the vocal front but shines on the instrumental side. An almost jazzed up approach to the roots music it encompasses still leaves you with the feeling, Where is the rest ? I cannot completely recommend
this CD, but do give it a marginal approval.

   ( 3.5 Stars out of 6