The Del McCoury Band followed 2005's Grammy-winning Company We Keep with their first-ever all-gospel record, the reliably stellar Promised Land. For a man who is over 40 years into his career, it's surprising that
McCoury took so long to lay down a collection of bluegrass gospel classics, as seemingly every other artist in the genre has had their turn at the pulpit. Thankfully, there's no "Amazing Grace," "Have a Little Talk with Jesus," or "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" to be found here; rather,
McCoury and his juggernaut of a band have dug up some real gems for Promised Land. Between the rousing gallop of "Canaan's Happy Land," the cocky strut of "I'll Put on a Crown and Walk Around," and the easy Sunday waltz "We Know Where He Is," the Del McCoury Band have found the perfect middle ground between old-school masters like
the Louvin Brothers and contemporary stalwarts like
Ricky Skaggs. ~ James Christopher Monger