This folksinger/guitarist may be carrying on in the classic tradition of idols like
Woody Guthrie, but he's definitely got a knack for modern social observation here. "CyberBubba," presented in both an acoustic jam version and a bluegrass twist at the end of the disc, is a hilarious observation of a redneck "traveling the world" online. It's interesting that he follows such a new millennium folk tune with the gentle, mandolin-enhanced "The Cabin," whose imagery would have worked just as well around a campfire in Guthrie's day. Somewhere in between timewise is his blues-influenced ode to the rhythm road, "Kerouac Alley." His storytelling is definitely a strong suit, but one of the most engaging tracks here is the fiddle- and banjo-driven instrumental "Peter & Woody's Rag." Johnathan details in his notes the way he learned lessons of life from the father he never knew, concluding with the reality that every step we take in life is a statement. Listen closely to the lyrics and you'll see that he's lived up to this legacy. ~ Jonathan Widran