No Boundaries

It probably wouldn't be accurate to describe the Mark Newton Band as a purely traditional outfit, but the band nonetheless approaches bluegrass in an old-fashioned way. First, take the group's approach to songs. Instead of writing its own material, the Mark Newton Band has chosen the majority of its dozen songs from traditional and contemporary writers outside of the band. And while guitarist Newton, bassist Bob Goff, mandolinist/fiddler Troy Engle, and banjoist Mike Munford can pick with the best of them, the emphasis on No Boundaries is on the songs themselves. The album gets a spry start with Billy Smith and Tom T. Hall's "Blues for Breakfast": a fun down-and-out story of love gone stale. There's also an exciting take on the traditional "Cindy": a quick little romp with a number of pithy, upbeat solos. Newton, Goff, Munford, and Engle sweeten the choruses of these songs with a sprightly harmony that heightens the emotional appeal of the lyrics. There's a laid-back take on the Jimmy Martin tune "Losing You," with some nice, bluesy banjo licks by Munford, and a nimble version of "Railroad Dollar" that rolls along at a happy pace. No Boundaries is a satisfying sophomore effort by the Mark Newton Band, and will probably leave fans wanting even more. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi