Same Old Place (Bonus Track Version)

It's a good thing for bluegrass fans that Newfound Road’s frontman Tim Shelton chose the road less traveled as Newfound Road’s fifth studio album finds him soulfully crooning his best performances to date. Right from the rich and rootsy opener “Try to Be,” Shelton confidently drives and locks in with perfect chorus harmonies while the band picks at a steady locomotive pace. Swooning serenade “Same Old Place” is a top-shelf ballad that would well accompany the making of babies. The bare gospel harmonies alone on “Give Me Jesus” could melt the Oak Ridge Boys’ hearts like butter on corn. The bonus track bestows a stellar rendition of the traditional “Leave My Woman Alone” showing that the quartet is a true force to be reckoned with in any live setting. By blending Shelton’s contemporary country vocal style with Newfound Road’s adoration for traditional stringband instrumentation, Same Old Place dodges the old-timey trappings to birth an album that succeeds at furthering the development of an age-old sound while retaining absolute respect for the roots of their craft.