CD Reviews
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The Roys
Lonesome Whistle
Lonesome Whistle
The talented brother/sister duo Lee and Elaine Roy are fairly new faces on the bluegrass scene, but they keep good company. Their debut album on Rural Rhythm Records was recorded at Ricky Skaggs’ studio, and it features guest musicians Mark Fain (bass), Justin Moses (banjo), Randy Kohrs (Dobro), Cody Kilby (guitar), Steve Brewster (drums on four tracks), and Andy Leftwich (fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki). Ricky Skaggs and The Whites (Sharon and Cheryl) provide passionate harmonies on “That’s What Makes it Love,” a fine song with a number of evocative messages covering sacrifice, family, trust and devotion. In support of this album’s spring 2011 release, The Roys are currently performing widely with a separate touring band.
With their enchanting repertoire of new and exciting original material, The Roys cover a lot of bluegrass, country, and gospel ground. The galloping “Right Back At You” and “Lonesome Whistle” and “My Oh My How Time Flies” are sturdy bluegrass offerings that hit like an express train. Their alluring ballads also pull you into the significant meanings and statements of their lyrics. For example, Lee Roy was inspired to write “I Wonder What God’s Thinking” after seeing a sad news report on television one Sunday morning. A motivational song for women chasing their dreams, Elaine Roy co-penned “Trailblazer,” and that track is one of several crowning moments for her on the album. The couple writes many songs to honor, praise or acknowledge others. A tribute to coal miners opens the album, while “Everything I Ever Wanted” evolved into a respectful homage to mothers everywhere. The CD closes with “High Road” (written by Pete Sallis and Tia Sillers) to remind us that the high road is often the hard and winding road. While full of loneliness, doubt, hunger and questions, the high road is the right one to take.
Born in Massachusetts and raised in Canada, the duo now lives in Nashville. Both started singing and playing music at an early age, and their love of bluegrass and country music eventually led to their own wholesome, contemporary signature sound steeped in tradition. In 2009 and 2010, they won Inspirational Country Music Award for Duo of the Year. The CD is sure to turn some heads and launch them further into the spotlight. If this album is any indication, The Roys are poised and ready for the fame that will surely come as they touch and inspire people with their radiant music. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
Reviewed By: Joe Ross
With their enchanting repertoire of new and exciting original material, The Roys cover a lot of bluegrass, country, and gospel ground. The galloping “Right Back At You” and “Lonesome Whistle” and “My Oh My How Time Flies” are sturdy bluegrass offerings that hit like an express train. Their alluring ballads also pull you into the significant meanings and statements of their lyrics. For example, Lee Roy was inspired to write “I Wonder What God’s Thinking” after seeing a sad news report on television one Sunday morning. A motivational song for women chasing their dreams, Elaine Roy co-penned “Trailblazer,” and that track is one of several crowning moments for her on the album. The couple writes many songs to honor, praise or acknowledge others. A tribute to coal miners opens the album, while “Everything I Ever Wanted” evolved into a respectful homage to mothers everywhere. The CD closes with “High Road” (written by Pete Sallis and Tia Sillers) to remind us that the high road is often the hard and winding road. While full of loneliness, doubt, hunger and questions, the high road is the right one to take.
Born in Massachusetts and raised in Canada, the duo now lives in Nashville. Both started singing and playing music at an early age, and their love of bluegrass and country music eventually led to their own wholesome, contemporary signature sound steeped in tradition. In 2009 and 2010, they won Inspirational Country Music Award for Duo of the Year. The CD is sure to turn some heads and launch them further into the spotlight. If this album is any indication, The Roys are poised and ready for the fame that will surely come as they touch and inspire people with their radiant music. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
Reviewed By: Joe Ross