There are three tunes on the album which I was already familiar with. “You’ll Find Your Way” is a Neal Coty/Jimmy Melton penned tune that I first as a single from Portland, OR-based country singer Travis Rush and “The Only Way He Knew How” was an inspirational story song that hit the US Top 30 earlier this year when Bucky Covington released it to radio. It’s interesting to hear the latter song done by a vocal trio and the power the family harmonies provide the song and the only way I can compare it is if this song were to have been recorded by Diamond Rio. Both songs retain rootsy melodies and fiddle and steel guitars are in the mix. The first single from this project, “I Will Stand By You” is currently a single by the reunited Judds here in the USA and while I didn’t like the song in their hands, this up-tempo song is full of inspirational messages about being ready and willing to ‘stand by’ the love of your life.
While it’s easy to call High Valley the Canadian answer to Rascal Flatts (they’re a trio with family blood, they have fantastic harmonies, they wear their faith on their sleeves), I actually think that Diamond Rio is a better comparison throughout the most of this disc, including “Somebody Like Me” and “When You Call My Name.” The latter song was written and originally recorded by Paul Brandt and was actually co-produced by the star singer/songwriter. “Exactly What I Didn’t Want To Happen” is a sprightly country rocker that was co-written by Whitney Duncan and could do well on country radio in America if this trio were to be picked up by a label down here. “The Last Thing You Do” is the kind of message in a ‘bottle’ song that has been littered in country music throughout the years but it’s hard to not get the message here about what truly matters in life. Like “What I Didn’t Want To Happen,” I think “The Last Thing You Do” could be a big ole hit in America and probably will, if not by High Valley than by somebody like Brad Paisley as it would fit him quite well.
This family trio is composed of the three twenty-something brothers who are fantastically gifted and equipped to sing country music. If you’re looking for an album that doesn’t have anything about revenge and broken relationships, or something the whole family can enjoy, then High Valley is a recording you should seek out. Hopefully there’s a label in Nashville willing to pick up this recording and work it to country radio here, it’s too good to remain ‘just’ in Canada.
You can support High Valley by purchasing this album at Amazon (Canada) | Maple Music (Canada).
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