In an industry that often is criticized for manufacturing bands and trios, particularly when a template of a winning 'formula' is available, it's refreshing to have a group arrive on the scene in a completely organic way. The story behind The Farm is certainly an organic one as the band came together in a writing session on a lake in the Nashville area as three solo artists who had convened with hit songwriter Danny Myrick ("She's Country") to see what would happen. With Myrick, Damien Horne and Krista Marie each bringing their guitars to the party, Hoffman brought out his fiddle (he's been touring for years as Kenny Chensey's fiddle player/multi-instrumentalist) and then the rest, they say, is history as that first song they wrote that day turned out to be "Home Sweet Home." Add in the instant chemistry found when harmonizing the song in that session and the band The Farm was born.
Working with Danny Myrick, the band wound up writing five of The Farm's eleven tracks together with Myrick contributing two more with other co-writers and Damien Horne contributing the closing soulful "Walkin'." Myrick and Nick Hoffman co-produced the project and the band signed with All In/Elektra Nashville, a label that's part of Warner Music Nashville. "Home Sweet Home" not only was the band's first song written together (when they barely knew each other) but it also is The Farm's lead-off single. Currently a Top 20 hit, the song is all about cherishing your hometown, the place that centers you, and the place you always want to call home, no matter where life takes you.
The record is a largely uptempo one with Hoffman's fiddle weaving in and out of many of these tracks with the ease and verve usually found in a guitarist. It's one of the rather unique things that The Farm brings to their distinct brand of modern country music and is something that no other band in modern country music can even come close to matching, except for perhaps the Zac Brown Band. Blend in Krista's classically trained vocals, Damien's soul-filled tenor, and Nick's own vocal and what we have here is a band that shines.
Standouts include what I like to call 'foot-stompers' like future single "Sweet Sweet Sunshine," "Fresh Of The Farm," (a modernized "Thank God I'm A Country Boy"-like song), and the opening "Farm Party." "Be Grateful," "That 100 Miles" and "Everytime I Fall In Love" lead the ballads on the record with each of them being worthy of potential radio single consideration with "Grateful" serving as a reminder to us all that no matter how bad we think our life may be going, there's always someone else who has it worse. "That 100 Miles" is an 'up tempo' ballad that talks about the regret of a relationship while "Everytime I Fall In Love" is a showcase of a love song where Krista takes the lead vocal on a track written by Al Anderson, Sarah Buxton and Ken Johnson. The previously mentioned "Walkin'" works as a fitting conclusion to an album that may feature familiar modern country music themes but The Farm certainly isn't a traditional country album with their blend of traditional country, modern country rock production, some beat boxing and talking verses and a harmony blend that is right up there with the best vocal combinations in the genre.
Related Rougstock Content About The Farm:
Artist Spotlight: Meet The Farm
Single Review: Home Sweet Home
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