Artist: Tyler Carroll & Pineridge
CD: Here We Go Again

Tyler Carroll and Pine Ridge has released their debut CD, Here We Go Again, a joyful romp through old vintage country music when there was no Bluegrass versus country; it was all country music. On Here We Go Again we've got the sounds of Roy Acuff, Johnny & Jack, The Monroe Brothers Lester Flatt, and Jimmie Rodgers. When folks talk about roots music, this is it. It probes the depth of country music, even going so far as to have been recorded live in a studio in Bristol, Virginia.

Carroll has been around for quite some time, working in festivals and shows in Mississippi and neighboring states. I've had the pleasure of working several shows with Carroll. He started out paying homage to Uncle Dave Macon, but after more than one broke-neck banjo, he focused on playing rhythm guitar in the two finger Lester Flatt style and singing, both of which he does admirably.

There are twelve songs on Here We Go Again:

1. Here Comes A Broken Heart Again (penned by Carroll)
2. Great Speckled Bird
3. Coal Loading Johnny
4. Good Woman's Love
5. Rosa Lee McFall
6. Sunshine Special
7. Just a Friend
8. Back in the Country
9. Hen Scratchin' Stomp
10. The Mystery of Number 5
11. Gonna Have Myself a Ball
12. Hawkins Rag

I like this style of music, enjoying these old tunes overlooked all too frequently for my taste. Roy Acuff and The Monroe Brothers were giants of Country music, and Carroll does a fine job of reminding me just how good that music was.

Hands down, my favorite song is Rosa Lee McFall, closely followed by Here Comes a Broken Heart Again, Coal Loading Johnny, Sunshine Special, The Mystery of Number Five, and Hawkins Rag. Six favorites out of twelve songs is more than a good thing.

Pine Ridge is Cody Gressett on mandolin, Trevor Holder on banjo, and Leigh Ann Tollison on Bass. They are helped out by Conner Vlietstra on fiddle and guitar. I enjoyed Gressett's Monroe style mandolin, and I was smitten by Holder's Reno-esque banjo playing, particularly on Rosa Lee McFall. Of course, Tyler Carroll anchors the band with his rhythm guitar and singing.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable CD and somewhat of a musicology lesson for those who have not been exposed to this music. I Googled Rosa Lee McFall to see what would turn up. Charlie Monroe finally showed up on the second page of search results, being preceded by The Grateful Dead, Billy Strings, and several others. If one did not know better, they might refer to Rosa Lee McFall as a Grateful Dead song. While I have enjoyed music from The Grateful Dead over many years, mistaking that would be tragic.

I particularly enjoyed Carroll's soft yodel on the Jimmie Rodgers song The Mystery of Number Five. I am glad Carroll included a Jimmie Rodgers tune, as when this country boy goes to town, he goes to Meridian, Mississippi, the birthplace of Rodgers.

Tyler Carroll can be found on Facebook. He'd be glad to send you a copy of Here We Go Again.

Mississippi Chris Sharp
4/29/22