This article originally appeared on JustPressPlay on June 20, 2007

Todd Mack - Yonder The Big Blue Holler Review

Ranging from emotive and romantic to freewheeling rock ‘n' roll mixed with country and bluegrass, Todd Mack's Yonder The Big Blue Holler is a dynamic album brimming with energy and enthusiasm.

Todd Mack, with his Hell-bent guitar riffs and pure momentum, has a similar charm to Kings of Leon. He's serious about his music, but never too serious for a little self-deprecating fun. And when Todd Mack rocks you know you're up for an amazing time.

Raggedy in the best way possible, Yonder The Big Blue Holler leads you through a menagerie of songs about love, love lost, drunkenness, and sin. Todd Mack can be light and jazzy, but he also reveals a darker side in tracks like "Circumstance."

"Circumstance" showcases Todd Mack's vocal capability to move into deep groan. Hard and grumbling, the track features the type of howling guitar solo reminiscent of classic rock.

"The Best Girl I Never Had" is a heartbroken ballad about a woman Mack has admired all his life. Mack gurgles over the girl who ruined his life over a slow fiddle, mandolin, piano, organ, drums, bass, and guitar. Despite all the instrumental elements in this track, everything weaves together in tight unison./p>

Todd Mack mixes things up on the album with the instrumental "How High the Corn." As a slower track, he adds unusual and atypical instruments that sound subtly Celtic together. The acoustic guitar, fretless bass, dobro, and pennywhistle all unite for a relaxing break before Todd Mack jumps in again with his next track.

"Take You Home" follows "How High the Corn" and turns out to be one of the catchiest tracks on Yonder The Big Blue Holler. Beginning with a banjo melody you might hear on the back porch, Todd Mack breaks into smooth poetic lyrics. "The river flows and the cool breeze blows as she looks into his eyes," he sings. "She never knows where the feeling goes or why it never dies." From there the track continues with its charming appeal and only grows with every listen.

As a songwriter, Todd Mack has legitimate talent. With the exception of a cover of the Traveling Wilbury's "Poor House" and "Five Nights Drunk" by Traditional, Todd Mack is responsible for writing Yonder The Big Blue Holler in its entirety. His lyrics reflect a knack for flow, alliteration, and masculine rhyme that always feels easy and natural.

If the raw boisterous rock of Kings of Leon appeals to you, there's a jewel in New England that's going to tear the place up with or without you on the bandwagon.

"Yonder The Big Blue Holler" is on sale December 31, 1969 from Off The Beat-n-Track.