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Release Date: September 22, 2009 Label: Word Entertainment Related Sites: · Official Site Grade: B-

Long-time country band Diamond Rio release their first full length Christian record The Reason, and it's a mixed blessing.  On the one hand, mainstream country music has forever been sorely lacking in the scope of Contemporary Christian music (CCM), and that makes this a welcome addition. On the other hand, this batch of material is not really country, but more pop-oriented in the way Rascal Flatts has championed.

After a quarter century, Diamond Rio can still boast all original members in Marty Roe (lead vocals), Jimmy Olander (lead guitar), Gene Johnson (mandolin), Dan Truman (keyboards), Dana Williams (bass guitar), and Brian Prout (drums). They burst onto the scene in 1991 with "Meet in the Middle" and became the first country music group in history to reach Number One with a debut single. Through the years, they've charted over thirty songs, including four additional chart-toppers: "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" (1997), "One More Day" (2001), "Beautiful Mess" (2002), and "I Believe" (2003). 

In 2003 they recorded a new album, but when its first two singles failed to crack the Top 40, the entire project was shelved. That left the band in limbo until a second greatest hits package -- with seriously uninspired cover artwork -- appeared in 2006.  Greatest Hits II compiled minor hits left off of the first volume, new hits released in the interim, an inexplicable repeat of "Meet in the Middle," and a couple of new songs.  Both of these new additions had a decidedly spiritual dimension, and "God Only Cries" peaked at an unimpressive #30. They were dumped by their record company shortly thereafter.

An emergence with a Christian record label seemed a logical progression to their career, based on the steady increase in spiritual awareness in their songs. It's a cognizance that has always been there, from "Mama Don't Forget to Pray for Me" on their first album to the gospel standard "Walkin' in Jerusalem" on the Peace in the Valley: A Country Music Journey Through Gospel Music compilation, to "In God We Still Trust," the other new song added to Greatest Hits II (and repeated as the closing number on The Reason). Still, after your new material sucks (in terms of chart success) and you get dumped like a bad date, it feels like a rebounding "step down" to CCM. Maybe it's just a music business reality that CCM is a "lower-tier" market, but Christianity embraces the philosophy of "second chances" and Diamond Rio is getting its shot at redemption.

O Say Can You Sing: Diamond Rio performs an a capella National Anthem at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept 6th, 2009 for the Pep Boys Auto 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race.

I wish I could fully endorse their new offering, but musically it's a bit disappointing. As mentioned above, it's very much a pop record, with the neo-traditionalist country and bluegrass influences of their early music just a faint persuasion. The three-part harmonies of bass Roe, baritone Williams and tenor Johnson are as exquisite as ever, and that carries this material far.  If not for a tickle of mandolin, however, the music would be undistinguishable from faceless country pop, from generic soft rock CCM.

"God Is There" has been tapped as the first single. With a piano opening reminiscent of "You're Gone" the tune goes on to express the presence of God during troubled times ("He's reaching for you, right where you are/The God of the impossible is never very far"). The title track opens the disc with the reoccurring theme of turning from selfishness to embrace God's ways ("Now I understand, it's not about me") with a familiar combination of piano and mandolin.

This sentiment continues on "Into Your Hands," which features a genuine rock guitar solo: "I used to pray/But You know I never listened/Always expecting I'd get my way in the end/All of this time You were there patiently waiting/Loving me, faithfully/Laying Your grace over me/Lord, You're all I could possibly need/I know that you're living in me, setting me free." Spreading God's love "Wherever I Am" ("Wherever I go, I will love the least of these with all my heart") weaves seamlessly into the next song, "What Are We Gonna Do Now," a tune Williams wrote in the wake of his pastor’s death. This relatively up-tempo number transforms the double meaning of its title from a plea of grief to marching orders to carry his example forward.

Relationships in the here and now can provide "Moments Of Heaven On Earth" and "Just Love" is an important reminder that “big things can happen with a just little love." The latter unfortunately experiments with ill-advised nasal-vocal effects, apparently for the sole purpose that it is technically possible.

There are a few music highlights including "My God Does," arranged in minor key, with an organ backing which gives it an old-time country flavor, and "Reaching For Me" with its catchy chorus and call-back harmonies. "This Is My Life" gives a nod to the famous spiritual “I Surrender All” in its a capella bridge. This track also provides, arguably, the most poignant illustration of believer's trepidation ("This is my fear/When it's all over I won't leave a mark/When it's all over I didn't do my part to show Your love").

In the end, The Reason is a labor of tight musicianship, but doesn't have a stand-out track to really distinguish itself from the pack. It was written in collaboration with some of the Christian industry’s most recognizable songwriters including Matthew West (Rascal Flatts, Point of Grace), Bernie Herms (Casting Crowns) and Chris Eaton (Vince Gill, Margaret Becker). I wonder if this might have fostered Diamond Rio's seamless integration into CCM, when they might have left well enough alone to allow a mainstream country act to spice up an otherwise predictable genre.

I'm still a bit miffed at the band for a bad performance I attended at a local county fair shortly after "I Believe" topped the charts.  Roe had a sore throat, but took a whack at singing his way through the set anyway. His solo vocals were passable, but attempts at harmony were horrendous! Hopefully this is not a subconscious influence on my grade, but I thought I'd mention it in the interest of full disclosure. The Reason is being released in conjunction with autobiographical book Beautiful Mess: The Story of Diamond Rio.