TIm Surrett

Tim Surrett
Paradigm Records

Tim Surrett’s second solo project (his first was 1999’s “Mountain Home”) finds him sliding between styles on tracks, from bluesy to bluegrass to traditional southern gospel. His credentials are solid in those areas — he’s had two stints with The Kingsmen and was in The Isaacs for seven years. A health problem forced him to leave the strenuous touring life of The Kingsmen for a more manageable solo career as a singer/preacher, and I’d have to say that, for the industry of southern gospel, that was probably a good thing.

Surrett’s an effective singer and performer on his self-titled project, particularly on the blues and bluegrass cuts. The album kicks off with a wonderful take on the old blues song “Nobody’s Fault but Mine,” with a great backing vocal by Lauren Talley, who sounds typically older than her years.
Surrett’s signature song, “Wish You Were Here,” is given a straightforward arrangement, followed by the bluegrass of “See What the Lord Has Done.”

The rest of the project continues in that vein, with standouts being “Headin’ Home,” with Surrett’s former Kingsmen providing backing vocals; “Try a Little Kindness;” and “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.” The project finishes with the a cappella “You Never Mentioned Him to Me.”

Although a very strong project, I wish Surrett would have used more blues/bluegrass arrangements.
I thought “Tim Surrett” succeeded the most when focusing on those genres and less so when using the more produced southern-gospel sounds. All in all, though, this is a highly enjoyable album.