BLUEGRASS UNLIMITED MAGAZINEJune 2009
"BRIGHT LIGHTS AND AVENUES" OLIVIA SMILEY & MAIN STREET
Olivia Smiley is a young, Indiana fiddler/singer/songwriter with confidence and a wealth of talent. This is her second recording and is backed by her band, Main Street, that includes guitarist/vocalist Jeff Guernsey, banjoist Klint Brown, and bassist Koliin Brown. Michael Cleveland guests throughout on mandolin.
The project opens with two covers and closes with two covers. Of those four songs, the standard "We'll Meet Again Sweetheart" and the cover of Osborne and Pete Goble's "Windy City" deserve mention. Of particular note is the arrangement of "We'll Meet Again....," on which Smiley and Guernsey trade the lead vocals. It makes for a nice twist and is underscored by a chugging rhythmic snap.
The true heart and interest, however, lies in the eight original songs and two instrumentals contributed by Smiley herself---specifically, four of them. The first is the slow, threequarter-time "Love Left For You," which expertly blends a gospel-style melody and a marching rhythm in the vocals. It is the album's highlight. Then comes the wonderful imagery of "Seems Like Yesterday," in which a house once wellkept declines as a father, now alone, does the same. The next is "I'll Be Home," a song that recalls the work of Claire Lynch in its use of direct lyrics a a great melodic hook; the extended solos are also welldone all around. The last of the quartet is the country-swing instrumental, "Bitter Creek," which features Smiley's liquid and bluesy fiddling from start to finish over a snappy, closedchord rhythm.
You could stop there and claim success, but the two aforementioned covers, a couple of lesserbutgood originals, and some tight instrumental support throughout make it all the more so.
by Bill Wagner, Reprinted by permission Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, www.bluegrassmusic.com 1-800-blu-gras. Copyright June 2009. All rights reserved.
BLUEGRASS JOURNAL
February 26, 2009
"BRIGHT LIGHTS AND AVENUES"
OLIVIA SMILEY & MAIN STREET
Olivia Smiley has already proven herself as a fiddler, compiling more trophies from fiddle contests than you can shake a well-rosined bow at. Now, she's on the path of proving herself as a bona fide bluegrass artist with her second CD, Bright Lights and Avenues, recorded with her backup band, Main Street.
Then, there's guest artist Michael Cleveland, appearing on every track. Yes, that's the same Michael Cleveland who can dazzle the finest fiddlers with his own bow work. But Cleveland repeats the same contribution he made to Smiley's first self-titled CD- adding mandolin tracks. On this particular CD, Cleveland also shared the mix-down chores with Smiley.
On Bright Lights and Avenues, Smiley shows her deft skills with the bow, her voice and her songwriting abilities, having penned 9 of the CD's generous 14 tunes. She also dredges up a couple of gems from the deep vault, the Wilburn Brothers' "Arkansas" and the great Flatt and Scruggs classic, "We'll Meet Again Sweetheart."
Smiley's fine backup band includes guitarist Jeff Guernsey, who steps up and renders a fine lead vocal on several tracks, banjo player Klint Brown and bass player Kolin Brown.
On Smiley's Web site is a list of upcoming tour dates. It's not a long list, but I'd bet it grows. Watch for her to come to your favorite festival - and in the interim, pick up Bright Lights and Avenues for a very listenable preview. by Dan Tackett
Dave Higgs Nashville Public Radio
BLUEGRASS BREAKDOWN
It's great to hear from you again and to see that you've raised the high lonesome bar even higher. What a spectacular sophomore release. There's not even a hint of the dreaded sophomore slump here--not with your gorgeous voice, killer originals, tough-edged arrangements and your high production ethic. These songs just crackle and sizzle with some real energy and life. I especially enjoyed "We'll Meet Again Sweetheart" (what a great idea to do this as a duet), "Arkansas," "I Hope We Always Dance This Way" (what a beautiful instrumental), "Seems Like Yesterday," (some truly stellar singing) and "A Prisoner's Tale" (every bluegrass album needs a song like this--and a singer/guitarist like Jeff Guernsey). I was pretty sure you were destined for greatness the time I did the Bluegrass Now piece. Now I'm sure of it!
Olivia Smiley & Main Street
Olivia Smiley – fiddle & vocals
Jeff Guernsey – guitar & vocals
Klint Brown – banjo & harmony vocals
Kolin Brown – bass
with special guest
Michael Cleveland – mandolin & harmony vocal
Upcoming bluegrass artist Olivia Smiley has already obtained the titles of Kentucky & Ohio State Fiddle Champion & Governor's Cup Winner twice each. In addition, she was also the Indiana State Champion & Governor's Cup winner, three-time winner of the Indiana State Fair, and was runner-up at the prestigious Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, two times. Most recently, Olivia was a top-ten finalist in the Grand Masters Fiddle Championship held in conjunction with IBMA's World of Bluegrass for the second consecutive year. A classically trained musician, Olivia fell in love with bluegrass music at the age of 14 and released her first solo album in 2005.
Jeff Guernsey is at home on any instrument but adds his impeccable guitar playing and vocals to this mix. After competing and winning his way through fiddle championships throughout the United States, he went on the road playing fiddle for Steve Wariner and Vince Gill for many years. Jeff is on Vince Gill's album High Lonesome Sound, Michael Cleveland's award-winning Let 'er Go Boys! and Sawing on the C String among many others. Olivia's greatest musical influence and the producer of her 2005 CD, Jeff is well-respected among all musicians.
Multi-instrumentalists Klint Brown and Kolin Brown have been playing bluegrass music for most of their lives, and it shows. Having played with many bluegrass bands in and around Indiana, including Troubled Waters, they are well-respected musicians. Klint’s tasteful fills and driving rolls on the banjo, and Kolin’s great rhythm on the bass are on this CD. Their versatility make them a great addition to any band.
Special guest, Michael Cleveland, is a six-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Fiddle Player of the Year award. Mike has also won Instrumental Album of the Year awards and Instrumental Band of the Year awards. On this recording, Mike lends his mandolin talents, which are not in short supply.
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