The Storm Still Rages

by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.After spending several years languishing in Nashville, Rhonda Vincent made an unusual career move: she returned to bluegrass and recorded Back Home Again for Rounder in 2000. Garnering positive responses from critics and fans, Vincent knew she had made the right move. A cross between traditional and contemporary bluegrass, The Storm Still Rages features superb accompaniment and a handful of well-chosen songs. Vincent has also penned or co-penned several of the songs, including the opening cut, "Cry of the Whippoorwill." Her expressive vocal on the heartbreaker "Don't Lie" is lovingly underlined by Stuart Duncan's fiddle and Bryan Sutton's mandolin. Bassist Darrin Vincent, Rhonda's brother, adds harmony on a number of cuts, perfectly bringing each chorus into focus. There's a nice version of "I'm Not Over You," the song that inspired the album's title, with guest Rob Ickes on the Resophonic guitar, and a bluesy take on Hank Williams' "My Sweet Love Ain't Around." Although the arrangements vary quite a bit from song to song, banjoist Tom Adams and guitarist Sutton provide a steady base to work from. Complaints? Only that certain old-hoary classics like "Drivin' Nails in My Coffin" clash with Vincent's attractive vocals. It may be difficult for the listener to believe that this pretty voice is halfway to the grave from drinking rotgut. This aside, The Storm Still Rages should allow Vincent to take her place beside contemporary bluegrass alumni like Alison Krauss and Laurie Lewis.