CD Reviews: This Is Our America, Donna Ulisse and Telluride

This Is My AmericaHutton Music – A Division of Tennessee Entertainment Corporation   Where else can you find 56 award-winning songwriters and artists in one set? This is a unique collection of stories and songs telling the story of the United States of America. The set includes three red, white and blue CD’s in a beautiful box that appears leather bound, accompanied by a booklet listing all the participants in this amazing project, and includes a replica of The Declaration of Independence.  Teachers, students and anyone with patriotic blood running through their veins will want all of their history lessons put to music after listening to this tribute to our history. The production on this project is as strong as the foundation the USA was built upon, bringing together the diverse talents of so many writers, artists, musicians and a united team of believers. The stories are written for listeners of all ages and narrated by the recognizable voices of David Ford, Kathy Mattea, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Wood Newton, Nan Gurley and Dolly Parton. Each song on this project showcases the credible talent of the songwriters as over 500 years of American History are told. A few names included on the songwriting credits include Charlie Black, Rory Bourke, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Roxie Dean, Steve Dean, Matt King, J Fred Knobloch, Wood Newton, Tim Ryan, Bill Shore, Sharon Vaughn, Jon Vezner, Jim Weatherly, Brian White, Lynn Wilbanks and David Wills. This is by far one of the most extraordinary projects done in Nashville, bringing together some of the finest names in the music community: Kathy Mattea, Charley Pride, Tim Ryan, Ashley Monroe, Matt King, Jenny Gill, Billy Burnette, Dolly Parton, Mark O’Connor, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Billy Dean. An added bonus is the union of the gift of the incredible music, lyrics and narration of many genres of our music community blessed with rich sounds of the Fisk Jubilee Singers and the Nashville Symphony. Truly, this project will stand on it’s own as a reflection of what America represents and the strong ties that bind our music community.For more information, visit: www.ThisIsMyAmerica.com                                                         TellurideFour Square MilesAmerican Roots Records  Absolutely a keeper. Telluride consists of five of the most talented young artists I have heard in a long time. As soon as I put this in the CD player they had me from the first song. The entire project is great, and I have a hard time picking out only one or two songs which are favorites, but I will try. “Pencil Marks” made me smile as I listened to the lyrics, which for the record, every track has amazing lyrics. This particular song reminds me of the back side of my own mother's closet door where she has to this day the markings where she would line us girls up every year on the first day of school and show how tall we were.  “Riverbank” has you singing along and playing drums on the dashboard. “Temptation” is another you cannot help yourself as you sing along with. Coming from the Midwest, I definitely can relate to “Pickstown,” and I even know where in South Dakota it is. Of course the song the CD is named after, “Four Square Miles,” is strong and takes the listener on a journey. This is a group to watch. Mark my words, you will be hearing them a lot! Country Music has a new No. 1 group hitting the airwaves!  1.    Phone Song2.    Kansas City Green3.    Stay4.    Four Square Miles5.    Pencil Marks6.    Good Love7.    Temptation8.    Without Saying9.    Cheatin’ Jesus10.  Riverbank11.  Pickstown12.  Hope Happens Here (Bonus Track)  For more information on Telluride you can find them at www.tellurideband.com and www.myspace.com/telluridefans.    Donna UlisseWalk This Mountain DownHadley Music Group   Donna Ulisse is a singer, songwriter and a Bluegrass poet who has been singing since she was three years old. Walk This Mountain Down is a self-penned musical compilation by Ulisse, and co-written by some well known music industry icons. Ulisse wrote this as a follow-up to her 2007 CD release titled When I Look Back. Walk This Mountain Down is produced by Keith Sewell and consists of 13 Bluegrass songs which illustrate both Ulisse’s talent as a singer combined with vocal’s that are both beautiful and strong and a songwriting flair above the rest.  If you enjoy the sound of Bluegrass, then you love it after listening to this CD. Ulisse has a warm rich voice that is meant to sing this genre of music. Combine that with the remarkable musicianship of Nashville’s finest and you have a collection of songs you will want to listen to again and again.   1.   In My Wildest Dreams2.   Poor Mountain Boy3.   Dust To Dust4.   Love’s Crazy Train5.   Walk This Mountain Down6.   The Trouble With You7.   Child Of The Great Depression8.   The Key9.   Lovin’ Every Minute10. I Lied11. These Troubles12. Everything Has Changed13. Levi Stone  For additional information on Donna Ulisse, check out www.donnaulisse.com or www.myspace.com/donnastanleyulisse.