Tim Grimm Back Fields CD

There are those who think Tim Grimm is a remarkable American roots artist. And when he's good, he's very good indeed. A few tracks on The Back Fields, such as "Sometimes Trouble Is a Gift" and the title cut, reach that high standard. In them you can hear echoes of Springsteen's acoustic work, with a stark power and sympathetic observation. At other times, however, you feel Grimm is almost there, but gave up before the final few edits, settling for something that's a bit less. That's nowhere more apparent than on "Celia Rose," which has all the makings of a wonderful folk song, but lets itself down by being too loose in the melody and too complacent in the words -- much, sadly, is also true of "Rescue the Ghosts." Not that this is a bad or even average album. Grimm can write a very good song (when he steers away from emotional clichés like "The People's Highway" or "Everybody's Gone Crazy"), and his deep, weary voice can project a lyric well. With some sympathetic musicians he has good arrangements to frame his performances. But ultimately, it seems impossible not to reflect on what this album might have been if he'd pushed himself harder. ~ Chris Nickson

The "Back Fields" are in fact, the fields and woods right outside my back door. Matters of the heart, stories of fascinating characters that have crossed my path, and the deep questions about the state of today's world have all come to me as I walk those fields. A Folk-Americana recording that ranges from the very spare to blues and bluegrass and beyond. With special guests, THE KOSSOY SISTERS, SPECIAL CONSENSUS, JASON WILBER (of the John Prine Band), Indiana's fine bluesman- Gordon Bonham, and many others. #1 Album on Folk Radio Nov. '05 & Jan. '06 #1 Song on Folk Radio ("The People's Highway") Nov. '05Named "BEST AMERICANA ALBUM" in the 2006 Just Plain Folks Music Awards (Los Angeles, 11-06).www.jpfolks.org

Recording information: Airtime Studio, Bloomington, IN; Soundesign Recording, Brottleboro, VT; Woodside Avenue Studio, Evanston, IL.

Personnel: Tim Grimm (vocals, guitar); Tim Grimm (guitars); Roger Banister (vocals, mandolin); Krista Detor (vocals, organ, field organ); Dave Weber, Jan Lucas (vocals); Justin Carbone (guitar); Gordon Bonham (electric guitar, steel guitar); Chris Walz (banjo, mandolin); Greg Cahill (banjo); Ron Spears (mandolin); Gordon Lowry & Orchestra Harrell (fiddle); Dave Wierhake (harmonica); Jamey Reid (drums, percussion); Jason Wilber (vocals, electric guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, piano).

Audio Mixer: Dave Weber.

Dirty Linen (p.62) - "'My Turn' is one of the most eloquent songs about war to have been written in years.....THE BACK FIELDS is another winner from an artist who never fails to deliver."