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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Surrender Hill

River of Tears

Review by Gary Hill

I previously reviewed another set from this act. Like that one, this one alternates lead vocal duties from song to song with the male ones going first (Robin Salmon) and the female (Afton Salmon) first showing up on track two. This is very much a country based release, as the previous one was. I would say that this one does a better job of not overstaying its welcome than that one did. All in all, if you like country music, you should give this a try. It’s definitely strong.


This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2026  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2026.
Track by Track Review
River Of Tears

Mellow country and folk music merge on this number. It’s a classic sound piece of music. It’s quite an effective tune.

Holding Me

This is a little more powered up. It has a lot of country pop in the mix.

Rent Is Due

Meaty electric guitar get this underway. The tune has plenty of country music at its care.

Get Out Of Your Own Way

Blues and country music seem to merge here. This has some of the most dramatic and magical music of the whole album. While this has more electrified moments, a lot of this plays as a ballad.

In Our Time

This number is a duet, breaking from the alternating male and female vocals we’ve heard throughout. It’s an effective tune that’s actually one of the highlights here.

Last Goodbye

Hard bluesy rock is really the main vibe here. It still has some hints of country, though. We’re back in the alternating pattern with the male vocals taking the lead here.

Great Divide

More purely country, this is a mellow ballad.

Palomino

A bit on the bluesy side, the electric guitar is a feature of this track. It has plenty of country in place, too, though. I really dig the guitar soloing on this thing.

Unconditional Life

More of a balladic tune, although it probably lands closer to power ballad, this has a lot of pop music in the mix. That said, it’s still very country based.

That Kind Of Living

This slow moving country tune is closer to a ballad, but the lead vocal is male. The guitar fills on this have such classic country sound built into them.

Cry Baby

While the female vocals carry most of this, there is a spoken male section. This is more of a rocking tune.

Pining Over You

More of a balladic country tune, this is classy stuff.

Black Birds Are Black

More driving country with some rock is on the menu.

End Of The Line

This seriously country based romp breaks the pattern as it is the second tune in a row featuring male lead vocals. The non-lyrical section at the end of the track sounds really familiar.

You Can Always Call

More of a ballad, this cut feature female lead vocals.

Angel, The Devil, And Me

Slow moving, but more powered up country music is in place here. This drives out to more rocking territory later, and the female vocals are more prominent on that section. There is a real soulful, blues sound built into that section.

 
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