Reviewed by Ewan Jones

A 2006 album from a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who has gained considerable critical acclaim. Despite Dave being a man of faith, and having Amy Grant guesting on this project, it's taken a while for the Christian community to catch up on this major talent. But now that it has there will no doubt be more than a few fans investigating the songsmith's back catalogue. 'Chasing Mississippi' laces lilting Americana with heavy doses of old school rhythm and blues ("All That Noise"), white boy funk ("A Lot Like Me", "Someday, Sarah"), and even a touch of reggae ("Miles to Go"). The upbeat tunes are infused with the kind of solid groove that forces the head to nod, and the memorable choruses do their job more than adequately. The slower numbers like ballad "More Than A Man" have a Bebo Norman-esque feel, all raspy throat and troubadour heart-spillage, and they balance well with the energy to be found in the upright bass of "Greyhound" and the Latin-tinged funk of "Everybody But You". The album ends with his wedding song, "I Have and Always Will", a duet with Amy Grant; Grant's husband Vince Gill also appears on the album, highlighting the high-profile attention that Barnes received off the back of his first album. All in all, Mr Barnes is a big talent many will want to investigate.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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