On My Way to You

Album Review

The opening cut of On My Way to You, "Stark Ravin Crazy in Love," is an upbeat country stomper, that — despite having been released on an independent label — sounds a lot like mainstream country. The second cut, "Moonshine Mama," tells the story of a woman who, as can only happen in country music, is actually named Moonshine Mama and who actually makes moonshine. Dobro gives "Moonshine Mama" a rootsy kick-off before heavy guitar and percussion ratchet up the volume level. While the lyrics of both songs may be too cute for their own good, Daniel Lee Martin delivers them well. He even knows how to deliver slower ballads like "You Know Me," and mid-tempo fare like "Roll on By." Overall, the production is very even-handed, and the overall sound, country with a big dose of rock guitar, would work well on CMT and popular country radio. Martin even takes a trip back to the '70s, offering a restrained version of John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Roads." In fact, it's one of the more reserved tracks on the album. There is also a less successful version of "Keep Your Hands to Yourself," which basically sounds thrown together. Overall, though, On My Way to You successfully co-opts a solid mainstream country sound. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide