Completely (CD - 2002)

Diamond Rio: Jimmy Glander (vocals, acoustic, electric, 12-string & danelectro guitars, banjo, dobro); Marty Roe (vocals); Gene Johnson (mandolin, background vocals); Dan Truman (piano, Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-03 organ, keyboards); Dana Williams (bass, background vocals); Brian Prout (drums).

Recorded at Cartee Day Entertainment, Emerald Sound Studios and Ocean Way, Nashville, Tennessee.

"I Believe" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

Personnel: Marty Roe (vocals); Jimmy Olander (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, dobro, banjo, vibraphone, sampler); Gene Johnson (mandolin); Nashville String Machine (strings); Dan Truman (piano, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards); Brian Prout (drums).

Audio Mixer: Mike Clute.

Recording information: Carter Day Entertainment; Clute's Place; Emerald Sound Studios; Ocean Way Nashville.

Photographers: Russ Harrington; Beth Lee.

The material on Completely by Diamond Rio has two powerful qualities behind it: individuality and positive outlook. With artists as well anchored in the business as Diamond Rio, the musical quality is a given. The real challenge is outdoing yourself and coming up with fresh concepts. The selections on this album seem to be the fruition of that search for musical renewal with unique cuts such as "Wrinkles," co-written by Ronny Scaife and Neil Thrasher. The age-conscious will find this song especially appealing with its fun, hopeful message. Even the pain of "I Believe" is alleviated with spiritual guidance, while "You'll Find Me" reunites a husband and wife on the verge of good-bye. On the instrumental side, Diamond Rio offers "Rural Philharmonic," a fast-paced composition by group member Jimmy Olander. If that Diamond Rio harmony is what you're after, it's here too and is especially powerful on the oxymoronic "Beautiful Mess," though it overpowers some of the lyrics in "The Box." On the whole, Completely marks another musical revival for Diamond Rio. ~ Rick Cohoon

Diamond Rio aren't the kind to flaunt their spurs and cowboy hats to prove to you just how "country" they are. They don't pass themselves off as neo-traditionalists a la Randy Travis, but they're not as overtly pop as the likes of, for instance, Blackhawk either. Sure, there are plenty of mainstream-pop hooks and choruses dripping from most every crevice of COMPLETELY, but it's the little production touches that let you know these boys have country roots. It's those moments when the banjo pickin' peeks through the impossibly perfect, uber-Bee Gees vocal harmonies on "Big Ol' Fire," or when that just-twangy-enough guitar rides out over the strings-and-piano production of the is-that-Dennis-DeYoung? pop ballad "I Believe." This kind of mix-and-match comes to a rather humorous head on the light-hearted "Rural Symphonic," which mates pure country instrumental motifs with orchestral swells to grin-inducing effect, showing that DR maintains that all-important sense of humor throughout everything. minimize