Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives “The Gospel Music of Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives” Album Review

Prime Cuts: 99-1/2 Won't Do, The Master is Waiting, There's a Rainbow at the End of Every Storm

Marty Stuart is a seasoned maverick who can never be bounded by conventions.  Even when he was charting on the upper echelon of the country charts in the 90s with hits such as "This One's Gonna Hurt You" (with Travis Tritt), "Tempted" and "Little Things," he has already been showing his rebellious edge against the Nashville establishments.  Never one to sell his soul to the commercial wheels that grind out conveyor belt hits, Stuart has always stay true to his calling in churning up his brand of neo-hillbilly, rock, bluegrass and country.  In fact, at the height of his career, he defied commercial conventions by recording "The Pilgrim," a concept album that functions like a countrified opera.  Now, without the restricting eye of a major label, Stuart has taken another detour in releasing his second Gospel album.  Released under the aegis of the Gaither Vocal series, "The Gospel Music of Marty Stuart and His Superlatives" (GMMSS) features Stuart re-visiting a couple of his oldies, some Southern Gospel standards and his own compositions. 

GMMSS is the follow-up to Marty Stuart's 2005 Gospel debut "Soul's Chapel," an album that garnered a Dove Award for Best Country Album.  GMMSS borrows 2 songs from its predecessor: "There's a Rainbow at the End of Every Storm" and "The Unseen Hand."   However, there are also two significant points of departure:  first, GMMSS is a live recording.  Second, most of the songs on GMMSS are under 4 minutes with 3 songs even clocking under the 2 minute marker.  Stuart is wise enough to know that unless you can say something within the shortest capsule of time, then it is not worth mentioning.  Packing the message from Luke 15 of how the Lord will not abandon a single lost soul into just 2:12 minutes,"99-1/2 Won't Do" is an efficient spunky country burner with no wasted words or notes.   

No Marty Stuart album can ever be complete without the virtuoso display of the Fabulous Superlatives (Harry Stinson, Brian Glenn and Kenny Vaughan).  The guitar has never sounded more eloquent than on "Just a Little Talk with Jesus," adding its own voice to Stuart's thoughtful delivery, this hymn urges us to converse with Jesus about our daily trials.   Harry Stinson, who has been an ace session player for years, takes the lead on the gorgeous ballad "The Master is Waiting."  While Kenny Vaughan jams with Stuart on the bluesy "Don't Leave Home without Jesus" that calls to mind the similarly worded advertising aphorism by Visa.  With the popularity of Russell Crowe's recent movie "Noah" now gaining lots of seats at the big screens, "There's a Rainbow at the End of Every Storm" reminds us of the Noahic narratives where God's promised of the rainbow seals His blessings.    

Country crooner Connie Smith (also Stuart's wife) sounds more and more like Tammy Wynette with the same grainy vocal shades on the traditional country sounding "Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill."  While "Pray that Power Down" is a stripped down acoustic affair that bristles with unction.  Clocking in at just over 31 minutes, GMMSS is tight little album.  But don't let its length belie you from its message.  It is jammed pack with full of Gospel tunes without much detours to subjects of secondary importance.  With this album so good, one won't even be surprised if there's another Dove Award coming its way.

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