By: Kevan Breitinger

Not many bands can boast of staying power like that of the Bellamy Brothers: thirty years in the industry and forty-nine albums, including compilations. One of county music’s most successful duos, Howard and David Bellamy take on a new project: an album expressing their faith, and this is right upfront in-your-face faith, no backing down. The thirteen tracks cover a diverse blend of country styles, most of it with  something of an ‘80s pop bent that does date them to a degree, but not unpleasantly. David Bellamy penned nine tracks, Howard one, and Albert Brumley’s classic “I’ll Fly Away” is covered, as is their classic hit “Let Your Love Flow.” They could have easily gotten away with a hymns album, but they chose to go in a more autobiographical direction, one sure to please country fans.

The Bellamy Brothers are known for their tongue in cheek approach, and they don’t disappoint here. Upbeat opener “Drug Problem” tells the bouncy tale of a youth infested with drug issues: “being drugged to church” and “being drugged to the woodshed.” The clever lyrics shine through Paul Franklin’s shimmering steel guitar work, stellar throughout. The piano-driven “Wings of the Wind” is less classic country, more pop-flavored, a la Alabama, with a nice southern backbeat. The musicianship sparkles on the wry “Lord Help Me Be the Kind of Man My Dog Thinks I Am,” the title lifted from a bumper sticker. The track is campy but beautifully arranged, Randy Hiebert shining on acoustic guitar.

Things get quite personal on the autobiographical standout “Grandma’s God.” Tracking the brothers’ spiritual journey and honoring the influence of their grandmother, the songs features several ‘60s sonic nuances and rock-edged guitars. Howard Bellamy’s song is the old school country “Faith Came Back to Me,” accented by a weepy fiddle, and more strings are highlighted on the beautifully-mixed “Spiritually Bankrupt.” Featuring  the sizzling harmonica of Wally Dentz, “I Ain’t Goin’ to Hell” is straight-up upbeat southern gospel, as is “You’re the World,” featuring sons Jesse and Noah.

An earlier hit for the Bellamy Brothers, “Old Hippie 111” is an update, taking them from the bong to the grandkids.  I enjoyed the slow burning chord movements on “Beautiful Night” and the nuances of the country reggae classic “Let Your Love Flow.” The title track will be the album’s lightning rod track. Provocative and poignant, heavy on the steel guitar and truth, the ballad is going to stir up some chatter with its lyrics: “But something’s gone wrong/the world’s in a mess/Jesus is coming/and boy, is He pissed.” The song considers Christ’s anger at the money-changers in the temple, and predicts an even stronger reaction to come.

Personally, I’m not really a country fan, but even I can appreciate the duo’s attempt to wrestle some of the Christian culture’s most obvious hypocrisies.  The Bellamy Brothers are wading into some deep water with “Jesus is Coming”; it’ll be interesting to see how they fare.