Tomorrow worth catching

Dale Ann Bradley
Catch Tomorrow
Compass Records
Release date: Oct. 10

Dale Ann Bradley's "Catch Tomorrow" has all the ingredients for a solid bluegrass record: murder songs, Jesus songs, moonshining songs, car songs, love songs and heartbreak songs. And all of the album's 12 tracks are delivered with feisty instrumentals and Bradley's towering -- but never torchy -- voice.

If Bradley didn't already have enough street cred with her eastern Kentucky raising, her time in the New Coon Creek Girls, and her highly praised previous solo CDs, consider that on "Catch Tomorrow" she has a help from some pretty impressive friends. There's Alison Brown as producer (and record label founder), Jim Lauderdale, Tim O'Brien, Larry Sparks, Jeff White and Marty Raybon, to rattle off a few.

But of course it ain't who you know, but what you do, that's important, right? And Bradley's no slouch there, either. Perhaps her greatest achievement here (and throughout her career) is the ability to tell a story. I don't mean metaphorically -- "Catch Tomorrow" is chock full of great story songs, most of them written or co-written by Bradley herself. The stories are simple, but well-told, and dramatic without veering into cheese-land. Backed with some fiery bluegrass licks from the band, the stories come to toe-tapping, head-bobbing life.

Highlights on "Catch Tomorrow" include a fantastic cover of Loretta Lynn's country weeper "Holding On to Nothing," here as a duet with Bradley and Marty Raybon (formerly of Shenandoah). Also strong is a super pretty duet with Larry Sparks on the traditional "Pass Me Not."

And while we're on the subject of covers, I cringed when I saw the final track: "Me and Bobby McGee." I fully expected to hate it (especially since I'd been to karaoke -- remember, I live in Japan -- the weekend before and heard multiple cringe-worthy renditions of the song), but was pleasantly surprised! Bradley is wise enough not to try to be Janis Joplin, and bless her for it. She sings it rather sweetly, with upbeat, easy bluegrass backing, and it works. Can't say the same, unfortunately, for the rather lackluster, timid treatment of Billy Joe Shaver's "Live Forever."

But despite a few bumps in the road, "Catch Tomorrow" delivers some good ol' fashioned bluegrass, fully exploring the range of that category with some tracks that are country-tinged, some blues-flavored, even one dabbling in Celtic. There's no new ground broken here, but with a distinctive voice like Bradley's at the helm of such an energetic band, you're not likely to get bored.