by Joe Ross, 07/19/2004

One of the “new generation” of young hot bluegrass pickers and smooth singers, Josh Williams, from Kentucky, formed his first band in 1990 at age ten. He then received national recognition as a young bluegrass prodigy when he appeared in the 1993 IBMA Awards Show as part of a “youth in bluegrass” band. He recorded his first album in 1991, played with The Young Acoustic All-Stars (1994-98), Hyperdrive (1998), and The Special Consensus (since 2000). His stellar debut album called “Now That You’re Gone,” (Pinecastle PRC-1115) established Josh's name as a shining star on multiple instruments, as well as a great singing and songwriting talent. Josh primarily sticks to guitar and mandolin, but he also serves up some tasty mandola licks on “The Cave.” Besides lead vocals, he also sings some baritone and low tenor harmonies. If you don’t think this young man can pick with a vengeance, one need only listen to his jaw-dropping performance on his self-penned “Golden Pond Getaway.”

This is another first-rate production of contemporary bluegrass and includes some excellent accompaniment from Don Rigsby, J.D. Crowe, Missy Raines, Ron Stewart, Randy Kohrs, Kristin Scott Benson, Otis Dillon, Dwight McCall and Jared Ribble. This album also shines in its choice of material.
Besides a couple from Josh (“Down Another Lonesome Highway” and the instrumental “Golden Pond Getaway”), some of the other songs were penned by outstanding songwriters such as Tom T. and Dixie Hall, Jim Eanes, Becky Buller, and Ronnie Stewart. Williams is equally comfortable with older material (like “The Legend of the Johnson Boys” and “Don’t Stop Now”) as he is with newer offerings like “Ol’ Brown Suitcase” and “Sweet Forgiveness” and “Mordecai.” Songwriters Ron Spears and Charlie Edsall penned the album’s closer, “Cold Virginia Rain,” that is also getting some excellent airplay as a result of its inclusion on Prime Cuts of Bluegrass’ volume 69.

Fantastic bluegrass music albums like this one must have a number of things to succeed. Josh Williams is a singularly impressive talent, but he also runs with a crowd of superior instrumentalists who get plenty of room to strut their musicianship here. Good songs, arranged with consummate care, are another integral element for success. Young, creative, and talented, Josh Williams is a tremendous and virtuosic force in the bluegrass community. His broadly-appealing personalized sound shows that bluegrass music is in good hands and has a bright future. (Joe Ross)

http://www.bluegrassworks.com/review.php?reviewID=73

On first listen to the lead and baritone voice of this 23 year old bluegrass performer you may think of the likes of Ricky Skaggs. Josh Williams has a voice that is as well suited for Bluegrass as anyone. On Lonesome Highway, Josh Williams sounds more like a seasoned veteran than a relative newcomer to the scene. Bringing some of the older bluegrass standards to some new tracks, Josh Williams can handle the classics as well as pen some that could very well become standards in their own right.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear the amazing talent Josh Williams brings to the plate. The vocal ability is only the beginning, this talented young man is also just as well suited for the guitar or mandolin as he is the vocals. Bluegrass music is an art form of it's own, there are many times that I have in the past just been floored by the sheer talent the players have in the bluegrass scene. To be able to play bluegrass is not a feat that just anyone can accomplish, at least not to the point that Josh Williams has achieved.

In a time when bluegrass is finally achieving some more notice, thanks in part to Allison Kraus and Union Station, Ricky Skaggs, Mountain Heart and others that have brought the popularity back. The music has never gone anywhere, it just hasn't had the focus it once had from the general populous. Lonesome Highway is as good a bluegrass CD as you will find today, and it is a joy to listen to. If you like Bluegrass, Josh Williams is a name you won't soon be forgetting.

You can hear some standards here, "Killer On The Loose" written by Tom T. and Dixie Hall, and The Legend of the Dixie Boys" is a Flatt and Scruggs favorite. You also get some new treasures such as the Josh Williams originals like "Down Another Lonesome Highway" and the instrumental "Golden Pond Getaway". The best of the best, which are the true standouts? Well that's an easy one, no other track on this CD shows off the vocal talents of Josh Williams as the woeful "Cold Virginia Rain". A true bluegrass album from one of the new breed, highly recommended!

http://www.rikksrevues.com/josh_williams_lonesome_highway.htm