Out of Lebanon, OH, country veteran Richard Lynch knows that life has become more complex, but he’s more than up to the task of making sense out of a crazy world and hopefully bring a little peace and understanding to it. Combining the presence of an everyman and the larger than life vibes of a country superstar, Lynch is a true humanist at heart, as evident by his co-founding of the Love Tattoo Foundation, which helps veterans programs.
URL: https://www.richardlynchband.com/
He’s wearing his heart on his sleeve and with his methodic, fun, playful music he’s inviting anyone who’s willing to take a look. Across 12 stunning tracks, Lynch covers the everyday struggles like losing your way as heard in the opener “Starting Now” but offers everyone the chance to grow and change as he sings about his encounter with a man who’s since turned his life to the lord after wasting so much time aloft in vices. Lynch never takes a judgmental stance on anyone or their life choices, turning things into a chance to celebrate finding peace by whatever the means, even in the song “He’ll Make Everything Alright” which also has some strict religious overtones, but proudly declares that no matter what we face in this crazy world, we’ll face it together, and we’re better off doing so with love and admiration for one another.
Lynch loves the past and the feelings it can conjure and he’s not afraid to get deeply vulnerable. With “Cathead Biscuits” he sings about the loving tastes and feelings of togetherness that came with his Momma’s home cooking and while that song never takes itself seriously, it begins to take a different light when later down the album you hear “Wait for Me,” a tender goodbye to his Mom. Lynch is clearly a romantic too as evident for his love for his friend, the late Doug Supernaw, who because of a Facebook conversation, this album is dedicated to the memory of, but even on the track “My Heart and Yours,” Lynch shares this duet with Katelyne Adams, Lynch and Adam’s chemistry is incredible as the two share in the collective joy in finding someone who they can hope will love and understand them, the key word being “hope” as both parties are willing to be vulnerable and voice their insecurities and doubts that come with the formation of a new relationship. It would do this album a disservice to say it’s only covering the standard “country music topics.”
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Even then, Lynch takes his trademark humor and wit towards the mindset with the standout “Hurting Cheatin Lyin Country Song” which sees him poke fun as those who think that, but also at the music itself before conceding that everything has a place for somebody and sometimes, songs like that are cathartic releases for plenty who’re going through a hard time, like so many of us. The album ends with “You Cant Do This No More” which is a little bit of a redundant track as it echoes sentiments already heard in the opener, but it does serve as a good reinforcing bookend to an incredible strong album,
Jodi Marxbury