Indiana guitarist/songwriter Rand Reynolds has created a touching serious substantial work with his first cd called Modern Hillbilly, revealing a man who's lived a lot in his time. He pounds out original tunes on an old Martin guitar and makes it ring -- Big Time. Rooted in traditional country and bluegrass, he's managed to make acoustic music sound electric. It's power acoustic, raw and edgy. Reynolds relies on guitar-heavy hardcore progressive country roots to charge his gritty contemporary themes with a respectful sense of tradition. Lost love, obsession, jealousy, doubt ... it's all here in Modern Hillbilly. It's enough to make a Grand Ole Opry fan buy another ticket and stay for the second show. Reynolds is leading the pack of recent neo-traditionalists who have found their audience on the Internet by recording in their garages, basements and toolsheds on pc's and digital recorders. Plain and simple: This cd is just real good music, for real good people. If Hank woulda had a chance, he woulda done it this a-way.