John Cowan

1	Roll Away the Stone 5:34
2	All I Wanna Feel 4:31
3	Gotta Get Go 4:04
4	Nottin' But the Blues 3:51
5	Wichita Way 3:49
6	High Above the Power Lines 4:54
7	I Want You To 5:11
8	Mississippi Delta Tune 5:20
9	This River 3:55
10	My Heart Will Follow You 2:27
11	Dark as a Dungeon 6:01
12	Sligo 8:57
13	The Last Summer Rose 5:36

Barnes & Noble

In full flight, former New Grass Revival lead singer/bassist John Cowan is a force of nature, capable of capturing and changing your heart in the course of a single song. It's no fluke that his first solo album, ten years in the making, is a winner. Bluegrass purists take note, however: JOHN COWAN surveys a broad stylistic base, the better to give the artist's crisp, muscular tenor plenty of turf to roam. Cowan does remain true to the New Grass spirit by rarely settling for the safe, high commercial ground, even though the songs are radio-friendly to the nth degree. The meat of the album comes near the end. When Cowan digs deep into the swamp-country blues of "Mississippi Delta Time," echoes of John Fogerty abound. The contemplative "This River," the celebratory love song, "My Heart Will Follow You," and a stark, acoustic version of Merle Travis's chilling "Dark As a Dungeon" each crackle with warmth and energy. Once the fireworks that open the album fall away, Cowan, demonstrating jaw-dropping sensitivity, gets down to the serious business of exploring the nuances of intensely personal lyrics. Bluegrass fans or not, those who appreciate a gifted singer challenging himself and triumphing will find rewards aplenty in JOHN COWAN. David McGee

All Music Guide

Forget the New Grass Revival connections, the bluegrass and country hooks, and let go of expectations -- John Cowan opens this album up with a defiant roar of a tune driven by electronic drums and batteries of guitars, as well as bass tracks that will make some subwoofers quit under the strain. There are bluegrass and country elements to be had throughout, but Cowan isn't constrained by them -- or constricted by a need to overcome the connections. What has come out of this is a collection of songs steeped in Americana that leaves the listener's head spinning with the changes in direction. It's good work, but not so easy to get used to. David Alexander McDonald