The Promised Land

1	I'm Bound for the Land of Canaan / The Del McCoury Band 2:39
2	I'm Poor as a Beggar / The Del McCoury Band 2:58
3	It's Surprising What the Lord Can Do / The Del McCoury Band 2:54
4	Jesus Carried Me a Cross / The Del McCoury Band 3:07
5	Five Flat Rocks / The Del McCoury Band 3:00
6	I'll Put on a Crown and Walk Around / The Del McCoury Band 3:12
7	Don't Put off Until Tomorrow / The Del McCoury Band 2:51
8	Led by the Master's Hand / The Del McCoury Band 2:57
9	It's an Unfriendly World / The Del McCoury Band 3:20
10	Gold Under My Feet / The Del McCoury Band 3:28
11	Ain't Nothin' Going to Come Up Today (Me and the Good Lord Can't ...) / The Del McCoury Band 3:02
12	We Know Where He Is / The Del McCoury Band 2:51
13	Sit Down with Jesus / The Del McCoury Band 2:47
14	The Lord Is Writing Down Names / The Del McCoury Band 3:45

Barnes & Noble

Incredibly enough, in his distinguished 30-year career Del McCoury had never recorded a gospel album, an oddity for a man of such deep faith. Well, Del and the boys (Ronnie and Rob McCoury, Jason Carter, and new stand-up bassist Alan Bartram) have finally delivered The Promised Land, and it's full of bountiful blessings. The great gospel songwriter Alfred E. Brumley figures prominently in the proceedings, with fully half of the album's 14 songs coming from his prolific pen. Del himself authored one of the strongest numbers, "Ain't Nothin' Gonna Come Up Today (Me and the Lord Can't Handle)," a steady-rolling bluegrass item on which Del asserts his unswerving faith in the Lord's guiding hand. A nice change of pace is provided in "Five Flat Rocks," a close-harmonized retelling of the David and Goliath story done as a spare, thumping country blues boogie that trundles along under the power of only two stinging acoustic guitars -- no banjo, fiddle, or mandolin, a true rarity in the McCoury catalog. For sheer instrumental bravado coupled to elegantly restrained quartet testifying, check out "Led by the Master's Hand," which opens with sparks flying from Rob's surging banjo lead, followed by Ronnie's fleet-fingered mandolin solo, which in turn gives way to Jason Carter's jubilant fiddle. Although there are some stern warnings about the wages of sin -- "Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow" being a notable example -- the mood here is celebratory, not dour. Perfect, and perfectly moving. David McGee

All Music Guide

The Del McCoury Band followed 2005's Grammy-winning Company We Keep with their first-ever all-gospel record, the reliably stellar Promised Land. For a man who is over 40 years into his career, it's surprising that McCoury took so long to lay down a collection of bluegrass gospel classics, as seemingly every other artist in the genre has had their turn at the pulpit. Thankfully, there's no "Amazing Grace," "Have a Little Talk with Jesus," or "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" to be found here; rather, McCoury and his juggernaut of a band have dug up some real gems for Promised Land. Between the rousing gallop of "Canaan's Happy Land," the cocky strut of "I'll Put on a Crown and Walk Around," and the easy Sunday waltz "We Know Where He Is," the Del McCoury Band have found the perfect middle ground between old-school masters like the Louvin Brothers and contemporary stalwarts like Ricky Skaggs. Reverend Lee Power

San Francisco Chronicle

McCoury's high, twangy tenor is one of the most emotive voices of the genre, and he uses it to gripping effect on the disc's 14 tracks.... The picking sparkles with virtuosity and, most important, the singing overflows with spirit. Lee Hildebrand

Hartford Courant

14 gospel tunes that marry a rich acoustic sound to a joyous celebration of belief. Thomas Kintner