“Campfires and shooting stars, under the Milky Way in a sleeping bag, the world was ours,” softly sings John Smith on his sixth CD release, Gravity of Grace. Under the moonlight, surrounded by the sparks of a crackling fire and over to the left sits an old Chevy pick-up truck: my picture-perfect summer’s evening. I catch a glimpse of these back road images when I close my eyes and slowly drown in Smith’s poems.

Gravity of Grace is an absolutely breath-taking, intimate, and moving album. The hard-hitting lyrics bring on tears as I soak up the words and truths in “Father’s Day,” as Smith strums on his guitar singing, “The first time I heard my dad say that he loved me was on Father’s Day….And I walked away, and tears came down like rain falling gently upon fallow ground. I felt the fields of my heart turn green from those few small word my father said to me.”

This track conjures a Kodak moment-like stroll down memory lane as I am reminded of my own father. Smith seems to wheedle inspiration for this dynamic and emotional 13-song combo from past experiences. It is almost like sitting in the backseat seat of this folk star’s car watching him reflect in the rearview mirror as his life goes by.

Smith’s voice is soothing, thought provoking and fairly distinct, but he shares a similar sound to the “Sweet Baby James” Taylor. Gravity of Grace is an ideal album to leave in your vehicle for the long drives on the countryside. Smith sums up all my feelings about his latest release when he hums, “I’m ready to surround, ready to embrace, with open arms this time I’m falling with the gravity of grace.” A true inspiration and a spiritual record from a very gifted singer/songwriter.

Track Listing:

1. Right Into Love

2. Gravity Of Grace

3. Ring That Bell

4. Fathers Day

5. Eliza Jane

6. Hired Hand

7. Scotch Pine

8. Jay Bird

9. The Times They Are A-Changin'

10. The Only One For Me

11. Juni Rae

12. Safe Home

13. On That Mainline