Ramblin' Road

Greg Smith is a relatively young man who left behind his family farm in western Massachusetts at the age of 24 for the bright lights and big city of Brooklyn, N.Y.—and after nearly a decade of urban experiences, he's got plenty to write about. His backing band, The Broken English, feature vocalist Dayna Webber, whose harmonies are an indispensable part of the group; her lead spot on the sweet love song “Little Darlin’” and in the role of Smith’s mother on “Hey What’s the Use” are key contributions. If anything, Webber’s a tad underused overall. Lead guitarist Josh Chaplin, however, is amply represented, and his tasteful guitar leads lend a nice sense of ‘70s country rock. Ramblin’ Road was recorded at the Bunker Studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for its vintage equipment and producer John Davis; he worked with Smith to capture the natural sound of an acoustic-based band playing their songs without pretense.