Revival (Emergent, 2009)

For his eighth solo album, Radney Foster has decided to take us to church. "Revival" is filled with 12 songs of everyday spirituality at work. But don't think you are in for a Bible-thumpin', no, Foster is more skilled at the craft than that, and his lyrics talk about putting faith to work in the real world.

From the energetic kick-off of A Little Revival unfolds another classic Foster album. From peace to forgiveness to living life to its fullest, he covers all of the bases. The first single, Angel Flight, co-written by Darden Smith, talks about the lonely flight of taking the wars' casualties home and the thoughts of the pilot on that journey.

Supported on the album by his road band, The Confessions, Foster swings from his patented alt.-country-red dirt sound of Second Chances to more mainstream country of I Know You Can Hear Me to the bluegrass overtones of the disc-ending reprise of Revival. Foster is also joined on harmony vocals on two tracks by old friend Dierks Bentley (Until It's Gone) and Darius Rucker (Angel Flight).