Billy Crain

Billy Crain is “a sinner” who has “been saved by the Grace of God” in the Nashville resident’s very own scrupulous words. He sings candidly about those deep, dark days and, more pertinently, emphasises all the good that has risen from the ashes. His worldly and musical exploits have seen the well-travelled guitarist influence the lives of as many illustrious artists as have influenced his; everything from playing guitar for Shania Twain and Dixie Chicks, to seeing Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton in concert as a teenager, has come to form the musician you hear today. Boasting a bottomless pit of famous names, friends, acquaintances and collaborators, the altruistic artist has enough personal experience of the trials and tribulations of a destructive, directionless existence to understandably turn this into a two-CD offering and sets about delivering an emotive sermon of life-altering anecdotes that shaped his inspirational future.

‘Family Matters’ recounts Crain’s past but only for necessary exposition to the uplifting outcomes that serenade the bright chords and crunchy guitars of this steamrolling Christian rock record. Marrying a plethora of instrumentation and styles that even include a Gaelic lilt, the upbeat tempo and energy never relents from beginning to end.

If you can forgive the somewhat haughty religiosity of his message, you’ll find a heartening anthology that promotes selflessness, self-expression and self-satisfaction. There’s a healthy sobriety in the content that goes well with the twee pop-ish foundations. Some may find it nauseating – others will have found it typical and, therefore, tolerable. But ‘Family Matters’ is good, clean fun – probably the cleanest fun you’ll ever have in your life.