Eldon Johnson

Well thought-out lyric, arrangement, personal and sincere vocal delivery. Warm timbre and phrasing work well with the imagery (of the album)...Dramatic and idealistic. Excellent vocals...radio ready. No doubt you're local heroes in Fargo. - Taxi

TRUE NORTH Is An American Original

Written by Mike Parker
Wednesday, 13 December 2006

There are really only two completely American musical genres – jazz and bluegrass. Fargo, North Dakota-based trio, True North, is an American original. And just so there is no confusion, they don’t play jazz.

True North plays bluegrass, tinged with the blues, sprinkled with Americana, infused by Gospel, and nestled up comfortably next to country-folk with an occasional nod to high lonesome. This is a guitar strumming, banjo picking, fiddle sawing, upright bass slapping concoction that will have you foot-tapping and knee slapping if you’ve got a drop of frontier blood in you.

Down The Road, the trio’s debut project is a fourteen-song collection of American family values set to music. The title track, which opens the album, is a dichotomously cheerful tune about the loss of friends, through the natural progression of life and the inevitability of death. Rather than focusing on the sadness that is inherent in such loss, the True North boys chose to cast their eyes on the glad reunion that looms over the horizon for true friends. “It hurts to say goodbye, but through the Lord I know/ That I’ll see you down the road.”

“Tricycles and Tonka Trucks” lets the bluegrass banjo take center stage while lead vocalist Eldon Johnson mourns the loss of the innocence that was part and parcel of life as a boy. The theme carries on, though with a slightly different twist in “I’ll Go On (Sarah’s Song),” where young love finds its fulfillment in a lifetime of commitment.

Somewhere between Nickel Creek and the Crabb Family, True North is assessable enough to appeal to mainstream middle America without selling out their bluegrass roots. Down the Road is a delightful break from the tedium of the ordinary.

- Mike Parker / www.buddyhollywood.com

Eldon knows the structure, the importance of melodic hooks. He has an emerging vocabulary that's all his own. There is an emotional quality to the topics, the presentation of these songs that's genuine. Songs are heartfelt and share universal topics that appeal to a blend of country/pop genres. - Taxi

I normally am not a bluegrass/country music-type person…matter of fact, you’ll find I have no presets in my car with country-type stations—rock and top 40 only. But after listening to this album, I may need to reconsider…

I have never found an album by a non-mainstream group to be as extraordinary as this one is start-to-finish. Even more impressive is that I think this may be their very first album. The album contains a great variety of songs—songs that are not at all predictable (like you seem to be finding with more mainstream artists these days) but yet all GREAT to listen to (unlike most new bands that have a “one-hit wonder” and the rest you find yourself asking why the rest of the album is not even worth your time to preview). It contains songs that exude true emotion, yet leaves you with a refreshed and upbeat feeling inside…Oh, and the best part—this group has TRUE talent, there is no voice alteration, no artificial sound, and the members blend both their instruments and their voices with perfect harmonies that are full and moving in sound. They are by far just as good, if not better, than anything you’ll listen to on the radio today—start to finish.

This album is a refreshing change of pace from the ordinary and WELL worth buying the whole CD for—give it one listen start to finish and you’ll be hooked!
- iTunes review

I just got my copy of "Down The Road." LOVE it. Thanks for creating a sound and lyrics that take me back home and spark a lovely, familiar peace in my soul. Also helps Seattle and ND not seem so far apart. - Sara Reyerson

Wow...I am going to wear out the CD because I listen to it sooooo much. It is awesome! I love Down the Road, Home, God and Everybody, You'll See, Let it Go.....I love it all I guess! - Leah Anderson

Down the Road is now sincerely one of my favorite CD's. Each word adds to the richness and message within each song. It is pure and real and simple. It touches memories and triggers emotions on many levels. One moment you're laughing, then crying and then taking on the world and all that is before you and within you.
- SuLin Landgraff