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Skip Gorman's disposition and mission may be a bit too modest for grand proclamations. Still, based on Lonesome Prairie Love and its near-equal predecessor, A Greener Prairie, he may be the Great White-Hat Hope of cowboy music. This 18-tune strong collection manages to assuage the traditionalist and progressive impulses of Western music fans without straining in either direction. New Englander Gorman displays exemplary taste in his song selections, rounding up such sentimental standards as "The Night Guard," "The Lonely Cowboy," and "Mexicali Rose." A gifted instrumentalist and likable vocalist, the former fiddle champ brings something new to what, in less sensitive hands, could come across as hoary standbys. In fact, this set may be the perfect gateway for anyone interested in delving into a great (albeit underappreciated) American genre. Check it out and the likes of Sons of the Pioneers and Tex Ritter will feel much more accessible. --Steven Stolder