In 2007 Murfreesboro resident and MTSU alum Joe Walker recorded his first album of original songs with Grammy-nominated engineer and producer Bil VomDick. The resulting ten-track album, Join Hands, was released in June 2008.

Walker’s album is decidedly country, but he isn’t the same old sound you find at Nashville clubs any given night of the week. His sound has a blues slant, and the New Orleans feel is especially obvious on tracks like “Set My Soul Free.” If you ask me, it’s all about the organ tones.

“Better Off Alone” sounds more like modern jazz, if you disregard the vocals.

Walker’s songwriting and sound give a definite nod at his hero, Duane Allman. He’s also worked with Billy Cox of The Band of Gypsys and James Nixon of The New Imperials.

Really, it’s Walker’s voice that sets him apart. It’s not the over auto-tuned sound you find so often in downtown bars. His conversational tone is far from perfect and can get a little monotonous, but it does sound authentic.

The rest of his band, bass player Walter “Hinkie” Hamilton; organ, piano and keyboard player Tyronn Hamilton; and percussionist Rory Faciane, are an extremely solid set of musicians. Hamilton’s style of bass has a decidedly deep pocket. Hamilton’s gospel and blues infused keys are responsible for most of the songs’ tone. And Faciane brings his past on the New Orleans circuit to round out the blues notes in this country foursome.

In “Another Lost Hello” the band sounds more rock, with Walker’s imperfect voice stringing out over the chorus and rock guitar and gospel organ playing tag.

Despite the variations and inclusions of different styles, the album doesn’t really do much to surprise me. It’s a well-documented sound, and the lyrics are better than your typical rhyming country song. I just wanted one of these songs to grab me, and nothing stuck out.

It’s a very well made recording, I just don’t think Walker’s voice is going to garner a particularly wide following.