NORTH 2 SOUTH Cindy Lucas: 4th PLACE WINNER for BEST LYRICS, 2006 JPF MUSIC AWARDS. Lead and harmony vocals, keyboards, lyrics Frank J. LaRosa: Lead and harmony vocals, guitars, banjo, mandolin, keyboards, drum programming, bass 2004 JPF Best Country Song Nominees North 2 South are back in a strong way with the release of their sophomore CD effort “Front Row Ticket” on their own Hidalgo label. This time around they have leaned even more in the direction of their pop roots, effortlessly melding pop/country and rock with catchy hooks and infectious grooves while still maintaining true “songwriter’s songs” that haven’t lost substance to commerciality. In the three years since they released “Cruisin”, the first cut of which was nominated in the 2004 JPF Music Awards for Best Country Song, they traveled to Nashville to record with producer Mark Oliverius (Trick Pony, Lorrie Morgan, etc.) and released the four-song EP recorded with him, have enjoyed airplay on various public and community radio stations locally, regionally and even internationally on Holland’s BRTO radio/television. With this new indie release, their maturity as songwriters and producers has grown and taken a new flavor with songs that delve into personal experience, family life with kids, fulfillment in a relationship and even those moments when things are on the rocks with that glimmer of hope that with some genuine determination, they might get fixed. The songs, as with their first release showcase great a commercial pop country effort with such guilty pleasures as “Four Alarm Kiss” and “This House” which carry great radio-friendly hooks and strong arrangements. “Hit the Ground” is a strong testament to the sentiments of all the hopefuls on their way to bigger and better things that fame and fortune may or may not carry, with smart lyrics and melodic piano riffs floating nicely throughout and at the end. Of all the tracks on this release “Ka-Blam!” which is one of three that Frank sings on the project, is one of the strongest lyrically with a storybook appeal that will touch the little boy in every man and the child’s heart in all of us, both young and old. (The lyrics to "Ka-Blam!", penned by Lucas, recently won 4th Place in the 2006 JPF MUSIC AWARDS- Lyrics Competition. Just Plain Folks boasts over 40,000 members worldwide including Grammy, Tony and Oscar winners as well as indie artists, and holds the largest free songwriting competition in the world. Visit: www.jpfolks.com) For those who like a bit of traditional rootsy sound mixed in with the modern, there is the fun “Sleek” which is a great match for Frank’s vocal styling and the barroom sing-a-long “Hell Yeah, It Hurts” with its Gretchen Wilson meets Toby Keith flavor. Once again, Frank J. LaRosa shines as a stand-out producer with nicely arranged tracks and an innate sense of knowing where and when to put everything. His multi-instrumentalist talents shine with some very cool signature licks, tasty guitar solos and also some surprisingly subdued and melodic ones such as on “Hit the Ground”. All in all, “Front Row Ticket” is a strong showcase musically, lyrically, and production-wise with just the right combination of commerciality, realism, songwriter’s gems, guilty pleasures and just plain good music.