Mountain Rio – Christmas Hoedown: A Nashville-Forged Holiday Fiesta
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
I. The Architects of the Hoedown: Frank Robinson and the Transatlantic Sound
Mountain Rio is not a traditional touring band but the dynamic country rock alias of prolific UK songwriter Frank Robinson. The project operates as a unique transatlantic collaboration, where Robinson pens the catchy, infectious, and geographically diverse tunes, which are then brought to life in Nashville, Tennessee. This vital process is overseen by producer Stacy Hogan and features the distinctive, powerful lead vocals of Mike Lusk.
This setup is key to the Mountain Rio sound: the songwriting sensibility has a European wit, focusing on clever narratives and specific, often UK-related, geographical settings, while the musical execution is unequivocally authentic, polished, and ready for American country radio. The combination yields a high-gloss, high-energy Contemporary Country sound often compared to stadium-filling acts like Alabama, Kenny Chesney, and Brad Paisley. Christmas Hoedown is the result of this deep-seated commitment to professional Nashville production, manifesting as an invitation to the biggest, most polished Christmas party south of the Mason-Dixon line.
II. Album Overview: The Energy and Scope of ‘Christmas Hoedown’
Genre: Contemporary Country, Country Rock, Holiday Vibe: Upbeat, Festive, Polished, Danceable Key Production: High-gloss Nashville recording, sharp guitar work, prominent Mike Lusk vocals
Christmas Hoedown is a generous 18-track collection that delivers exactly what the title promises: a high-energy holiday romp. It succeeds by avoiding the quiet, introspective holiday clichés, instead leaning into festive, danceable rhythms. The album’s immediate strength is its meticulously arranged, top-tier production. The soundscape is clean and bright, allowing the crisp electric guitars, soaring pedal steel, and tight rhythm section to shine. Mike Lusk’s vocals are the versatile centerpiece—rich, clear, and perfectly suited to handle both the rowdy tracks and the more poignant, story-driven moments.
III. Track-by-Track Review
This massive 18-track album can be divided into four distinct thematic categories: the Title Tracks, the Rockabilly Jams, the Geographic Storytellers, and the Heartfelt Ballads.
A. The Signature Hoedown Tracks (Tracks 1, 2, 3)
| Track | Title | Review |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Christmas Hoedown (Radio Edit) | The album’s centerpiece, setting the tone with a punchy, two-step rhythm and an instantly memorable, driving chorus. It’s pure dance floor fuel, demonstrating the tight Nashville session musicianship and Lusk’s command of the modern country vocal style. |
| 2. | Christmas Hoedown (Extended Edit) | Takes the infectious energy of the radio version and stretches it out, allowing for extended instrumental breaks, more prominent pedal steel solos, and further showcasing the sharp, clean guitar work that defines Mountain Rio’s country-rock edge. |
| 3. | Holiday Hoedown | A thematic sibling to the title track, this track offers a slightly different tempo and groove, perhaps leaning more toward traditional country line-dancing rhythms. It acts as a continuation of the album’s central party theme, ensuring the energy never drops. |
B. The Rockabilly Jams (Tracks 5, 9)
| Track | Title | Review |
|---|---|---|
| 5. | Rockabilly Christmas | Injecting a jolt of spirited retro energy, this track shuffles along with a fast tempo, distinct walking bass lines, and slick, almost vintage-sounding guitar licks. It successfully transforms the Christmas atmosphere into a joyous barn-burner, proving the album’s versatility beyond mainstream country rock. |
| 9. | Let’s Have A Rockabilly Christmas | The definitive call-to-action for the retro threads of the album. This track is irresistible, utilizing classic rockabilly instrumentation and a buoyant, carefree melody. It’s explicitly designed to be infectious and irresistible to dance to, offering a refreshing, high-octane alternative to conventional Christmas music. |
C. The Geographic Storytellers (Tracks 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18)
Mountain Rio excels at grounding the global holiday experience in specific, relatable locations, lending an intimate, personal touch to the songs.
| Track | Title | Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4. | Newcastle At Christmas (Harmonica Edit) | This song is a unique highlight, paying tribute to the UK setting of songwriter Frank Robinson. It’s a sweet, mid-tempo ballad that evokes the cozy atmosphere of a northern English Christmas, with the harmonica edit adding a layer of wistful, bluesy nostalgia that feels particularly grounded. |
| 11. | New York At Christmastime | A romanticized, bustling track that captures the quintessential energy of a Manhattan holiday. It contrasts the smaller-town themes with the grandeur of the city, using soaring strings and a cinematic arrangement to create a sense of awe and possibility amidst the festive chaos. |
| 12-14. | Nashville For Christmas (Male/Female/Duet) | This set of tracks showcases the commercial appeal and versatility of Robinson’s writing. The song is a definitive “country Christmas wish”—a yearning for Southern hospitality and twangy cheer. The inclusion of three versions (Male, Female, Duet) is a masterstroke, allowing listeners to choose the vocal dynamic that best suits their mood, whether it’s the classic Lusk male vocal, a warm female counterpart, or the seamless emotional blend of the duet. |
| 18. | Newcastle At Christmas (Bells and Tinsel Edit) | A re-orchestrated version of Track 4. Where the Harmonica Edit was wistful, this version is polished and overtly festive, utilizing brighter bells and a fuller, “tinsel-like” arrangement to emphasize the joyful side of the holiday in the UK. |
D. The Reflective & Narrative Ballads (Tracks 6, 7, 8, 10, 15, 16, 17)
The album wisely includes quieter, more complex tracks that are the hallmark of honest country storytelling, providing necessary emotional ballast.
| Track | Title | Review |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | Twenty Seven Miles From Roswell | A fun, quirky narrative outlier. This track adds a layer of country-rock whimsy, blending Christmas themes with the mystery of the American Southwest. It’s an imaginative detour that showcases Robinson’s unique lyrical twists and provides a momentary break from standard holiday themes. |
| 7. | She Left Home On Christmas Day | The album’s emotional core. This ballad offers a necessary, bittersweet dose of contemplation, acknowledging that the holidays can be marked by absence, change, and heartbreak. It’s delivered with genuine sincerity, reminding listeners of the complex emotional weight of the season. |
| 8. | Another Year Is Over | A smooth, reflective track that bridges the festive season with the New Year. It leans heavily on nostalgia and forward-looking hope, carried by Mike Lusk’s most tender vocal performance on the album, emphasizing the passage of time. |
| 10. | Let The Lights Shine | A vibrant, mid-tempo track that is pure, soaring holiday optimism. The arrangement swells to a crescendo, driven by uplifting melodies and a powerful message of hope and brightness. It acts as the album’s most direct emotional pick-me-up. |
| 15. | Christmastime Is Here Once Again | A classic, comfortable holiday song in structure and theme. It’s a beautifully crafted track that feels instantly familiar, serving as a reliable anthem for the annual return of the festive spirit, anchored by strong traditional country instrumentation. |
| 16. | A Happy New Year | Short, sweet, and focused, this track provides a concise, celebratory send-off for the old year and a welcoming toast to the new one. It ties the collection together by ensuring the focus moves beyond just Christmas Day. |
| 17. | It’s Christmas In Ukraine | This politically and emotionally relevant track is a standout for its raw honesty and timely compassion. It shifts the tone to a solemn, yet hopeful, contemplation of those celebrating the holidays amidst conflict, demonstrating Mountain Rio’s commitment to real-world narrative and empathy. |
IV. Final Verdict: A Modern Christmas Staple
Christmas Hoedown by Mountain Rio is a triumph of holiday country-rock. It is highly polished, energetic, and comprehensive, successfully navigating 18 tracks without redundancy. Frank Robinson, Mike Lusk, and Stacy Hogan have crafted a winning formula that prioritizes fun, rhythm, and impeccable musicianship.
This is an essential listen for fans who want their Christmas cheer delivered with a strong backbeat, soaring guitar solos, and a twang. It is the perfect modern collection for replacing tired old classics with something fresh, catchy, and genuinely irresistible. Mountain Rio has created a modern Christmas staple guaranteed to keep the hoedown going well past the New Year.