The definition of Providence is the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power, and I feel like using this title for the much anticipated and equally celebrated new album of The Great Divide was spot on.

There’s no need to dig deeply into the history of The Great Divide here, we all know it, and whether their very name was a premonition of the path they were taken on for the last several decades, or mere synchronicity, we may never really know. However, it was fitting all the same, as the band broke and then came back together. The prodigal son, Mike McClure, returned from his solo adventures and was restored to the band a decade ago, in bits and pieces at first, until going back once again full time with the crew. This album came well after that return and is just what the world needs right now.

Providence is like a breath of fresh air in the countryside after being stuck in a smog ridden city for too long, it’s refreshing and carries the themes of redemption, reconciliation, restoration and hope. It’s filled with love and wisdom and red dirt gospel songs, the very essence of dirt and spirit. McClure of course has always had a spattering of spiritualism and religion in his lyrics and songs through the years, so this wasn’t a huge detour from his repertoire, but this album feels lighter, filled with more love and light and hope. I assume it’s because McClure has reached both the age and place in his life where he has exorcised his demons and gained much wisdom from his challenges and experiences in life and is at a place now where he wants to share that with the world in hopes of helping others do the same. A world that has been broken and hurting even more these last few years with the coming of the pandemic and all it brought with it.

The same accolades can be said of the rest of the band as well, these seasoned musicians have seen so much in their adventures of life and have honed their craft through the years, and they all now have such an air of peace and a confidence that comes with age and experience. These guys are some of the finest musicians out there, and only appear to be getting better and better. It’s always a pleasure to watch each and every one of these gentlemen doing their thing on stage, each a treasure to their craft and this scene.

The band of course consists of McClure on vocals and guitar, Kelley Green on bass, Scotte Lester on rhythm guitar, JJ Lester on drums and Bryce Conway on keyboards.

Of course, the addition of Conway to the band has added much to the mix, as well as the album. Those keys and his skills add another layer of depth to the songs.

Providence was produced by The Great Divide. It was recorded, engineered and mixed by Eric Delegard and mastered by Alex McCullough. The songs were written by McClure, with a co-write by his lovely wife Chrislyn Lawrence on “Set it all Down”. The album art was done by Stillwater artist Courtney Lynn Kelly.

The album kicks off with Wrong is Overrated, which is McClure’s lyrical admission and apology to the things that went wonky with the band so long ago. It’s a song of healing and redemption, of reconciliation and rebirth. The style of this song, and every other one on this album, is so elegantly simple and beautiful. It’s not wearing a mask of flashiness, trying too hard to get your attention musically or lyrically. It uses truth and vulnerability, the straightforward melody and the effortless beauty of all the instruments working together to create magic.

I Can Breathe Again is a sweet love song, about being lost and having someone jump in to try to save us. About finding peace in the storm, about being able to breath again after drowning for so long. The steel guitar on it adds that hauntingly beautiful feeling, the whole speed and tempo of the song in itself feels like a fresh breath. It’s not in any rush, taking it’s time to lead you on a path of musical respite.

Good Side is an uplifting anthem, acknowledging the collective pain and trauma we all have gone through the last few years, while offering hope that there’s brighter days ahead. It’s toe tapping and makes you want to dance along, encouraging us all to just keep going and find our way back to the good side.

Set It All Down, co written by McClure’s wife Chrislyn Lawrence, an amazing musician in her own right, is another song acknowledging the craziness of the world recently and asking us all to just set all that heaviness down and love one another, to set the blame down and try to do a little better. “We are all in the same boat. And if we wanna keep it afloat, all that water that we’re taken in is got to stop…” So much love and inspiration and wisdom delivered with the fantastic musical style we have grown to know and love from The Great Divide.

Slippin’ Away comes on with a reggae flavor, like we could be on the beach with a fruity drink in hand, swaying along with the easy beats and fun licks. The music is upbeat and fun, perfectly executed for the mood of the song. The backup singers make it seem like a choir has joined in for the festivities, as McClure tells us how fast time slips away and we should enjoy it while we can.

Heaven is High comes in like a red dirt gospel song, it’s got a tinge of that old school country vibe to it while still being something fresh and new. The melodies and instruments are laid back and easy going, and Mac sings about hope and redemption and the promise of heaven.

My Sweet Lily, no doubt an ode to McClure’s sweet wife Chrislyn, is an elegantly done love song. It’s got the hint of another red dirt melody, like it’s been broken apart and given a new life, which is in perfect symmetry to the lyrics of this song about finding a love that brings us new life.

Until We Cross is another spiritual song laced with the message of restoration and hope, the line “I’ve been afraid before, now let me honest…” seems like the message of this whole album. Each song seems to be written from a place of authenticity and vulnerability and showing the world that while we are all a bit broken and have done things that bring us down, that there is wisdom to be found in the challenges, redemption is available, and hope is around the corner.

Into the Blue slides in with that same easy-going flow of the whole album, like there’s no rush to anything, that we can just sit back and enjoy this journey. That life is too short, and it flies by, but in this moment, we should just enjoy it. All of that and more is conveyed musically. Another love song, painting lyric images of what love should be.

Infinite Line is the most rocking song on the album, getting a little more sassy with the guitar licks, you can’t help but move along with it and bob your head with the beat. It keeps up with the theme that life is flying by, and you need to enjoy it while you can, about losing friends along the way and keeping them with us until we meet them again. “There’s nothing as restless as the hands of time, keep it all rolling down the infinite line.” It’s a great song to end out the album.

This collection of songs is such a cohesive group, all lending to one another, all painting the relating picture of redemption and hope, of love and faith, and all set to the sounds, styles and skills of these phenomenal musicians in a way that we all have come to know and love. It’s reminiscent of the band’s style and sounds of the early days, while still bringing in something new. It stays true to their roots and who they have been, while growing into who they are now at the same time. It’s honest, raw and real, in a world that tries too hard to be filtered and flashy, which means it’s refreshing. Well done guys, we never had a doubt that this album would deliver, and we are excited to have this new music from you after so long.

The Great Divide Providence Album Review