Believe it! Diamond Rio's newly released CD, Unbelievable is an unqualified success. The band began working on the album even before their Greatest Hits package was completed last year, and it shows. Producer Michael D. Clute, who has contributed heavily to Diamond Rio's overall sound and is considered an honored "seventh member" of the band, is once again on board. The band members were heavily involved in the screening process and, during the months they spent cutting the album, were able to decipher which songs had staying power and which songs might eventually wear out. The result is a generally fast-paced cohesive album that just gets better with every listening.

The album opens with "Two Pump Texaco," a song about a gas station attendant and his view of life (you've got to like any song that can rhyme dipstick with lipstick.) It's a song that invokes some nostalgia for simpler ways but it also has an interesting take on rural or small town life. The song's protagonist is happy and peaceful in his life and feels sorry for all those that have to move on down the road.

The next cut," Miss That Girl" is a song of missed opportunity, a man reflecting on things he did wrong and chances that were lost. Though the message of the song cautions that one should think twice before throwing something away, the pace is very lively and uptempo.

The third song on the CD, and the first single release is "You're Gone," a plaintive song that is lyrical and musically emotional. The first verse of the song introduces only Marty Roe's vocals and Dan Truman's piano and the sparse sound sets the stage for the theme of aching loneliness as the singer realizes how much he had truly loved the woman now gone. Like "The Dance" by Garth Brooks though, the singer gives thanks for the time he had with his lost love and feels he is better for having known her. This song was co-written by Paul Williams, who won an Oscar for"Evergreen," and Jon Vezner who won a Grammy for "Where've You Been."

The next several songs are lively and fast-paced." What More Do You Want From Me?" has a swelling chorus and invites the listener into a world where love is starting to go bad. The singer becomes increasingly disenchanted and frustrated with his woman, telling her he is clueless as to what she could want from him that she doesn't have.

Up next is the title cut and the real toe-tapper on the album," Unbelievable." This song was the last song chosen for the album and it's pulsing beat and soaring harmonies make it fun to listen to. "Kissable, huggable, loveable, unbelievable" is a mouthful and Marty Roe's flying vocals make it, and similar lines in the song, exciting to listen to.

"Long Way Back," keeps up the fast pace of the previous two songs and again the sweeping chorus pulls the listener along. It's a down on luck story. The singer is sitting in a cafe lamenting to the waitress what a fool he's been and how the road back to what he had is a trip that's not going to happen.

The seventh song on the CD," I Thought I'd Seen Everything" written by Mutt Lange and Huey Lewis, has a rock n'roll beat wrapped in Diamond Rio's own country style. The song conveys the initial excitement of discovering a new love.

"Hold Me Now" is a catchy song that speaks of the need for a temporary refuge from heartache or the troubles of the day. The repeated lament of "hold me now" drives home the anguished desperateness of one human being needing solace from another.

An extremely well-written song, "I Know How The River Feels" is a statement of love's destiny fulfilled. It's a musically enchanting song with a mandolin lead-in and a string quartet. The string parts, (violin, cello and 2 violas) were written and arranged by Dan Truman with Carl Marsh, and it is one of the few times that additional musicians were used on one of Diamond Rio's recordings. This sensitive and romantic ballad is sure to become a favorite.

The album closes on a positive note with the buoyant "(I Will) Start All Over Again," a song about the indomitableness of the human spirit.

Unbelievable is Diamond Rio's fifth studio album and the recordings reflect both the talent depth of the song-writers assembled and the abilities of a gifted group of musicians doing what they do best. Diamond Rio is at the top of their game with this one.