A group made up of a father and his teenage son and daughter sounds a bit suspect--shades of LeAnn Rimes and Taylor Hanson singing with a chaperone. But The Wilkinsons--father Steve, 16 year old Amanda and 14 year old Tyler--prove that the family that plays together makes great music. Their debut, NOTHING BUT LOVE, is an instantly enjoyable collection of country songs, seven of which were penned by Steve. The trio's vocals blend perfectly and Amanda, who sings most of the leads, has an outstanding voice.
Because of the kids' ages, the subject matter deals mostly with young love ("Boy Oh Boy," "Don't I Have A Heart"). Standouts include "26 Cents," in which a young girl leaves home for the first time, taking along "a penny for your thoughts/a quarter for the call/and all of your momma's love." In the beautifully sung "Fly," a girl suspects her boyfriend is an angel in disguise. "Williamstown" is a Romeo & Juliet story of a poor boy and a girl who's stuck "on the right side of the tracks." NOTHING BUT LOVE is a terrific debut which banishes any concern that the Wilkinsons are simply a novelty act.