Nearly twenty years after her debut, Rhonda Vincent still stands as one of the most vital voices in all of bluegrass. Blessed with a crystal-clear soprano that practically pops off the record, Vincent is adept at the most tortuous of heartache songs as well as the high-energy hoedowns that define her chosen genre. Her streak of winners remains intact with her newest album, Destination Life. For the first time, Vincent is joined solely by members of her traveling band, The Rage. Their world-class musicianship sparkles alongside Vincent's luminous wail on this sterling set.

At times, Vincent has peeked her head out into the mainstream, nabbing three hits on the country singles chart and recording a notable duet with Dolly Parton in the middle of the decade, proof of her genre-bending talent. But the Missouri-born singer-songwriter has been content to devote herself solely to the cause of bluegrass. In that effort, she's exerted her influence to produce one of the finest catalogs in the genre's history. Vincent co-produced the album with bandmate Hunter Berry (who also adds a few terrific fiddle runs throughout the set), and they rely on a terrific mixof banjo, mandolin and steel to create a clear, crisp vision of modern-day bluegrass. The frenetic pace, especially at its fast-paced middle section, can start to overwhelm, but on most occasions, the pair has the good sense to ease back the production and allow Vincent's vocal power to shine.  Destination Life is light on co-writes from the seven-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, but she does contribute three tunes, including the effervescent "Last Time Loving You," an uptempo track given its punch and power through Aaron Mcduris' beautiful banjo picking.

The first half of Destination Life focuses squarely on love denied, but Vincent, slowly and surely, uncovers the beauty in love delivered. It's viewed as an unstoppable force ("Crazy Love"), but, as Vincent lets downs her guard, it's welcomed and wanted (Anywhere Is Home When You're With Me") and even sought-after ("What a Woman Wants to Hear").  For Vincent, she's not alone in her journey towards joy; at the end, she gives a chilling reading of "I Heard My Savior Calling Me" and a similarly-gorgeous take on "When I Travel My Last Mile (He Will Hold My Hand)." Tucked in between these religious offerings is the delightful instrumental, "Eighth of January," where the Rage soars to unsurpassing heights.

The pinnacle is Vincent's version of the oft-covered "Stop the World (And Let Me Off), " where she wallows in her sorrows while still keeping a sliver of dignity. "I played the game of love and lost," she moans, unsure of her next move. Vincent has stayed a steady fixture at the forefront of bluegrass by so gracefully expressing how silly, and ultimately how satisfying, the game can be.

You can support Rhonda Vincent by purchasing this album at iTunes | Amazon.