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Traditional. That's the word that comes to mind when first listening
to the new record by Old Crow Medicine Show. The Show's
music relies on traditional blues and bluegrass elements to carry
its wonderful beauty. The songs on Big Iron World span
moods, from barn-burning hoedowns to melancholy dirges and lilting
folk tunes. The record is produced by David Rawlings and
carries a bit of his alt-country edginess, but doesn't stray far
from its more traditional rootsy feel.
Opener "Down Home Girl" is bluesy and gritty, with
just the right amount of sass and darkness carried along the rolling
harmonica lines and brilliant slide guitar. "Cocaine Habit"
is a banjo-based stomp that could have been lifted right from
the Hee Haw pages - the traditional lyrics obtain a new
bounce as interpreted by OCMS. "Minglewood Blues" is
a speedy barn-burner reminiscent of the Kingston Trio's
finer jumpy moments, while "My Good Gal", featuring
beautiful guitar by Rawlings, is a slower and more deliberate
original song lamenting a loved one. The mood is melancholy and
dirgish, but there is also a life in the song that belies the
darkness of the lyrics.
Ketch Secor really stretches his songwriting on Big
Iron World, showing a maturity and strength not found on the
last OCMS release, and some of that probably comes from co-writing
tunes with David Rawlings. Rawlings co-pens a number of the songs,
including the dark folk of "James River Blues". The
track features some fine fiddling, as well as a guest appearance
by Rawlings' longtime collaborator Gillian Welch…
on drums of all things! Welch also plays drums on the old-timey
scrub of "New Virginia Creeper", a song that is filled
with strummed banjo and a hopping bassline that underscores some
amazing harmonica playing. Woody Guthrie's "Union
Maid" is presented here in a fast-moving hoedown, nicely
complementing Secor's songs that have a very deliberate cast of
tales about Middle America and the working man. The gospel flavor
kicks in strong on the awesome "God's Got It", a sober
tune in the tradition of the mountains. Rawlings and Welch both
join in on the glorious "I Hear Them All", a Secor/
Rawlings composition that sounds more like the Appalachian region
than most anything recorded in the last 50 years. "Don't
Ride That Horse" is a dark banjo dirge and "Bobcat Tracks"
wraps the album with a high-stepping flavor and lyrical presentation
that recalls a very young Bob Dylan in its intensity and
flavor.
While OCMS's latest release doesn't really break any new musical
ground or explore new sonic territories, the songs have a very
classic feeling that is instantly familiar and likeable. Big
Iron World is a hootenanny of the finest sort - songs never
lag, the mood stays fairly light despite the occasional dirge,
and dancing is almost requisite. If you hanker for a bit of the
old time Americana, then step up to the Medicine Show and get
a dose.
-Embo Blake
Track Listing:
1. Down Home Girl
2. Cocaine Habit
3. Minglewood Blues
4. My Good Gal
5. James River Blues
6. New Virginia Creeper
7. Union Maid
8. Let It Alone
9. God's Got It
10. I Hear Them All
11. Don't Ride That Horse
12. Bobcat Tracks
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