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Rating: Nomen omen, destiny is in the name, as the Latins said, and certainly "the old crow’s medicinal show" seems a sufficiently cryptic and old-fashioned choice to intrigue the listener who stumbles upon an album by these guys from Tennessee.
They are, for the record, Morgan Jahnig, Kevin Hayes, Critter Fuqua, Ketcham Secor, Willie Watson, that is, vocals, guitars, bass, fiddles, banjo, harmonica: all strictly acoustic, because the group can be framed in that revival of folk, roots, and Appalachian music that experienced a renaissance thanks to the success of the sumptuous film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" by the Coen brothers in 2000. In this sense, anyone recalling the irresistible final scene of the four fugitives who unleash a crowd of rustic reactionaries to the notes of the mysterious hit "Man of Constant Sorrow," can have an idea of the artistic offering of this combo.
It starts with Down Home Girl, featuring a bouncing harmonica and the voice, then the voices, which, in choral fashion, lazily slow down the rhythm.
The following traditional Cocaine Habit begins like a studio outtake, with a false start by the band, laughter, and a repeat of the intro for a tremendously catchy song.
Minglewood Blues is an incredibly fast track with guitar, banjo, and harmonica battling it out, with the voices holding strong.
The album continues with the revival of some American traditional songs, such as Let It Alone. There's also a cover of Woody Guthrie, Union Maid, while the rest comes from the band itself.
Among the album's highlights, there's My Good Gal, deeply folk and Dylan-esque and the true masterpiece of the record, James River Blues, which shines with a melody of absolute quality destined to withstand the wear of repeated listens and time. It closes with the slow and catchy Don't Ride That Horse and the fast-paced bluegrass of Bobcat Tracks.
For all those who love music made of roots and true melodies, and for all those who loved the sounds and the magical essence of the mentioned Coen Brothers film. Highly recommended.
TRACKLIST:
Down Home Girl
Cocaine Habit
Minglewood Blues
My Good Gal
James River Blues
New Virginia Creeper
Union Maid
Let It Alone
God's Got It
I Hear Them All
Don't Ride That Horse
Bobcat Tracks
Tracklist and Videos
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