Disco de Old Crow Medicine Show: “O.C.M.S.”

These guys will awe you. It was so good that I couldn't help but to laugh in spite of myself. The music and energy they projected was incredible. I saw them a couple of weeks ago at a show in Tennessee. It was a private farm, rolling hills, thick tall timber. I had no idea what was in store for me. They ripped up the front porch of that farmhouse with melodies and sheer, uninhibited enthusiasm. Wave after wave of mind blowing tunes, punctuated by the delight of plain old unselfconscious getting down, blasted me to a new level of musical appreciation. They were broadcasting that night, not with a weak radio antenna, but with music. You couldn't get with earshot of the porch without feeling a buzz. That was some powerful stuff.

The night couldn't have been better either, cold with a huge bonfire, a blanket of stars, and the best group of friends you could ever hope to be around. No one was a stranger. Who could have been, really? I kept thinking, where was the rest of the world? Did they know about this? And if so, why weren’t they here? What do I have to do to get more? I'm hooked, I'm a junkie. I need my next fix.

I feel I was let in on something that night, something very special. Standing around the bonfire, a guy told me, "A ray of light follows these guys." And I swear it does. If you can't see it, feel it, taste it like the twang from tinfoil in your mouth, then your dead, that’s all there is to it. They will lift you and you won't come down for weeks, perhaps a part of you never will.

Buy their CD, get a taste, because that's all it is, a sip. Go to the source and sate yourself, there's an abundance. Thanks Old Crow, I'll see you at Jazz Fest.

I can tell you that these boys are worth the price of a cd. I eat lunch at least once a week at the place where doc watson discovered these yankees so you can trust me when I say that these guys are the real deal. Cut the derivative talk... if Doc says they are cool than no one else has a say in the matter...

Unbelievable. I just found out about this band and thought it was worth the risk, because, lets face it, the contemporary state of bluegrass is pretty boring, aside from a few really good artists who have been around for awhile. Nobody was exploding onto the scene. Until now. I'm about to graduate from law school in PA and only a couple years removed from UVA, and I can tell you, the southern college scene, and maybe the national college scene, is ready to embrace music like this. This is bluegrass with passion. The ballads are steeped in emotion and power, the way the Carter Family use to warble until it made your hair stand up on end. CC Rider is done with knowledge and care, like old time legendary classics should be. But then they give something to it that its never had. The rave ups are the best, and deservedly so, will get the most attention. "Tear it" has the best speed harmonies I've ever heard. The original composition "Tell" is awesome as well. But the last track is the strongest. Some of these songs are better than Man of Constant Sorrow and deserve airplay. These guys were meant to play together. You couldn't get a better combination of vocal styles and harmonies by two front men if you scoured the countryside looking for it. I love the Stanleys, JE Mainer, and Monroe, these guys, at least on this album, sound right up there with them to me (I know that's a strong statement, but I said THIS ALBUM only). This album, at least I think, is a classic. But only time will tell. If you are new to bluegrass it will turn you into a fan instantly. If you're an old fan, come into it with an open mind like I did, and you will be shocked at how smart and traditional, as well as new and raw these guys are.

i just wanted to clear this up as a review mentioned that wagon wheel is a rip-off of a dylan tune. well... it's a poor assumption. the chorus from wagon wheel was written by dylan for the movie "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" for which they gave Dylan writing credit. The chords were used for the rest of the song [which is not a crime considering that the progression used (1 5 6 4) is VERY common and is used in a countless number of songs including "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Dylan himself] and the rest of the song's lyrics were written by OCMS with a different melody. if it was a rip-off, they wouldn't have purposely given Dylan some credit for the song. In fact, if you look in the album sleeve it gives Dylan FULL credit for the song. So... if you believe Wagon Wheel is a rip-off, i don't think you really KNOW what a RIP-OFF is.

The editorial review above of this band is on target. OCMS' sound is inspired by traditional music (the pre-curser to bluegrass and somewhat less gimmicky). What gives it life is that it has been infused with the influences of a bunch of young guys, i.e. punk, blues, rock, country, rap, etc. It's what gives them their unique energy and style. It's what makes the old mountain songs sound new and fresh and what makes their brand new stuff sound like old mountain classics. My favorite is Tear It Down, mostly because it makes me laugh.

Rawlings has taken them to another level. While I miss some of their rougher edges, overall their evolution as a band has been very satisfying.

To the reviewer who claimed "Wagon Wheel" is a rip off of a Dylan tune: Yes, you are correct. However, OCMS contacted Dylan's reps to get his permission to use the tune and they got a green light. So while it's a rip off, it was never intended to be a secret theft as much as a tribute to one of the best songwriters of our times.

I miss the rawness of the live shows of their earlier career. It was brilliant. They are still highly energetic, just a bit more seasoned and polished. Some of the old intimacy with the audience is gone, and you may have to fight with inebriated college students for a space. Still worth it though. Besides, who can complain when Rawlings and Welch show up to play along!