A group so deep in their roots, Old Crow Medicine Show takes you back to the early days of bluegrass with their forthcoming release Big Iron World. Critter Fuqua, Kevin Hayes, Morgan Jahnig, Ketch Secor, and Willie Watson create a perfect blend of banjos, guitars, harmonica, fiddle, guitjo, upright bass, raw lead vocals, and three-part harmonies into each of the twelve tracks, producing nearly forty minutes of amazing tunes. The songs are short and sweet, leaving you wanting more; their lyrics are laced with southern influence, utilizing choruses perfect for sing-a-longs.
The album commences with the track, “Down Home Girl.” With its bluesy, honky-tonk overtone, it is a song about love and lust. Its chorus, with the lyrics, “You’re so down home girl,” is sung in an unhurriedly manner which keeps the mood at a constant pace.
“Cocaine Habit” is the staple song for me on this album. I can’t help but sing along, belting out those lyrics with the same enthusiasm as lead singer Willie Watson. Make note to listen carefully during the choruses to the harmony part of “Take a whiff on me, take a whiff on me / All you rounders take a whiff on me / Hey hey, honey take a whiff on me,” as it is filled with emotion. The lyrics also make reference to Karl Rove and Elijah Wood being coke enthusiasts, a move that I don’t think was necessary or warranted, but must have had some importance to be included.
The album slows down a bit with the track “My Good Gal” - a song about love, heartbreak, and revenge. The beautifully written harmonica and slide guitar lines push the message deep into your heart, working to get you to the feel the pain. Building up to an emotional punch after the revealing of a slightly twisted ending, the music acts as a solidifier for all emotions felt.
“New Virginia Creeper” is another amazing, straight to the point song on this album. The lyrics, which either have a sexual undertone or are actually about a train on the Virginia Creeper trail, are presented at such a steady tempo allowing the song to (as the lyrics say), “…chug along, chug along.”
The last track on this album, “Bobcat Tracks,” is wonderfully orchestrated and is completed with the Bob Dylan-esque singing by Watson.
There is not a track on this album that I did not love. Big Iron World is one of those albums you turn on and listen to from beginning to end without pause. Each song is perfectly placed to complement another. This album is up there with my favorites of all time, and can’t wait to see these amazing musicians live.
-Joey Elrom for Roving Festival Writer
GET A COPY OF BIG IRON WORLD ON AUGUST 29. 2006 WHEN IT GOES ON SALE!
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