By Joshua Wallace
Old Crow Medicine Show are back with their sixth studio album titled Volunteer. This is also their first album of original material for Columbia Records. Volunteer is also their first album to be produced by Dave Cobb at the historic RCA Studio A. With all of these recent changes for the band, I have been excited to hear what they would produce for Columbia Records since last year’s live 50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde release. Volunteer does not disappoint and if you are a fan of OCMS, you will find much to like here.
The album opens with a barn burner in “Flicker & Shine”. It’s a toe tapper that sets the pace for this album and lets you know that you’re in for a good time for the next 10 tracks. “Dixie Avenue” brings the unfamiliar sound of an electric guitar to an Old Crow Medicine Show tune, but it works. The track is about reminiscing on the good old days as the band recounts some of their past experiences centered around the titular location.
Another hoppin’ track on this album is “Shout Mountain Music” which is a celebration of old time mountain music. It’s a fun and infectious track that you can leave on repeat for a while. “Whirlwind” is a slower country love song that ends the album on a sweet note with a track that features some great pedal steel guitar.
While Volunteer might not be their best output, it will leave fans excited about all that is to come from Old Crow Medicine Show and their partnership with Columbia Records and producer Dave Cobb. OCMS are one of the premier string bands in the country and in my opinion will continue to be for the near future. You can pick up Volunteer wherever music is sold on April 20th.
Favorite Tracks : Flicker & Shine, Dixie Avenue, Shout Mountain Music, The Good Stuff, Whirlwind
Old Crow Medicine Show – Volunteer (2018)
- Flicker & Shine
- A World Away
- Child Of The Mississippi
- Dixie Avenue
- Look Away
- Shout Mountain Music
- The Good Stuff
- Old Hickory
- Homecoming Party
- Elzick’s Farewell
- Whirlwind
