Album review: OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – Paint This Town

ATO Records [Release date 22.04.22]

Old Crow Medicine Show shine a light on the darker aspects of American life on this album –

“At the end of the day, we’re still just trying to stop you on the street and get you to put a dollar in the guitar case,” says upright bass player Morgan Jahnig. “Then once we’ve got your attention, we’re gonna tell you about things like the opioid epidemic and the Confederate flag and what’s happening with the environment—but we’re gonna do it with a song and dance.”

Opening with ‘Paint This Town’ the Old Crow Medicine Show fly out of the musical traps with one of their heaviest songs to date. Next up ‘Bombs Away’ gets the old feet tapping with a whirlwind of fiddle and banjo playing. Then there is a lovely bit of rock ‘n’ roll & honkytonk piano on ‘Lord Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise’.

Those who enjoy a bit of traditional, laid back country look further than ‘Reasons To Run’. Mind you, get your breath back as ‘Painkiller’ follows – a song about becoming addicted to the aforementioned painkillers. Not a Judas Priest cover but played at a speed metal pace, albeit bluegrass style! The band look at the change in the natural world around us on ‘Used To Be A Mountain’. They get a strong message across without coming across too preachy.

‘John Brown’s Dream’ is a strange one, with almost screaming vocals and a real air of menace in the song. Different, although maybe a step too far for some fans maybe?

The album ends with a lovely bit of old time music in ‘Hill Billy Boy’, where you can almost taste the moonshine being passed around…

Old Crow Medicine Show are in fine voice and form, with another energetic, thoughtful and above all, entertaining album. ****

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)