What does it sound like?:
At times I thought I was listening to The Mavericks (A World Away), Willie Nelson (Look Away), can`t make my mind up if this is good or bad. If you want a good `ole hoe down, the opener Flicker & Shake & Shout Mountain Music shouild do the trick.
I like OCMS but this album is a disappointment. Their last album `50 Years Of Blonde On Blonde` was much better, perhaps they should become a Dylan tribute band.
What does it all *mean*?
OCMS are trying to appeal to new audiences and veering away from Bluegrass, this could be a good thing but not if they sound like The Mavericks.
Goes well with…
Beer and BBQs.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
The Mavericks.
retropath2 says
I feckin hate the Mavericks but like OCMS. I’ll just get their BoB instead.
Baron Harkonnen says
I can recommend BoB retro, it is rather good.
Junior Wells says
The Mavericks do a long line in schlock but he has great voice and occasionally do some great songs.
I defy you to not tap the toe to this one.
retropath2 says
I DO like Raul Malo, just not his band. His solo stuff can also be quite cheesy songs, but his voice can carry ’em off. This isn’t cheesy, mind, the great Rodney Crowell song.
(Hehe, just checked my computer i-tunes. Clearly I hate the Mavericks so much I have 39 of their songs, whereas only 16 solo Rauls……I think it more I hate Twisting the Night Away so much it counts as a block vote.)
davebigpicture says
You don’t like Sam Cooke?
Junior Wells says
Yep hate that version. Like a wedding band.
Twang says
Sounds interesting, I will check it out. I can’t imagine why anyone would hate the Mavericks unless it’s under the “I hate country music” banner, and such people are beyond hope anyway. I only really know the “Oh what a crying shame” album which pairs the band with one of my favourite country lead guitar players, Brent Mason and it is tippety top. I shall have to explore their other albums and try to find something hateful. I did find Raul Malo a tad cozy live back in the 90s, but this was compensated for by the support of Kim Ritchie, first time I saw her.
Junior Wells says
The tendency to sugar coat everything. Even that version of Til I Gain Control Again is a bit too syrupy.
rotherhithe hack says
Sorry Baron, I disagree completely. I’ve been following Old Crow and was disappointed by the Blonde on Blonde rehash: all very frantic, one dimensional and to my ears quite pointless.
Now listened to Volunteer eight or nine times and rate it as a massive improvement. A lot more variation in the tempo and nature of the songs; maybe a touch more commercial in the production values but still well clear of the AOR approach that some alt country types are taking; and a nice touch of the elegiac in some numbers, with ‘Look Away’ being the stand out. And they’re better than The Mavericks.
I hope they’ve got stuff like the Dylan project out of their system and carry on along this path.
Tiggerlion says
That was my view on their BoB