Paint This Town
ATO, 2022
8/10
The Nashville roots rockers Old Crow Medicine Show return with a 7th studio album of their old-time, folk, country, bluegrass and Americana ways, and this time it’s focused on American mythology and was recorded in their own studio- a first for the band.
The title track opens the listen with swift acoustic strumming and plenty of grit and melody entering the flowing roots rock, and “Bombs Away” follows with furious fiddle playing that suits the barnyard rocker perfectly and will certainly get your body moving to the lively energy.
Elsewhere, “Honey Chile” trims the pace back with power and emotion entering the poetic storytelling that builds into a lush rocker, while “Reasons To Run” enters dreamy territory that benefits much from warm lap steel and stirring vocals. “Used To Be A Mountain”, the album’s best, then thumps and shakes with a busy and loud display of the band’s inimitable version of rural rock.
“John Brown’s Dream” arrives near the end and recruits well timed harmonica amid a psychedelia that makes for a blurry, exciting selection, and “Hillbilly Boy” exits the listen with no shortage of twang on the back porch romper that’s raw and just so memorable.
Whether you’ve been following along for awhile or are a first time listener, you’ll certainly be impressed with this new batch of tunes. There’s some deeply personal tracks along with much welcomed social commentary, and it’s all fleshed out with an eclectic nature that even touches on gospel and southern balladry in a way that only O.C.M.S can.
Travels well with: The Devil Makes Three- Chains Are Broken; Steve Earle & The Dukes- Ghosts Of West Virginia