Old Crow Medicine Show shows serious side

The band still does its original sound effectively.

By Andrew Terry

Published Oct. 6, 2008

Old Crow Medicine Show started out as a jug band that bordered on bluegrass, with a raw power and a blazing harmonica that could get anyone moving. The best part about it was that it always had a tongue-in-cheek feel. They never sounded serious, despite two of the band's CDs opening with songs about cocaine habits.

Tennessee Pusher, the group's latest album, doesn't have that same feel. But that's not a bad thing by any means. This time around, instead of the guys in OCMS screaming their heads off with a banjo, they take a more serious approach to their songs. Their approach to Tennessee Pusher was that of a country album. It feels like you're in a bar listening to someone pour their heart out, but, suddenly, they put on a 10-gallon hat and you're left wondering what the hell happened.

That country swing might normally turn some listeners off, but OCMS still manages to hold an audience with quality compositions, and the band still manages to give the album a bit of contemporary construction to prevent it from falling into the Merle Haggard category.

It's nice to see the guys can still do the original OCMS sound effectively. These particular songs pop out now and again, and they are most certainly welcome. They add the much-needed high to the all-too-frequent slow pace of the majority of Tennessee Pusher. But while the majority of the album is slow-paced, it is all well done.

The album opens with "Alabama High-Test," one of those speed runs with a screaming fiddle and the always-welcome harmonica that made OCMS famous. The song really draws you in, giving you a familiar ground on which to place yourself.

It becomes jarring when OCMS switches gears on the listener. The third track, "The Greatest Hustler of All," opens with a guitar line circa 1914 - you feel like you're about to receive a lesson on rounding cattle. But it doesn't put much of a dent in the experience, because its follower, "Methamphetamine," is one of the album's highlights, with a darker, edgier feel that explodes toward the middle. It's surprising that a five-and-a-half minute song can so easily hold listeners for its entire span.

The album has some bumps along the way, though. Some of the songs tend to run together and the lyrics have never been the band's strong point, but there is definitely enough here to warrant a purchase.

The album structure is that of a few typical slow songs followed by a fast, fun song, and they developed their fast songs a little differently this time around. They have contained them to not be so crazy, and because of that, they actually tend to be better songs, but you still kind of miss the ridiculousness of their former works.

OCMS approached this album from a different perspective - they made it seem like they are taking music more seriously, and if you can stomach this "country music," then it is definitely worth checking out. And for those already familiar with the band's previous works, there is still a song about using drugs, so you won't be missing out.