Big Iron World

Okay,let's get this out of the way straight from the gate - OCMS' second album is pretty familiar to anyone who owns or has listened to their first.So familiar,in fact,that Cocaine Habit actually has a false start when Ketch Secor sings the first line to Tell It To Me from their first album,both songs being strikingly similar,before the band break into laughter at his mistake.Likewise,a couple of other songs bear more than a passing similarity to their previous work,but this really doesn't matter that much.If it did thousands of big name stars would have been pilloried long before now.What matters is whether they are good songs or not and in the case of this album,they are. In truth,there's nothing with quite the energy or verve of Hard To Tell,but this is a good,solid, example of that most difficult of things - the second album.Its 12 songs come in at a little over 36 minutes and this is no bad thing as it means no song is allowed to outstay its welcome. The production,again by David Rawlings,is expansive enough to allow every instrument its voice,and the playing is as good as the first album. Although Rawlings other half Gillian Welch plays drums, unlike too many other young artists they're good enough not to need the star names (maybe that's why Welch chose to play drums).There's some fine Lennonesque harmonica playing on Down Home Girl,by Ketch Secor,and Critter Fuqua,Harvey's son,provides fine vocals on James River Blues and Bobcat Tracks. A point of interest;the Woody Guthrie track Union Maid,new to me I confess,should sound strkingly familiar to anyone who has heard The Strawbs reactionary pub singalong Part Of The Union which kind of turned the point of Guthrie's song on its head. I'd highly recommend this OCMS album to anyone who liked their first and to anyone into Bluegrass,Hank Williams,Alt country or the new wave of artists like The Be Good Tanyas and Jolie Holland.It's a solid follow up that cements their place in the pantheon of new country artists.Buy it!

good listening music saw them on a road show recently and liked there music their are many more CD to choose from would recommend.

Brilliant. Has become my new favourite album for driving to work.

I love their music

love it

Good band

Sometimes those strange "other people who bought the Handsome Family, also bought this" links really hit paydirt. It's great coming to a whole new musical genre from nowhere, and there's no knowing history to contend with, and all you have to do is judge the music by the number of times your jaw drops open when you listen to it for the first time. my jaw dropped loads of times. Cocaine Habit. Loved the dodgy intro. My Good Girl. Yep, It's Arlene, but it still takes you by surprise when you realise. New Virginia Creeper. Surely that's Lee, at work, at work. Let It Alone. Sod those PC attitudes. God's Got It. Whoo! These Alabama boys sure know irony. Don't Ride That Horse - I've played it more than any other track. Utterly haunting. Bobcat Tracks. A joyous laugh from start to finish. I loved it so much, I went on the website and bought the t-shirt. Got a free CD and a car sticker as well. Fantastic.

But not necessarily a bad thing, as 2004's O.C.M.S. was easily the best bluegrass crossover since The Mountain by Steve Earle & Del McCoury.The mix is much as before, treading a fine line between esoteric, traditional & mainstream, with many of the songs following the templates laid down by the debut, but familarity hasn't yet started to breed contempt. Though maybe there's no need to go looking for a third perky little number with Cocaine in the title for the next record,lads.It's a whole lot grittier than Alison Krauss or Nickel Creek & so should appeal to the listeners who have perhaps been alienated by the more tasteful/MOR examples of country/bluegrass.Relieved to see the continuing involvement of Rawlings & Welch on the production/playing side, always a guarantee of artistic integrity. Just a little worried that Rawlings seems to have had a hand in helping to write nearly half the songs, which perhaps smacks a little of relying on him too much in the studio to tie up loose ends.Perhaps it's time to mix things up a little next time, fellers, & get somebody like Steve Earle involved. But all in all it's an excellent follow-up; great vocal & instrumental work & still boasting the outstanding involvement of the insanely named Critter Fuqua (has rock or country come up with a better name?.)