Did you know Canberra is serviced by two country music stations? No, not one for country and the other for western, but FM and AM. So you could find a band called Old Crow Medicine Show to be rampant on a least one of these stations. They may get on Hot Country, but that’s really ”Billboard Country” territory (Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, etc). And they’re not quite ”alt-country” enough for Star Country Canberra AM, which is a shame as OCMS have always been an interesting, evolving group.

It’s been four years since the last Old Crow Medicine Show album, Tennessee Pusher, and what a difference. Producer Don Was’s stripped-back bluegrass country-drawl has been fully fleshed out to sound like the tight-sounding house band of the biggest, jumpiest joint in Nashville. The Neil Young shanty-style sounds have been replaced with early ’70s country Bob Dylan, none more apparent than on Levi, sounding remarkably like Dylan’s 1971 classic George Jackson. In fact, you may be hard pressed to recognise that these two albums are from the same band. Overall there is more of an ”old-timey” feel to the album.

There is still the same thoughtfulness to their lyrics, but wrapped tightly up in a homage to the roots of their music. Songs rise in full-swing fiddle, foot-stomping zest – but listening more closely to the lyrics you find it was about the grim reality of warfare in the 19th century (or even the 21st). Full of more political statements than modern protest albums, Carry Me Back rides in Southern rhythms to find an examination of the human condition just below the surface.

Carry Me Back also has some rockin’ jumpers: Mississippi Saturday Night, Steppin’ Out and Country Gal are all great swinging numbers. With pronounced harmonies and gusto, these songs will have you at least tapping your feet in no time. Anyone who picked up the O Brother, Where Out Thou? soundtrack and found a real keenness, not just a passing fancy, will love what’s on offer here.

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Perhaps OCMS would find more chart success with their roots revival music today if they threw in some strong swear words.

Kam Noack

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