Old Crow Medicine Show’s sixth studio album Volunteer is the band’s first album of original material since signing to Columbia and follows their 2017 full-length tribute to Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde. Volunteer is an 11-song collection that combines Old Crow’s fondness for spirited fiddle-driven toe-tappers with traditional storytelling. Producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Colter Wall) helped Old Crow broaden their sonic palette, adding electric guitar and flourishes to songs without abandoning the band’s sound. Album highlights include: the rowdy opener “Flicker & Shine”; the protest song “Shout Mountain Music”; the tender “Homecoming Party”; the epic railroad song “Old Hickory”; the electric guitar-driven “Dixie Avenue”; the somber Rolling Stones inspired “Look Away”; the traditional “Elzick’s Farewell”; and the bittersweet closer, “Whirlwind.” Volunteer fits in perfectly with Old Crow Medicine Show’s striking catalog of music; an impressive feat for a two decades old bank still at the top of their game. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Chatham County Line, Hackensaw Boys, Punch Brothers, The SteelDrivers