Customer Reviews

The Crossing

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a fan of both celtic traditional and bluegrass music I was wary of a CD claiming to be a hybrid - too often it means an unsatisfactory compromise where original flavours become watered down and insipid. I need not have worried - Tim O'Brien has produced one of the most amazing and rewarding musical journeys I've followed for some time. Not only do the players from the two traditions blend instinctively and harmoniously but the tracks , mostly songs, are marvellous vehicles for new and exciting directions. There are superb performances all round, vocally from O'Brien with guests Paul Brady, Maura O'Connell, Kathhy Mattea, Del McCoury etc and musicians Altan, Frankie Gavin, Jerry Douglas, Earl Scruggs, Seamus Egan and a host of others and the sound is fresh, acoustic and vital, requiring no production gimmicks or effects. Standout songs for me personally are "Mountaineer is Always Free", "Lost Little Children", "Wandering" and "John Riley" although there is not a weak track on the CD. It is obvious that for Tim O'Brien this has been a labour of love. If you like acoustic music, from any tradition, either side of the Atlantic, you'll love it. Several of my friends have bought it on my recommendation and agree it is brilliant.

I first encountered Tim O'Brien twenty years ago as the vocalist/fiddle player in the bluegrass band Hot Rize. On this solo outing (which he dedicates to Hot Rize guitarist Charles Sawtelle), O'Brien takes us on a musical journey to his Celtic roots with a wonderful collection of both original and traditional songs.

The album opens with the traditional "Ireland's Green Shore" and is followed by "A Mountaineer Is Always Free," an O'Brien original who lifted the title from the West Virginia state motto. The title track is a rip-roaring original fiddle tune. "Wagoner's Lad" is a lovely duet with Kathy Mattea. One of my favorite tracks is "Talkin Cavan" which features O'Brien on guitar doing a terrific take on Bob Dylan as he tells of his 1998 trip to Ireland to find the old O'Brien farm cottage in County Cavan. Each tune is proof of the musical connection between Irish and American folk music. And with guest musicians like Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Seamus Egan (whistles, bodhran), Todd Phillips (bass) and Jerry Douglas (Hawaiian guitar), the music is nothing short of spectacular. Earl Scruggs even shows up on the instrumental medley "Lord McDonald/Cumberland Gap."

If you like Tim O'Brien, Celtic music, bluegrass, folk or any combination of the above, you'll find much to cherish on this album. Total running time: 63:10 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Being a celtic fan, not bluegrass, I was unfamiliar with Tim's work. I was pleasantly suprised by his talent as a writer/singer and musician. I have a huge collection of celtic music and this has gone to the top of my frequent play list. If you are at all interested in celtic/fusion, this is for you. I am also interested in the celtic roots of american and appalachian music. This album perfectly traces those roots. An added plus: the musicians (both Irish and American) are top notch. Don't be afraid to take a chance on this record. It is terrific.

Every once in a while an artist's vision, tastes, and talents come together in a special way. This is one of those albums, to me at least. You can tell that O'Brien was personally invested here, that these songs hold a special meaning for him. And oh-by-the-way-as-always, what a great picker he is. Buy it, before you forget.

Seriously, this recording (and it's follow up "Two Journeys") are treasures.

ALL of the real heavies from both Celtic music and bluegrass are on this record. Seriously, from Earl Scruggs to Altan- they're all here. Others have attempted the same Celtic/bluegrass hybrid but THIS is the best.

My favorite track is the utterly chilling story of Irish- American soldier of fortune "John Riley." The music was written by Tim with lyrics by Guy Clark and features REALLY SCARY slide guitar from Kelly Joe Phelps.

And then when you realize that it's a true story.... <shiver>

Every schoolkid in America (or Ireland) should get to hear this recording.

And then be sure to check out "Two Journeys."

It's a truism that if you don't try new things you'll never know whether you like them. Tim O'Brien was a new artist to me when I got this album, and on the first play I wasn't sure whether I'd made a good choice, but it grows on you. There's authentic folk music ("Wagoner's Lad"), original music successfully imitating folk (the chilling "John Riley," which is *not* the song you remember Joan Baez singing--this one focuses on a little-known aspect of the 1846-7 war with Mexico, and if I didn't *know* it had been written expressly for this collection, I'd have thought O'Brien dredged it up from some obscure traditional songbook), instrumentals and "talkin' blues" ("Talkin' Cavan," which reminds me a bit of "Alice's Restaurant"). Worth your listen.

Hard to add much to the reviews already written. You will definitely like this CD alot. O'Brien draws on major talent from both sides of the Atlantic to assist him on this project and almost every cut is superb (the rest are just real good). Tim O'Brien is in fine voice and his harmonies with Del McCoury, Kathy Mattea, and others are right on the money. One of the most impressive aspects of this project is the quality of Tim O'Brien's songwriting. I'm sure "A Mountaineer is Always Free" is destined to become a bluegrass/folk classic and his "Talkin' Cavan" is a great (and hilarious) tale of genealogy tourism gone awry.

Full of emotions, without compare: a perfect blending of memories, suggestions, tears and tenderness by a musical genius.

I am a long-time fan of Tim O'Brien's and I believe this is his best yet. It is a singularly beautiful work.

This is an excellent CD, clearly the soundtrack of O'Brien's personal journey to uncover his, and this music's, roots. Bill Monroe spoke of the "ancient tones" in the music he birthed - the drone of the fiddle imitating the pipes, the "chuck" of the mandolin suggenting the bodhran. O'Brien focuses on these very tones on this recording, backed by a superb supporting cast of players (Seamus Egan, Earl Scruggs, Jerry Douglas, Mollie O'Brien, Altan, and Kathy Mattea, to name a few).

For non-Bluegrassers, Tim O'Brien is one of the most accessible vocalists in the genre, in addition to being a fine musician himself. He's also a classy guy for dedicating this recording to the late Charles Sawtelle.

Highly recommended to those who enjoy acoustic, celtic, and bluegrass music.