The fine folks at Bloodshot Records continue their folk revival with a 2 CD set, volume 2 and 3 of the Old Town School of Folk Music, which is in fact an actual music school dedicated to teaching people different types of music, especially roots oriented music. And yes, the songs on these CDs are from the school’s song book.
Don’t let the genre “folk” fool ya. While many of these songs are very old traditional tunes, they don’t _sound_ old. The artists on these songs aren’t rooted in the past, they play from the persepctive of the here and now and it gives these tunes new life and new energy.
There’s hardly a weak track in the 42 song set, but if I had to pick favorites they’d be:
Volume 2:
Last Thing On My Mind
(When Things Go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too
Red River Valley
Simple Gifts
John Henry
Colours
Sportin’ Life
When The Saints Go Marching In
Volume 3:
Nine Pound Hammer
Hard and It’s Hard
Hard Times
Trouble In Mind
Hobo’s Lullaby
Shine On, Harvest Moon
Old Time Religion
Rolling In My Sweet Baby’s Arms
