Cornbread Nation

Cornbread Nation

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Corn Bread: An All-American traditional staple of rural cuisine with widely varying ingredients depending on the region of the country but universally enjoyable, especially as part of a meal prepared for old and/or new friends. "The words 'traditional' or 'folk' may connote something precious or sacred, something not to be tampered with, but I don't look at it that way and I don't treat these songs like museum objects. I borrowed lyrics from one for the other, and changed melodies to suit my mood, and put some drums and electric guitars with them... The great purveyors of folk music always put their own stamp on things. Like good home-cooked food, it's gonna come out a little different each time you make it. No sense in worrying too much over it. It's like your cornbread batter--don't stir it up too much, just put it together and let it cook." --Tim O'Brien

Musicians include: Chris Thile, Kenny Vaughan, Dennis Crouch, Edgar Meyer, Dirk Powell, Casey Driessen, Stuart Duncan, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Mollie O'Brien, Darrell Scott, and Del McCoury.

Tracks:

Hold On
Moses
Cornbread Nation
The Foggy Foggy Dew
Let's Go Huntin'
Walkin' Boss
House Of The Risin' Sun
Runnin' Out Of Memory
Busted
California Blues
Boat Up The River
When This World Comes To An End

Album Description

Corn Bread: An All-American traditional staple of rural cuisine with widely varying ingredients depending on the region of the country but universally enjoyable, especially as part of a meal prepared for old and/or new friends. "The words 'traditional' or 'folk' may connote something precious or sacred, something not to be tampered with, but I don't look at it that way and I don't treat these songs like museum objects. I borrowed lyrics from one for the other, and changed melodies to suit my mood, and put some drums and electric guitars with them... The great purveyors of folk music always put their own stamp on things. Like good home-cooked food, it's gonna come out a little different each time you make it. No sense in worrying too much over it. It's like your cornbread batter--don't stir it up too much, just put it together and let it cook." --Tim O'Brien

Musicians include: Chris Thile, Kenny Vaughan, Dennis Crouch, Edgar Meyer, Dirk Powell, Casey Driessen, Stuart Duncan, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Mollie O'Brien, Darrell Scott, and Del McCoury.

Customer Reviews:

Tim O'brien at his creative best.......2007-03-08

A must-have for O'Brien fans, traditional or Celtic fans.

Cornbread not so sweet.......2006-02-22

Not impressed. Purchased due to Jerry Douglass appearance. Wouldn't even know he was on it. Bought with Fiddler's Green. Now that is a nice product, very nice. Jerry is on it as well, w/Stuart Duncan.

Is there any limit?.......2006-02-17

I have been a huge fan of Tim for at least a decade. Each release of his is so wonderful, that I keep wondering how a current one can be as good or better. Somehow he manages to exceed expectations with each one. Cornbread nation falls perfectly into this pattern. It may be his best yet--excellent song selection, evocative and exciting presentation, and seamless collaborations with guest artists who are the cream of the current folk/bluegrass/americana crop. Esp. his amazing sibling Mollie, with the voice of gold. I see little point in describing the individual tracks--just sample them and you will see.

Really enjoyed it!.......2006-01-17

Never heard of Tim O'Brien until I sampled "Fiddler's Green" album in stores but bought both and do not regret it. Cornbread Nation is humorous, soulful with catchy rhythms and vocals. It's a mix of original and old tyme songs. Tim O'Brien is my new fave.

A new sense of contemporary spirit and perceptiveness to older music.......2005-10-25

Playing Time - 49:14 -- Tim O'Brien is not afraid to arrange an old traditional number like "Hold On" with electric guitar (Kenny Vaughan) and conga and shaker (Kenny Malone). He recognizes that traditional music is timeless, but he also welcomes the opportunity to incorporate modern sounds right alongside the old. While a bit lengthy, take the 6-minute rendition of "Moses," for example. Kenny Malone's drum kit imparts a solid rhythmic foundation as banjo, fiddle, guitar and four vocalists get spiritual. Tim shows a very adventurous side with the title cut that could have the same significant impact on this century's music as "Hot Corn, Cold Corn" did when Flatt & Scruggs first presented that in the last one. For folks who want to discover how to embody saxophone into traditional music, then they need look no further than Sam Levine's playing on songs like "Cornbread Nation" and "The Foggy, Foggy Dew."

That gives a clue as to why I appreciate O'Brien's releases. Besides his own zestful singing and picking, he also hears accordion, drums, percussion, electric guitar, steel guitar and other instruments right alongside the traditional string sounds of banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and bouzouki. He also branches into various genres such as Cajun with "Let's Go Huntin'," that the supporting musicians also clearly enjoyed too. The blues are best captured on this album when Tim O'Brien and Dan Tyminiski sing "House of the Risin' Sun." Well, Jimmie Rodgers' "California Blues" is full of old-time country moxie and yodeling but also some slightly distorted electric guitar with reverb and driving snare drum. On "Boat Up the River," I would've preferred hearing some banjo and less electric guitar. Bluegrassers will perk up at the original "Runnin' Out of Memory" (with Del McCoury's tenor). A slower country twang permeates the cover of Harlan Howard's "Busted." A number of the songs are only sung solo, and I heard a few opportunities where Tim could've built a few more vocal harmonies into the mixes. However, those looking for vocal harmonies will certainly enjoy the album closer, "When this World omes to an End," with electric guitar, drums, bass, and mandolin accompanying the vocals of Tim O'Brien, Odessa Settles, Todd Suttles, and Darrell Scott.

Tim O'Brien has built a reputation for being able to bring a new sense of contemporary spirit and perceptiveness to older music. With spring coming, "Cornbread Nation" is like a new bloom in the garden. Crossing into a multitude of genres (gospel, old-time, blues, bluegrass, classic country, Cajun) is part of his approach. Creative arrangements are another element. Finally, Tim also likes to hear traditional instruments alongside drums, percussion, electric guitar, saxophone and other non-traditional ones. As long as you like this type of transmutation, you'll find this CD to be very fulfilling and stimulating. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

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