Search - Tim O'Brien :: Two Journeys

Two Journeys
Tim O'Brien
Two Journeys
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

West Virginia native Tim O'Brien is one of a handful of master musicians that manages to be both cutting edge and traditional at the same time. Primarily known as a folk and bluegrass player who can charm and cajole with...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Tim O'Brien
Title: Two Journeys
Members Wishing: 4
Total Copies: 0
Label: Howdy Skies
Original Release Date: 1/1/2001
Re-Release Date: 10/9/2001
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Bluegrass, Classic Country, Traditional Folk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 670832100423

Synopsis

Amazon.com
West Virginia native Tim O'Brien is one of a handful of master musicians that manages to be both cutting edge and traditional at the same time. Primarily known as a folk and bluegrass player who can charm and cajole with a wide variety of stringed instruments, he has of late been turning to bridging the ocean and ages by finding the common denominators between Irish and Appalachian musical forms. On Two Journeys, he brings together renowned American and Irish musicians on tracks as disparate as "Mick Ryan's Lament"--a take on "Garryowen" (General Custer's unofficial marching theme) that tells the ghostly story of a man who would have preferred dying with his brother at Vicksburg than at Little Bighorn--and "Norwegian Wood" sans sitars. For those who love the best that wood, string, whistles, and wit can produce, O'Brien has perfectly combined Irish and American forms without losing either the mirth or the melancholy of either. --Henry Cabot Beck

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CD Reviews

Two Journeys
Kevin L. Nenstiel | Kearney, Nebraska | 10/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like a lot of us in recent years, Tim O'Brien got to be curious about his Irish heritage. And, being a musician, he got the opportunity to explore his heritage in tunes, melding the bluegrass he's been playing for years with the distincitive sounds of Ireland.The two styles aren't wildly separate, but there's enough between them to make it pleasing to hear them together. From the slow philosophy of "Turning Around" to the playfulness of "Me & Dick's Trip to Ireland," from the antiquity of a ballad like "The Demon Lover" to a stirring new number like "The Holy Well," this album bridges the gaps and makes art out of the finished product.Only in America could this sound have been created. But only in Ireland could it have been conceived. This is an album recommended for a broad spectrum of listeners, and maybe, just maybe, it will get fans of one kind of music to listen to another. One can only hope."
"Celebration of a Shared Heritage"
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 10/15/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album picks up where 1999's The Crossing left off, with Tim O'Brien exploring his Celtic roots and melding it with the Appalachian and bluegrass music he's been making for the past quarter century. The album contains a mix of mostly original and traditional tunes, including a gorgeous reading of Lennon-McCartney's "Norwegian Wood"--the sitar being replaced by whistle, pipes and fiddle.O'Brien has a stellar group of musicians, including Paul Brady, Kevin Burke, Paddy Keenan, Triona Dhomhnaill and Darrell Scott. [Note: O'Brien recorded a duet album, Real Time, with Scott in 2000 that is also well worth seeking out.] In his liner notes, O'Brien says, "This recording represents an ongoing celebration of the shared heritage between the USA and Ireland." And what a joyful celebration it is. O'Brien has been making fine music since his days with Hot Rize and deserves to be heard by a wider audience. [O'Brien now records on his own small, independent label--check him out at www.howdyskies.com] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
A Trip Worth Taking
Ben Fitzgerald | 08/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"To me, there is no greater musical talent than writing a good tune. And Tim O'Brien writes great ones. I'd tell you it's his finest talent, but the boy can sing and the boy can play! On Two Journeys, O'Brien continues his efforts towards Irish folk influenced songs and combines his own tunes with some classic Irish songs pulled from his bluegrass repetoir, the standout being "Demon Lover", often called "The House Carpenter". What makes this a truly unique CD for me is O'Brien's mandolin which adds something new, not to mention achingly beautiful, to the Irish folk sound.If you're a fan of Irish folk or Tim O'Brien, this CD will offer you something that is both refreshing and familiar."