Submitted By Iain Patience
It's a surprise to discover this is Tim O'Brien's first release since 2011 when 'The Crossing' launched to widespread acclaim. Of course, O'Brien himself has been busy between takes as a soloist, and with his other pet projects Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers and Hot Rize, and as a member of the Jerry Douglas-led award winning country outfit The Earls of Leicester.
A well-established US Americana/modern country/bluegrass festival favourite, he is also a sideman of note and lends his multiple talents to countless other artists each year both vocally and instrumentally where he majors, it seems, on most acoustic instruments. Basically, if it can produce a tune, O'Brien can play it - banjo; guitar; mandolin; fiddle; bazouki - the list seems endless.
He's also a noted songwriter and many artists have cut their teeth with his tracks over the years. With 'Pompadour' O'Brien again produces an excellent album full of eclectic tracks and influences that range across the gamut of emotion, energy and genres. Around half the tracks are self-written while others reflect the dazzling diversity of styles this guy has mastered: Woody Guthrie, Michael Hanley, Dan Reader and even James Brown all get a look-in here alongside his ever-present, Irish traditional fiddle fun.