Re: The whole 'Pickin' On.." thing
Well, I have to say I just bought "Pickin' on Wilco" and it's a cut above what I've heard from other albums in the series.
This is probably because instead of bluegrass studio cats rushing through slapdash arrangements of rock tunes (and throwing in a drum kit and electric bass to cover the distance between rock and bluegrass grooves) ... "Pickin' on Wilco" was recorded by a an actual band: Old School Freight Train. It sounds like they developed these arrangements over a period of months, not on a long weekend, and it's all strict bluegrass-quintet instrumentation (although decidedly newgrass in style). Hardcore OSFT fans probably already know about this. I have never owned any records by either OSFT or Wilco before today, but I feel that I'm off to a very good start.
Re: The whole 'Pickin' On.." thing
I agree that a lot of these things are awful and basically elevator music, but I think some of the Iron Horse (http://ironhorsebluegrass.com/) discs are pretty great... their album of Shins covers, for example, is about as good as the originals. I think part of it is that they're smart enough to retain the vocals (with nice tight harmonies), so it doesn't feel like the gentle acoustic instrumental supermarket e-z-listening version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnT4t...eature=related
(Edited to add example which features tidy mando break.)
Re: The whole 'Pickin' On.." thing
Nice one Corgi! But then I liked Flatt and Scruggs' Changing Times album (1/2 Dylan), and a few of the Pickin' On tunes have made me laugh as well.
Grommet
Re: The whole 'Pickin' On.." thing
Funny this thread should get resurrected as I was listening to "Red on Blonde" by Tim O'Brien and thinking how those Dylan songs make such good bluegrass music.
...one of my fav's
Re: The whole 'Pickin' On.." thing
One of the best albums ever , Pete !