Ed Burch wrote a nice review of the Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook CDs (volumes two and three) for the Pamphlet. See below the break, or visit the Pamphlet website to read the review.

Scott, Paul, and I had a great time playing at the CD release show Saturday night. We were grateful to get Paul’s wife Lauren to help us out on fiddle, and Libby Reed to assist us with harmony vocals. We did ‘South Australia’, and also ‘The Wild Rover’, my daughter’s favorite song.

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC
Songbook Volumes 2 & 3
(Bloodshot)
www.bloodshotrecords.com

Man, the hits just keep on coming. Volumes 2 and 3 of the Old Town School of Folk Music’s Songbook have been released together as a 2-CD set. As with the previous volume, the collection features Chicago musicians and/or instructors from the Old Town School running through a wide variety of tunes in the folk tradition. And as with the previous volumes, lots of great performances here. Among the highlights, Kelly Hogan and Scott Ligon turn in a beautiful rendition of Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing on My Mind.” Tangleweed opens the collection with a revamped take on “South Australia,” which even invokes the traditional string band’s Logan Square haunts. The Zincs answer that most vexing question: does the Rhythm Ace drum machine have a place in folk music? Their version of “Simple Gifts” echoes (literally) with a resounding “Yes.” Lisa DeRosia gives “East Virginia” a grittier update. “When the Saints Go Marching In” gets a proper treatment courtesy of The Lost Bayou Ramblers, and Nora O’Connor breathes some beautiful life into the old saw, “Home on the Range.” The topical tradition of folk music is well-treated with Eric Noden and Joe Filisko’s take on “Down By the Riverside (Ain’t Gonna Study War No More).” All in all, a fine collection.

-EDWARD BURCH