Tim O’Brien and Darrell Scott open their second album, Memories And Moments, with the original tune “Time to Talk to Joseph.” O’Brien’s raw but masterful banjo playing and gravelly, plaintive vocals on the song he penned, set the pace for the seasoned Appalachian sound throughout the album. Such natural beauty is heard on each of the album’s 14 tracks—including guest John Prine’s “Paradise” and original songs like the environmental manifesto “Keep Your Dirty Lights On.” The austere beauty that they inject into classics from troubadours such as Hank Williams, George Jones and John
Prine, as well as their self-penned tunes, is the sonic equivalent of wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a cold day—comforting and familiar. This recording proves that the duo, like the classic songs they cut, have ripened magnificently and should be enjoyed for years to come.