First off, there's no "King Tut" here, and this isn't Steve Martin with an arrow through his head using the five-string banjo as a prop and trying to be funny. The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo is exactly what the title says it is -- it's a banjo album, spotlighting Martin originals on the instrument (of the 16 tracks, all but one are his own compositions). And guess what? Martin is pretty good at the banjo, and this is no vanity project. Tracks like the stirring and revealing "Daddy Played the Banjo," the blisteringly kinetic "Hoedown at Alice's," the very pretty "Freddie's Lilt," and the expansive, even beautifully ornate "Calico Train" (there are two versions here) not only wouldn't seem out of place on any progressive bluegrass album, they'd probably be the best cuts on it. Martin has a lot of help, yes, from the likes of Mary Black, Vince Gill, Tim O'Brien, Dolly Parton, Earl Scruggs (Scruggs' presence here should tell you something about Martin's playing chops), Tony Trischka, and Pete Wernick, and the album is lovingly produced by John McKuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, but make no mistake, this is completely Martin's album and it's his vision all the way. He even takes a very successful shot at frailing the banjo with the lovely and modal "Clawhammer Medley," the one non-original here. Everyone knows that Martin can be very funny, but The Crow isn't a joke. It's a first-class banjo album. One wonders if entering an archery tournament is next on this talented performer's agenda. Here's guessing Martin's probably pretty good at that, too.

-- Steve Leggett, All Music Guide


The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo

1 Daddy Played the Banjo 3:19
2 Pitkin County Turnaround 2:26
3 Hoedown at Alice's 3:13
4 Late for School 3:47
5 Tin Roof 2:18
6 Words Unspoken 2:54
7 Pretty Flowers 2:42
8 Wally on the Run 1:37
9 Freddie's Lilt 2:55
10 Saga of the Old West 3:23
11 Clawhammer Medley 2:16
12 Calico Train 4:47
13 Banana Banjo 2:16
14 Blue River Waltz 2:18
15 The Crow 3:25
16 Calico Train Instrumental 3:10

Go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble and listen to some cuts. You'll be convinced, if you like banjo that is. But buy from BuzzFlash; we need to pay our bills.

"Seriously, I never thought I would spend my commuting time listening to banjo music, but I have always been a huge fan of Steve Martin's comedy albums, his movies, his novels, and even some plays he wrote. After seeing Martin on the American Idol final, I decided to give the banjo album a try. Is there anything this guy can't do?"

-- an online reviewer

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