Tim O'Brien - Traveler

A singer of unusual clarity and originality, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist of rare ability, and an incisive songwriter, Tim O'Brien has, over the last 20 years, made a lasting mark on 'Americana' music through his innate musicianship and his wide-ranging tastes. Whether it's the reinterpretation of an old fiddle tune, a revitalized honky-tonk shuffle from the 1950s or an original bluegrass-inflected folk song, O'Brien's music feels familiar and comfortable while never lapsing into the predictable. This new album marks his return to Sugar Hill after six years. He says of it, These songs were inspired by trips to Italy, the Delta, my garage office and the old home town. I've traveled a great deal in the past 30 years. I keep going back to many of the same places, seeing new things every time. Go around the world and back, then repeat. Each time I take a slightly different tack, or maybe zig zag any old which way. A single shoe sits beside the road. Who left it there, how and why? If I ever find out maybe my life is over, but I'd bet the story doesn't quite end with those answers. So travel is learning, it's music, and it's life. I highly recommend it! Just leave room on the itinerary for the unplanned, because that's where the soul and beauty emerge.