If Del McCoury and Conor Oberst had a lovechild, the bluegrass pop folk duo known as The O’s could be the auditory likeness. The sophomore album Between the Two (Idol Records) again wields guitar and banjo as weapons of choice for Taylor Young and John Pedigo, along with their signature well-matched and nicely twanged vocal harmonies. Adding a single kick drum, steel guitar, harmonica, and lowebro to the lyrics about life, love, and the pursuit of the party makes this album a success. The album ebbs and flows through a spectrum of emotions and life lessons like a mountain stream turned white water rapids whooshing by a late-night campfire, and back again. Tracks like the determined “Pushin Along” roll into the happy-go-lucky party “Everything’s Alright” and back to lovey dovey “Remember You”. Idiosyncrasies of the uniqueness that is the banjo are almost overshadowed by the smoothness of the mastering, but this actually serves to pique curiosity about their notoriously fun live performances. The O’s are headed to Austin in July, and TVD Austin will certainly have our eyes and ears peeled.
