MOLLIE O'BRIEN
Things I Gave Away (Sugar Hill)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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I was impressed and a bit surprised by Mollie O'Brien's 1998 Sugar Hill release, Big Red Sun. The surprise came because I, like many, associated O'Brien with her brother Tim, one of the leading figures in modern bluegrass, and Big Red Sun was deeply rooted in the blues, sans grass.

There are more surprises in store for anyone who might underestimate the range of Mollie O'Brien's talents. Things I Gave Away has more of those blues flavored performances I liked so much last time, and a good deal more. With material drawn from everyone from Percy Mayfield to Lennon/ McCartney to Abbey Lincoln, O'Brien displays blues, jazz and pop chops to spare. It's a bit of a dilemma, I suppose, for the commercially minded. The marketplace likes boxes, categories, labels. But Mollie O'Brien is simply too talented to be contained by the simplicities of the marketplace.

This is one to listen to over and over, with new joys revealed in each listening. File it under "Terrific."

Track List:

River's Invitation * When I'm Gone * The House, The Boat, The Lovers * Practicing Walking Away * You Won't See Me * Train Time * Throw It Away * Love, Life And Money * The Right Thing * When I've Got The Moon

© 2001 - Shaun Dale