THE O’S
We Are The O’s CD - Idol

The O’s are Taylor Young and John Pedigo, a guitar, banjo, and harmony duo with Polyphonic Spree connections. Young also helms the 1970s blues boogie rock revival trio Young James Long, and partner Pedigo heads up the country outfit Boys Named Sue. While elements of all three of these bands are here, little outright of the psychedelic musical theater pop of Polyphonic Spree, or of the work of their other groups is all that evident on We Are the O’s, the duo’s debut disc.

We Are the O’s is a recording of fairly straightforward bluegrass and folk tunes - think country-rock without the rock, and pretty much without the country - delivered in spare arrangements, acoustic string instruments paired with a kick drum. Throughout, Young and Pedigo give out with some healthy harmonizing. Stylistically, The O’s are something of a hybrid of an unplugged and less histrionic Two Gallants crossed with The Avett Brothers. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine that Young and Pedigo are not meaning We Are the O’s to be read in some ironic fashion, and yet the earnestness of their delivery, their true-to-form rootsy licks, and some very fine tunesmithing - while there are some misses here, “You’ve Got Your Heart,” “One Way Ticket,” and “Together” are each impressive - all argue for this recording to sit comfortably beside any article which might be called genuine. Either way, authentic as the hill country or eye-winking trope, this record makes for a fine listen.

By Michael Meade

wearetheos.com