Two Journeys finds Tim O'Brien working at the intersection of Appalachian bluegrass and Irish traditional music that has defined much of his solo career. The album extends the cross-Atlantic premise of his earlier Irish-themed projects, drawing direct lines between Ulster ballads and the mountain music that descended from them. O'Brien handles vocals, mandolin, fiddle, and bouzouki, the multi-instrumental fluency that has made him one of the most versatile figures in contemporary acoustic music. The arrangements move comfortably between the two traditions — sometimes within a single track — without forcing either to bend toward the other. The personnel draws on the loose circle of players who orbit O'Brien's projects, Nashville pickers and Irish session musicians alike. Recorded as he was establishing his post-Hot Rize solo identity in the early 2000s, the album sits among the strongest statements of his ongoing interest in tracing bluegrass back across the water.
Tracklist
- 1 Turning Around 3:35
- 2 Mick Ryan's Lament 3:21
- 3 For The Fallen 3:22
- 4 Paddy Fahey's/Garret Barry's/The Cliffs Of Moher 5:22
- 5 The Apple Press And The Apple Cart 3:34
- 6 Demon Lover alt version 5:21
- 7 The Holy Well 3:17
- 8 Me And Dirk's Trip To Ireland 2:36
- 9 The Lancer's Jig/Gusty's Frolicks 2:37
- 10 What Does the Deep Sea Say alt version 4:17
- 11 Two Journeys (Deux Voyages) 4:19
- 12 The Tide Flows Into Miltown 6:00
- 13 Pear Tree/Muddy Roads/Ladies' Pantelettes 3:38
- 14 Norwegian Wood alt version 4:06