O.C.M.S.

O.C.M.S. is the 2004 debut studio album by Old Crow Medicine Show, produced by David Rawlings. The record is a pivotal moment in the Americana movement, successfully bridging the gap between traditional old-time music and the alternative country scene. Recorded with a live-in-the-room feel, the album features a mix of traditional standards and original compositions, most notably 'Wagon Wheel,' which became a multi-platinum cultural phenomenon. The production by Rawlings is notably transparent, preserving the band's busking roots while providing enough clarity to highlight the intricate interplay between Ketch Secor’s fiddle and Willie Watson’s banjo. Gillian Welch provides subtle percussion on several tracks, adding to the album's rhythmic drive. Critically, the album was praised for its authenticity and infectious energy, establishing the band as leaders of a new wave of string band music that eschewed the polish of contemporary Nashville bluegrass in favor of a more visceral, punk-influenced approach.