Search - Mark O'Connor :: Markology

Bridget S. (Vassar) from PLYMOUTH, IN
Reviewed on 3/20/2010...

WOW
This is a really good recording. Too bad this is the only guitar-only album Mark made. On here, he easily gives Rice, Crary, others a run for their money. If you only listen to one song, let it be the first-about one and a half minutes of amazing picking, as O'Connor goes into his own variation of Dixie Breakdown.

A Showcase of Flatpicking Fortitude

Nick Mertaugh | North Carolina, USA | 06/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This late-70's recording is one of the best official releases of Mark O'Connor that showcases his unprecedented skills as a bluegrass flatpicker. Although Mark is now most renown for his prodigal fiddle virtuosity, he is also an excellent guitarist. This album sees a teenaged O'Connor exploding with creativity and youthful zeal, attacking the fretboard in a style unparalleled even today. These songs (all instrumentals) are mostly original compositions leaning towards jazz-grass or "Dawg music," but included are some fiery executions of classic bluegrass numbers that Monroe himself would be proud of (i.e., Blackberry Blossom and Dixie Breakdown). Not only do we have Mark absolutely devastating his dreadnought with ingenious improvisation, blistering speed and uncanny accuracy, we have legendary flatpicker Tony Rice backing the young O'Connor up on his infamous Clarence White D-28 (even taking a lead or two), and the innovator of Dawg music himself, David Grisman on mandolin. David was so impressed by Mark's performance on this record that he soon after recruited Mark into his Dave Grisman Quintet on guitar and violin. If you're a fan of bluegrass music, acoustic music, flatpicking or guitar in general, you must add this title to your musical library! It's not only an absolutely extraordinary 40 minutes of music, but it's a significant piece of bluegrass's evolutionary history. You won't be disappointed!"

Mark's only guitar album is one of the best ever

T. YAU | Chicago, IL USA | 09/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To begin, few musicians have attained a level of virtuosity that Mark O'Connor has. A champion fiddle player AND a champion flatpicker in his early teens, he decided to cut his first and only guitar album at the young age of 16. Recruiting the best bluegrass players in the business (Tony Rice, Sam Bush, David Grisman), Markology was recorded and stands in my mind as one of the best if not the best "dawg" bluegrass album ever.The first few tracks blew me away when I heard them, especially the jazzy title track, but the album attained an even higher level of virtuosity with Fluid Drive. Layer after layer of tone are added one by one until after two minutes, you have every musician playing and Mark soloing over the top. Tony Rice even takes a lead at the end which is comparable to his top soloes. Sam Bush and David Grisman display their chops with fine soloing in Beserkeley, another great track on the album (there really are no bad tracks to be found here). A few covers, including the fiery Blackberry Blossom and the oldie Top of the World are found on this album as well.Mark abstained from playing the fiddle on this album at all, stating that this was his "guitar album." And although there are other Mark O'Connor albums where he will pick up his dreadnought, this is his only true "guitar" album, and it remains one of the best albums ever. A must-own for any bluegrass fan or aspiring flatpicker. I can't say enough good things about this album."