The virtuosic
Punch Brothers and ex-
Leftover Salmon banjo player's Rounder Records' debut, and fourth proper solo outing,
Universal Favorite sees
Noam Pikelny playing the role of one-man band on a set that covers everything from country and bluegrass to jazz and classical. Recorded live in the studio and comprised of seven solo instrumentals and five songs with vocals -- a first for
Pikelny -- the 12-track set is as organic as they come. "Waveland" opens the proceedings with a delicate wash of elliptical, classical-tinged plucking that evokes the
Punch Brothers' more regal moments, while the traditional "Old Banjo" serves as a fine introduction to
Pikelny's uneven, but immensely likeable baritone, which shares some of the earthy resonance of
Jake Xerxes Fussel.
Pikelny proves himself to be as deft a guitar player as he is a peerless banjoist on a cover of
Carl Butler's "My Tears Don't Show," but it's his trusty five-string that delivers
Universal Favorite's best moments. The three-part closing act, which includes a pair of disparate but wildly inventive instrumentals, and ends with a homey and spirited rendition of
Roger Miller's "I’ve Been a Long Time Leavin' (But I’ll Be a Long Time Gone)," perfectly encapsulates the album's simple, rough-hewn charm. ~ James Christopher Monger