Clearly inspired by the commercial breakthrough of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, this high-spirited anthology presents 18 songs from the vaults of RCA/Bluebird, offering a crash course in the evolution of old-time country and mountain music into bluegrass. Opening the album is Harry McClintock"s 1928 recording of "The Big Rock Candy Mountain," which highlighted the O Brother film, followed by a couple of traditional classics from country"s seminal artists--Jimmie Rodgers"s "In the Jailhouse Now" and the Carter Family"s "Keep on the Sunny Side"--that were revived by others on the hit soundtrack. Five tracks proceed to detail the musical progression of Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music, while other staples include the Prairie Brothers" romp through "Shady Grove" and the close harmonies of the Morris Brothers (reminiscent of the better-known Louvin Brothers) on "Salty Dog Blues." Balancing the spiritual uplift of some of the material, the collection ends with the murder balladry of the Country Pardners" "Pretty Polly." --Don McLeese