Martin may have had better 5-string chops back in the day, but his songwriting on this disc is terrific. All of the outstanding instrumental and vocal work on The Crow, however, was done by the all-star musicians Martin was able to attract to the project, and there were more than a few — Trischka, Scruggs, O'Brien, Parton, Gill, McEuen, Duncan, Douglas, etc. It's really an all-star project catalyzed by Martin.

I'm a Martin fan, but I'm not getting wild and crazy about his banjo thing.