The Ozarks Mountaineer by Mark Bilyeu, Mar/Apr 2006
"The Tallboys are an old-time outfit based in Seattle. Music this honest surely didn’t spring up on the west coast, and indeed, the band is comprised largely of displaced Midwesterners, including Paul McGowan from Arkansas. Yeah Buddy is the band’s third release. Traditional fiddle drives this album, played at a spirited dance tempo, interrupted every so often by twangy vocal outbursts. The band is tight and in the groove, supported by nimble clawhammer banjo, unobtrusive mandolin and a sturdy framework of stand-up bass and acoustic guitar. When the vocals come to the forefront, they sound good, as evidenced by the clean duo harmony on “Henry Lee.” Fiddler Joe Fulton and the gang have done their homework when it comes to finding source material, and they thankfully include nods to Ozarks fiddlers in their repertoire (they list national treasure Bob Holt among their influences). The Tallboys are fond of maintaining the odd rhythmic phrases that modern players have gradually squared away, which only adds to the delightful character of this music. You’ll be pleased with the sound of this record – it’s very natural, as if you were sitting just outside the band’s circle at a music party. Any group that performs with a “resident clogger” must be a hoot to catch live. The title of this CD evokes the music well – unpretentious and fun. Yeah buddy."