Superpickers is designed as something of a super jam session, with Atkins joined by a bunch of Nashville cats, including Johnny Gimble, Charlie McCoy, Weldon Myrick, Hargus Robbins, and many others. This brings the album close to the definition of an old-fashioned pickers match where the guys all sit around, emphasizing the playing instead of either the tune or feel. Superpickers is still plenty smooth and relaxed -- it was cut near the end of this kind of crossover country easy listening -- but it's so solipsistic it's often straight-up cornball, whether it's the goofy organ and horns on the opening "Paramaribo" or the joshing around on "Fiddlin' Around" or even the mock-blues opening riff on "Just Another Rag." Once the crew all settles in, however, this flows as sweet and easy as a backyard creek, a bottle of bourbon, or a jar of molasses -- choose your poison, it's all here for you.
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