Comments for Son Volt, Strightaways

Nuts! I misspelled the title: Straightaways.

My experiences with this album have been fairly complicated and erratic. I bought it in the wake of falling in love with Wilco''s "Being There" having never heard a minute of the bands music. The first time I listended to it, I said that it was the most depressing music that I ever heard. So depressing, in fact, that at times I found myself laughing out loud at just how downbeat it is. I know that sounds strange, but that was my reaction. At the time, I was pretty musch convinced that I didn''t like it but after a few months I began playing it quite frequently and the music, Jay Farrar''s mournful voice in particular, began to sink into my brain. Now I love it. They''ve replaced the now-defunct Gin Blossoms as my choice as the "Saddest Band In Rock" (I mean that as a good thing) and I''m looking forward to hearing more from them. If I have a favorite *moment* on the album, it has to be the way Jay sings the chorus of "Let me back into your world." I love the way his voice just withers on "world" but there are many other magical moments on the record like "Caryatid Easy" and "Picking Up The Signal." (Jer)

Same lineup as Trace. Superlative country/rock. First copiescame in a crappy all-cardboard package but it`s now availablein a jewel box. (Had I only known...) BTW: These guys aregreat live! (08/29/97)