Search - Son Volt :: Okemah & Melody of Riot

Rate the music, please!

Kowalsky The Sailorman | BH/MG, Brasil | 12/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think it's extremely unfair to write bad reviews on this album because "it is copy protected" or "don't play on my computer". I mean, right now 8 out 10 reviewers gave it "1 star" complaining about this kind of stuff, not the music in itself. And negative reviews only affect the band, not the record company, which is the one that should be criticised in the first place.



That said, I must say to Son Volt fans: forget about "Uncle Tupelo", "Trace" or the "AltCountry" movement. This is just a rock album, it has nothing to do with country. It's the new incarnation of Son Volt and it's great this way. I love the old one but I love this new one too.



Not to say I don't have some complaints on the songs here: I'd love to hear Jay Farrar expand his compositions a little (a lot) longer, let Brad Rice fly on a REAL guitar solo (or Jay could do it himself). I think "Highway 61" deserved a lengthier solo and "Endless War" was begging for a sparse guitar solo at the end.



Well, maybe that's just me. I think Jay Farrar just likes to keep thinks concise, and he does. To his credit, songs like "Bandages & Scars" and "6 String Belief" are too perfect to be changed in any way. These two plus "Endless War", "Medication", "Gramophone" and "World Waits For You" make this record nearly an instant classic.



So, in spite of my complaints, I can only rate it 5 stars. And I recommend "The Search" too.

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