Search - Son Volt :: Wide Swing Tremolo

Son Volt on the upswing

rbjonesy | Decatur, GA | 09/26/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Son Volt is one band that really TESTS its fans. To see them in a live show is like watching a band that seems perpetually on downers. However, what SV and Wilco have done since the demise of the mythic Uncle Tupelo is to keep the dream alive. SV's "Trace" contained classic folk/country numbers like "Tear Stained Eye", an homage to the citizens of Ste. Genevieve, MO, and those who fought the Great Flood of 1993. However, the rock numbers had less of an edge than those on UT albums. Son Volt toured several times, and while not all that exciting, their music wraps up anyone seeing the show into an almost religious fervor over the most simple elements of rock and roll. "Straightaways" was quite a dud, and many fans worried that Jay Farrar was becoming too maudlin or something. The rock numbers lacked any punch, and the folk numbers were somewhat weak and aimless. The length of the album left much to be desired, as well.Now, "Wide Swing Tremolo" comes out swinging quite well. Jay has picked up where "Chickamauga" and "Fifteen Keys" left off. On "Straightface" the vocal is drenched in reverb, with a strong kick to the guitar lines. "Medicine Hat" is derived from the Alberta city, but refers to a more emotional context. It is one of the more catchy songs, as is "Question," which has a rather heavy sounding guitar passage. The folk numbers are much more 'gothic', with several sound experiments peppering the track line-up. People had wondered if Wilco would be heir apparent to UT's leagcy, but with this wonderful effort, Jay Farrar will continue to hold the banner of the link to rock and country's past. This is Jay's most direct homage to Neil Young, The Byrds and to Big Star. This is not a bad thing as it has the danger to be. Personally Son Volt should've done "Mermaid Avenue" with Wilco as a UT reunion album. Imagine how good it wouldve been."

Back in the Saddle

rbjonesy | 03/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really loved Trace but was extremely disappointed by Straightaways. I feared that Jay had just fallen into a uniform moody sound that couldn't hold my attention in the long run. Well they've kicked it up anotch on this CD and they've produced a great album.This doesn't have a song that appeals to me as much as Drown or Tear Stained Eye from Trace but I think it has more depth as I like almost all of the songs. Medicine Hat and Straightface are personal favourites.I've seen them live twice and it's not showmanship that attracts you to them but they are great musicians and both times have had flawless sound. These guys can really play."

Son Volt-a victim of their own greatness

rbjonesy | 10/21/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Since Trace, Son Volt has been cursed by high expectations. Their debut album was so classically breathtaking that subsequent albums are hard-pressed to live up to it. Straightaways didn't, and neither does Wide Swing Tremolo. But they're both exceptional albums worth their prices. "Medicine Hat" is the instant classic on WST--its catchy melody appeals to a wide audience. But the Son Volt fan grows to appreciate the tracks that embody Jay Farrar's gritty style--"Strands," "Dead Man's Clothes," "Carry You Down," etc. But the band shouldn't have bothered "expanding" their style on such efforts as "Straightface." When William Faulkner was living in New Orleans, a great contemporary of his told him to go back to his Mississippi home and "write about what you know best." Farrar would do well to follow that advice. SV carries the torch for country blues in the 90's; that's what they're best at. WST might have equalled Trace if they would have scrapped Straightface-like songs for their traditional sound. But the album still achieves a spot as one of the top releases of the year in my book."