SON VOLT
A Retrospective 1995-2000 (Rhino)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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The Uncle Tupelo split between chief songwriters Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar was akin to an alt-country Lennon and McCartney soap opera. Whereas Tweedy took his Wilco project to far reaching musical waters, and more notoriety, Jay Farrar continued to mine the same twang-rock to little fanfare. A Son Volt retrospective may be a collection of commercial misses, but fans of Farrar's longing rasp vocal and his propensity for stop and start guitar bursts will enjoy the ride. There are some wonderful moments here, as in the languid country flow of Townes Van Zandt's "Rex's Blues," buoyed by the lovely harmonizing of Kelly Willis, that show Farrar still had the magic touch even though he wasn't straying too far off the beaten path.

© 2005 - John Sekerka