Son Volt-The Search
Things, time, and places change with each each year that passes. I would like to think that most things evolve. However, I’m not sure I want certain things to change. Maybe, and just maybe, I don’t want to adapt to newer ways of doing things. What if I like doing things the hard way. Son Volt’s story is one of grief and heartache I imagine. I think of the story of Son Volt and I can’t help but think if the same thing were to happen to me, I would be a little upset. Imagine being in a band with one of your closest friends, a best friend if you can imagine, and you guys bring attention to a genre of music that wasn’t really known before you came around. The band breaks up, your bud starts another band, and everybody has their money riding on you to start the more successful band. As the years go by, your buddy’s band becomes one of the most important/relevant bands in America. Maybe it’s just me, but I always think of that when I listen to Son Volt. I love Jay Farrar’s voice, a voice that exudes a smokey quality that is reminiscent of Tom Waits, but not as smokey, maybe not as many Marlboro’s. I’m going to tell another story, so please do, indulge me for a second. One of my friends was thinking of going to Austin for College, and the lot of us decided to take a road trip to Corpus Christi (home of the world’s largest Whataburger(I luv me some Whataburger) and a Selena statue) and finally making our way to Austin. Keep in mind, at this time I was kind of listening to decent music. I still had Third Eye Blind and Semisonic in my CD wallet. My friend Birklebach is one of these kids where every conversation to him was pseudo-intellectual, but he backed it up. He hung out w/Fugazi and At the Drive In during their heyday’s and he listened to good music. Musically, I always felt inferior when around him. He popped in Wide Swing Tremolo for the first time while driving through the wide open spaces known as Central Texas and from that moment, I always knew that even though Jeff Tweedy had more commercial success, Jay Farrar would always hold a special place opening my eyes to a new style of music. His style doesn’t change, but that’s not such a bad thing. The name of Son Volt’s new release is The Search, it will be released March 6th, and you can buy it here.
Son Volt-Underground Dream[mp3]
Son Volt-Circadian Rhythm[mp3]