Son Volt
Trace (1995)

review by: Stephan Finch
Date: 11/30/00

For as long as I can remember, anytime I'm asked what kind of music I like, I always answer: "I like every kind of music... except country, of course." For the most part, it's still true, but... maybe I'm softening up a bit.

Son Volt is NOT a country band, or at least, that's what my country-bumpkin officemate Brandon assures me. Rather, I'm told, it's called "insurgent country." The insurgent country genre would include the Silos, Wilco (whose lead singer, Jeff Tweedy, was a bandmate of Son Volt lead singer Jay Farrar--the band was Uncle Tupelo) and most of Neil Young's stuff.

If you're not familiar with these insurgent country stalwarts, think of how REM would tuck a country-ish tune or two onto each of its early albums or of the great 1980s cow-punk band, X, (their biggest hit was a song called the 4th of July) or even of Lone Justice. All those bands had a little hayseed in 'em. So does Son Volt.

Anyway it's damn good stuff. Actually, the best tunes are the mellow ones, wherein the singer, Jay Farrar, croons about life's great pains. If you weren't listening closely, you'd think he was just singing about being left behind by his woman, ignored by his buddies, and run over by his own pickup truck. And damn if you wouldn't finally be able to relate to all those country-music lovers who wet their pants every time they hear Tammy Wynette sing "Stand by Your Man."

Then when you really tuned in Farrar's lyrics, you'd realize how much he has on his mind – picture Roger Waters with a cowboy hat on. Some sample lyrics: "Take away this Columbus Day. No more bones on display. Blackhawk never had a say. Just taken out of the picture." Or: "Can you deny this: there's nothing greater, nothing more, than the traveling hands of time." Unlike most country-influenced, relationship-obsessed songwriters, Farrar prefers big-picture, meaning-of-life themes.

My coworker Brandon, heretofore referred to as a bumpkin but actually a sagacious and sophisticated country seer-type, maintains that in the haunting track "Too Early," Farrar eulogizes Texas folk legend Townes Van Zandt, arguably the best big-picture songsmith of them all.

Could you tell that Brandon wrote that last paragraph? No matter: Son Volt's a good listen. Enjoy.