Biting Other Blogs: Son Volt – Central American Dust

Biting Other Blogs is an occasionally occurring feature that will direct your attention to a specific blog post or two that, most likely, I wish I had posted myself. Giving credit where credit is due, I typically wont blab too much, except to encourage you to get up on whatever blog I am highlighting…

While I do not consider Son Volt to be my favorite band, I cant help but listen to their new release, Central American Dust and feel like they sound the way that a rockin’ country/alt/americana/whatever band should sound like. Jay Farrar’s lonesome, and often-times mournful tone lays itself ever-so-smoothly over the top of each song. I also can’t help but notice the fine lead-guitar work of a certain Chris Masterson, who seems to be able to play with anyone and hold his own, even while standing in the shadow of an imposing figure such as Farrar. Here are some reviews that I found enlightening from the city that I often wish Icalled home, as well as a couple of interviews with Farrar that were equally as enlightening:

• Austin 360.Com (Austin American Statesman) likes the album, but it took a bit of work.

• Jim Caligiuri, of The Austin Chronicle,  supports his claim that Son Volt is still quite the force.

• Muzzle of Bees had 5 Questions for Farrar…

• Aquarium Drunkard had a lot more than 5…

I suppose that Son Volt will forever be compared to Farrar’s former Uncle Tupelo partners in Wilco, especially when they release albums as closely together as they did this time around. It has been relatively easy for me to prefer Tweedy’s body of work since the Tupelo split, but after multiple spins of American Central Dust, that dilemma is tougher than it has ever been for me.