Son Volt Reforms

[ratioci nation]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 September 22, 2004
 
 NO ONE EVER SAID IT WAS OVER: SON VOLT REFORMS AND RETURNS TO STUDIO
 
 Midwest-based Son Volt, with songwriter Jay Farrar at the helm, will begin
 recording their fourth full length album at the end of September.
 Following a five-year hiatus, with the exception of the April 2004
 recording of "Sometimes" for the Alejandro Escovedo tribute album,
 multi-instrumentalist Dave Boquist, bassist Jim Boquist and drummer Mike
 Heidorn will reconvene at Farrar's St. Louis studio. Speaking about the
 "Sometimes" session, Farrar says: "It felt like we hit the ground running
 when we recorded Al's song for Por Vida. Five years seemed like five days
 at that point.  It proved that more recording and performing as Son Volt is
 something that should happen."
 
 As this revered band reconnects, a unique glimpse inside the Son Volt
 sessions will be offered.  Beginning October 1, a webcamera will be placed
 in the studio to capture a day of pre-production and 16 days of recording.
 The webcamera can be accessed at www.jayfarrar.net/webcam and will feature
 streaming photos that refresh every 5 seconds.
 
 Farrar formed Son Volt in 1994 after the dissolution of Uncle Tupelo.  With
 the release of Trace, Straightaways and Wide Swing Tremolo, the band was
 met with praise by the public and critics alike.  From the plain-spoken
 chorus of "Windfall" to the gritty guitars of "Straightface", Son Volt has
 always pushed the boundaries to blend traditional American music forms with
 poetic imagery and straight-ahead rock.
 
 Son Volt is not currently affiliated with a label and plans to return to
 the road in early 2005.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

Now how will the guys from Canyon afford the Mt. Pleasant rent?

Honestly, I don't think I've ever heard a SV song before.  Do they suck?

[thirsty moore]

No, they don't.  Does Hawkwind suck?  How about Dr. Demento?  How about most of your posts?  Do they suck?
 
 

Originally posted by marquee smith:
  Honestly, I don't think I've ever heard a SV song before.  Do they suck?

[ggw]

Anyone else think that Farrar is trying to ride Tweedy/Wilco's coattails here?
 
 Not that there's anything wrong with that.
 
 But Wilco is the new "it" band.  They are everywhere -- there are books and movies about them, and even Starbucks is shilling their latest CD.  
 
 Don't you think Farrar may be a little jealous and, perhap$ realize$ that he may be mi$$ing a golden opportunity here?

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  Anyone else think that Farrar is trying to ride Tweedy/Wilco's coattails here?
 
 Not that there's anything wrong with that.
 
 But Wilco is the new "it" band.  They are everywhere -- there are books and movies about them, and even Starbucks is shilling their latest CD.  
 
 Don't you think Farrar may be a little jealous and, perhap$ realize$ that he may be mi$$ing a golden opportunity here?

Why wouldn't he just release another solo album then?

[ggw]

He's tried the solo route and it hasn't worked for him.  
 
 Plus, by now everyone has heard the Wilco backstory -- "Uncle Tupelo split into two bands, Wilco and Son Volt."
 
 

Originally posted by pollard:
 Why wouldn't he just release another solo album then?

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

Sounds like he's going the Rhett Miller route more than the Wilco route.
 
 

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  He's tried the solo route and it hasn't worked for him.  
 
 Plus, by now everyone has heard the Wilco backstory -- "Uncle Tupelo split into two bands, Wilco and Son Volt."
 
   

Originally posted by pollard:
 Why wouldn't he just release another solo album then?

[/b]

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  He's tried the solo route and it hasn't worked for him.  
 
 Plus, by now everyone has heard the Wilco backstory -- "Uncle Tupelo split into two bands, Wilco and Son Volt."
 

but the last couple of Son Volt albums were not that well received either, you could be right, but I don't think it will work

[ggw]

Were the early Wilco albums "well-received"?
 
 I think I read that Wilco hadn't sold more than about 100,000 albums before YHF came out.
 
 
 

Originally posted by pollard:
 but the last couple of Son Volt albums were not that well received either, you could be right, but I don't think it will work

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  Were the early Wilco albums "well-received"?
 
 I think I read that Wilco hadn't sold more than about 100,000 albums before YHF came out.
 

My impression was that Being There was pretty well received, I don't know how many it sold, but I would guess better than Son Volt's 2nd and 3rd albums.  I believe Wilco even had MTV play off of Being There.

[Jaguär]

3WK has been playing some Son Volt songs lately but I have no idea where they are from. Don't pay attention to them because I find them incredibly boring. Have even turned the sound down on them or turned the station off when they've played.

[Mobius]

I think Trace was a debut album that set the bar so high, Son Volt could never equal it.  Maybe a few years away, getting different experiences/perspectives will give Farrar and co. a chance to catch lightning in a bottle again.

[thirsty moore]

Doubtful, I imagine this album will be somewhat dull as well.  While I only gave his solo stuff a cursory listen, it didn't strike me.  Trace is an excellent album though.
 
 

Originally posted by Mobius:
  I think Trace was a debut album that set the bar so high, Son Volt could never equal it.  Maybe a few years away, getting different experiences/perspectives will give Farrar and co. a chance to catch lightning in a bottle again.

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by Mobius:
  I think Trace was a debut album that set the bar so high, Son Volt could never equal it.  Maybe a few years away, getting different experiences/perspectives will give Farrar and co. a chance to catch lightning in a bottle again.

I have seen Son Volt once and Jay Farrar solo twice, it is obvious when it is live how his music has become worse as he goes.  When he was solo, even the Son Volt songs off of the 2nd and 3rd albums sounded really good compared to a lot of his solo material.  When I saw Son Volt it all sounded pretty good.  
 
 Although if Farrar plays Birchmere acoustic again anytime soon, I encourage people to check it out, it is pretty good.  Much better than when he has a full band backing him.