Son Volt - Okemah And The Melody Of Riot
 

I didn't realize that this album was out yet and stumbled upon it in Borders tonight. Anyone else pick it up? It's great so far (I've only listened to about half so far). Jay Farrar's solo stuff is good, but it's nice to see how great the album sounds considering that it's a Son Volt formed with all new members (besides Farrar) and it's the first Son Volt album in 7 years. It's a dual disc too, with CD on one side and DVD on the other with interviews and some live tracks (haven't checked the DVD stuff out yet).

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i hadn't heard of that one either........thanks!

No problem

I knew it was coming out. Just didn't know it was out yet.

I've watched the whole DVD now. There's interview clips with Jay (pretty interesting to see him in an interview context since he's not the most personable guy) and some studio and concert performances of songs from the album. I think there's at least 4 complete concert performances of songs from the album (some from as recent as May; I was surprised stuff that was that recent made it on the DVD). It's no "Trace", but it's still a good album.

I've yet to listen to any Son Volt stuff. How does it compare to Uncle Tupelo and Wilco?

It's much closer in line with Uncle Tupelo, although still its own sound. Very different from Wilco's sound. I like all three. Although I think it's a shame that Uncle Tupelo folded (long before I finally checked out their music), it's nice that from their dissolution came two vastly different bands that I both really like.

If you're curious about checking out Son Volt, I'd try listening to some of the first album, Trace, before any of the other few. The one song you might recognize is Drown, which got a decent amount of radio airplay when the album came out.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Amazon's got some sound clips here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...079370-9586378

If you decide you want to pick one up, I'd get Trace before any of the others.

i agree with boo........son volt is much closer to uncle tupelo than wilco. and that all 3 are/were great.

friday afternoon, jay farrar played a solo acoustic set at a border's books in uptown chicago. it was free & great. great enough to make me go ahead & buy the okemah disc there & wait in line for him to sign it......

Good deal. Hope you like it.

There's a pretty good interview with Jay in this month's issue of Harp and also a story in this month's Paste about the recording of Okemah.