Son Volt - Straightaways download mp3 flac

DRAWING FROM TRADITIONAL american music, "Straightaways" plays out like a bittersweet chord with plenty of poetic metaphors based on singer/songwriter Jay Farrar's life experiences. "Picking Up The Signal," "Last Minute Shakedown" and "Cemetery Savior" are at once familiar Farrar constructs; his pastoral vocalese, a unique hopeful brooding - stop and start melodies - rippin' leads from his SG - backed up to the hilt by Dave Boquist (guitar, fiddle, banjo and lap steel); Mike Heidorn (drum kit); Jim Boquist (backing vocals and bass) and newly acquired traveling medicine man, Eric Heywood on pedal steel and mandolin - all add up to a very satisfying listening experience. The album opens with "Caryatid Easy" and along with "Cemetery Savior" and "Picking Up The Signal" are the songs in rock mode. "Been Set Free" brings you back to UT's "Coalminers" from March 16-20. "No More Parades" cooks a banjo boogie to beat the band, "front door leavin' is the way that I'm feelin / twenty-eight days overboard." Then there's the sweet lap steel and acoustic guitar interplay on "Creosote" ("fate just runs you around"). On "Back Into Your World" Jay proves yet again just how close he can come to touching this audience. The cleansing melody of "Last Minute Shakedown" with it's therapeutic refrain: "It's not easy to change / Not losing this thirst" is a fine piece of confessional songwriting. Straightaways is a tunefully sharp, re-feeling look, seeking sanctuary on the road and making it into music. America's dashboard savior and search light is still burning bright.