Each Friday I pick a song–new, old, borrowed, blue–that’s been on my mind and in my ears, and write a short post about it.

Son Volt plays “Hearts and Minds”:

“Hearts and Minds” by Son Volt

One of the great thing about going to record stores is you go in looking for one thing or another, and come out with so many other discoveries you don’t have any money left for lunch.  Last week I rode my bike down the record store to buy the new Low album.  While I was flipping through the New Releases section my fingers stumbled onto Honky Tonk, the new album from Son Volt.

The only good thing about Uncle Tupelo breaking up (for fans, anyway; I suppose for the guys involved, it had various benefits) was it gave birth to Son Volt and Wilco.  When the two bands brought out their debut albums, I used to argue with some of my friends about which band was better, or more authentic, or more something or other.  I don’t know.  The argument seems moot these days.  Anyway, while Wilco may have developed itself into Everybody’s Cool Favorite Band (TM), Son Volt have been steadily cranking out top-notch albums ever since their debut, Trace. The thing is, Son Volt can do a swaggering rock riff and a pretty country ballad, and if they want to, they can do them at the same time.  On Honky Tonk, it’s all country, and it’s damn good.  Jay Farrar is a terrific songwriter and also an excellent and evocative lyricist.  For some reason, I always overlook what an outstanding singing voice he has; I suspect it’s because the song arrangements are themselves so interesting and complementary.  Son Volt is also a band you really want to see live; they were forced to play most of the show without a drummer last time I saw them, and it was still awesome.

I’ve run out superlatives here, so let me summarize: Son Volt: great band, new album, here’s a song, listen.