Rating: NNN
|
|
The last time I spoke to Jay Farrar, he’d just reunited with his former Son Volt bandmates to record a song for an Alejandro Escovedo tribute, and he seemed optimistic about a new Son Volt album. Well, here it is, only the other three jokers playing on Okemah And The Melody Of Riot aren’t the original members of Son Volt. He’s just calling the group that. False advertising issues aside, it’s a solid collection of politically charged songs – closer in spirit to his recent solo work than to anything by Son Volt “classic” – with a surprising focus on Farrar’s vocals. He’s not only enunciating the words, but he’s really singing, too. If he’s going to stick his neck out with songs advocating a grassroots insurrection to overthrow the government, it’s understandable that he’d want people to get his message loud and clear.
