Search - Dumptruck :: For the Country

Collect 'Em All

Eliot Wilder | Boston, MA USA | 10/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dumptruck appeared in the early '80s right as the Southern alternative scene - which included such bands of note as Let's Active, the dB's and, of course, R.E.M. - was infiltrating college radio. Although they were from Massachusetts, Dumptruck - whose mainstays were essentially singers and guitarists Kirk Swan and Seth Tiven - made music that was not unlike what could be heard in Athens: angular, jangly, intelligent, relentlessly hooky but never too sweet. These three records, which have long been unavailable in any format, show plainly just how inventive and tuneful this little-known band was, and how much of a shame it is that they've never gotten their due. "D Is for Dumptruck" is the most raw and rocking, at times sounding like a less-brittle Television; "Positively Dumptruck," produced by Don Dixon, shaves off the rough edges but none of the band's feral intensity; and the Swan-less "For the Country" sees Tiven taking the group - which, at this point, contained guitarist Kevin Salem - into a twangy territory now occupied by the likes of the Jayhawks. All of these albums are remastered, all have dregs-free bonus tracks that feature some crazy-ass live cuts and all are just waiting for you to rediscover them.

"

For the country / for everyone

Misfit Kid | North Carolina | 06/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I originally bought the cassette version of this album sometime in the 90's. The only thing I knew about Dumptruck was that they had released some albums in the 80's and that I had somehow completely missed out on them. After seeing them live in a little dive bar in Wilmington, DE, I decided to check them out. "for the country" is absolutely great (from beginning to end). I wore-out my cassette and lost it somewhere along the way. I've been waiting for a re-release and have recently purchased it - FINALLY! I don't usually like reissues with bonus tracks, but this one really works. The remastering is fantastic (of course, the original release sounded great to begin with) and the bonus tracks are really worth having. The extra tracks from the original "for the country" sessions are strong, the would-be demos for the "next" dumptruck record are up to par, and even the live tracks sound great. I don't usually like live versions but these are OK. I highly recommend this album to anyone. "for the country" is truly one of those albums that anyone could enjoy. The songs are very catchy (without being sugary), the lyrics are original and darkly

interesting, and Seth Tiven's voice is strangely mesmerizing. If you like 80's jangle rock with somber overtones, you will especially enjoy "for the country.""

Review by Chirs Woodstra

Don Jones | San Francisco, CA | 11/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Now essentially a Seth Tiven solo project, For the Country is the strongest and most mature Dumptruck album. Tiven has grown considerably as a songwriter, stretching out into folk, country and blues. -- Chris Woodstra"