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Wide Swing Tremolo
Son Volt
Wide Swing Tremolo
Genres: Country, Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

Son Volt's weary music, especially the deliberate voice and words of frontman Jay Farrar, is a comforting mystery; its suggestive flashes of phrase and image seem every bit as wise as they are inscrutable. On Wide Swing Tr...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Son Volt
Title: Wide Swing Tremolo
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Original Release Date: 10/6/1998
Release Date: 10/6/1998
Genres: Country, Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Styles: Americana, Country Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 093624705925, 093624705963

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Son Volt's weary music, especially the deliberate voice and words of frontman Jay Farrar, is a comforting mystery; its suggestive flashes of phrase and image seem every bit as wise as they are inscrutable. On Wide Swing Tremolo, the band's third effort, the band's trademark blend of brooding guitar rock and atmospheric pedal steel is subtly touched up with dissonant harmonica, distorted vocals, and uncharacteristically loping rhythms. At its best, as on the dread fortune-telling of "Medicine Hat," the pulsing sound and dense lyrics reveal a kind of portentous mystery. Farrar obviously labors over his complex and poetic lyrics, but his idiosyncratic phrasing and slurred delivery (although always emotionally affecting) already slightly obscure his messages. Why he would choose to bury what wisdom he has to share in such a thick, unenlightening mix, remains a mystery of a much more infuriating sort. --David Cantwell

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Member CD Reviews

Steven B. (stevenmbell) from ONEKAMA, MI
Reviewed on 7/3/2009...
This is Jay Farrar at his best!Heavely influnce from former Uncle Tupelo writting partner Jeff Tweedy! The Lst really good Son Volt Album.
1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

CD Reviews

One of the Best Bands of All Time
05/01/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe the narrow hole some of the Son Volt fans above have painted themselves into. "This album's better than that album," "we're still waiting for the next 'Trace'" blah blah blah. I understand they're reviewing an individual record, but the fact remains that Son Volt is one of the best bands rock music (not country, alt-country, etc) has seen in a LONG time. Every album stands far above the crowd, including Straightaways. I felt that way about Wilco when I heard them, which is how I got turned on to the whole UT-SV-Wilco band a troi. But nowadays I forget that Jay Farrar was even a a part of that whole thing, the No Depression, alt-country movement. Because Son Volt stands on its own. Right next to Neil Young and other timeless, microgenreless greats. You can read the other reviews above to know what SV sound like, there's great descriptions there. This review though, is to state my opinion that without more bands on the level of Son Volt, I dread the future of rock music. Every "average" (meaning not indie-snob, or musician) rock fan I've let hear Son Volt is immediately struck by the songwriting purity and musicianship. On the contrary to hoping SV "don't become too popular so they'll remain true," as one reviewer put it, I encourage SV fans to turn as many people on as possible. Spread the word--great rock still lives. (And I hope it's just a rumor that there's no more SV--I hope these guys will stay together in this lineup.)"
Son Volt is not for the short attentioned listener
07/19/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wide Swing Tremolo is another 5 star in my humble opinion. I guess I find it hard to say oh this CD was better than this one when it comes to Son Volt. I just appreciate that they are not stagnant. I first came into contact with Son Volt's music when on business in St. Louis. I was looking for something that was devoid of the candy coated mainstream dribble that is drenching our society today when I walked into a music store. The girl understood I was a Neil Young fan and recommended Son Volt. As a flew home and listened to Trace, I felt I was home once again. As a musician since the age of six I have learned you never compare groups or musicians like comparing the statistics of ball players. Son Volt is for those who actually take time to ponder the lyrics of a song and appreciate, as Jay puts it, "the truer sound"."