Jay Farrar

"Straightaways, the new album from Son Volt, is a poetic road trip via 10 original songs by Jay Farrar-songs that map out a ruined, elegiac American landscape and touch on its tragedies and consolations." So says the promotional material for the new album, and the members of the group which debuted with Trace in 1995 also speak enthusiastically about their new release. Farrar himself, a vocalist and guitarist for Son Volt, says, "This time, everything fell into place ... I think it was more intuitive ... The songs were a lot more raw ... so the band worked them out together a lot more than on Trace." The group's earlier release was no slouch, however. It made the 1995 year-end top 10 lists of several American newspapers and magazines, including that of the Rolling Stone. Farrar also played as part of the country-rock band Uncle Tupelo, and its albums have become touchstones for contemporary rock and country artists. Accompaning Jay is Eric Heywood on the pedal steel guitar.

  -- AK