November 9 to November 22

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Not two years after their superb "Straightaways" was released, Son Volt return with "Wide Swing Tremolo" - a step back towards their incredible debut. While Uncle Tupelo may have started the "roots rock" movement, it was Son Volt's excellent "Trace" that first brought mainstream attention to them. With their new release, Son Volt pay homage to that first album while advancing a few steps into more uncharted territory.

One can tell this isn't the same old Son Volt right off the top with a blistering riff to start off "Straightface." A great song in it's own right, but it's the two songs following that really set the tone for a great album. "Driving the View", just recently garnering some airplay south of the border, is Son Volt at it's greatest. Great instrumentation and harmony coupled with some of the most honest and passionate songwriting in the business. This is followed by "Medicine Hat", an equally as poignant ballad. The album continues from there, an emotional roller coaster full of "reach-out-and-grab-you" melodies and a plethora of less than common instruments.

But why stop at the boundaries of roots rock? Son Volt with voice-overs? With drum samplings and loops? With a dulcimer? Showing the comfort they can now feel with the mainstream spotlight firmly moved over to the "swing" movement, Son Volt bring out all the stops to experiment with great results. Nowhere can this be better seen than in the albums two closing tracks. "Hanging Blue Side" is a homage to their previous two albums -- a straight faced ballad complete with slide guitar -- Son Volt doing their best Son Volt impression. But it doesn't last long -- with "Blind Hope" closing off the album, the boys bring in distorted vocals and drum samplings to show off experimentation at it's most dangerous. The catch? It works.

Definitely a top 10 for 1998, Son Volt's "Wide Swing Tremolo" is a rollercoaster ride from which you may not want to get off.

Son Volt is:

• Jay Farrar: Vocals, Guitars, Dulcimer, Harmonica, Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Chamberlain
• Jim Boquist: Backing Vocals, Bass, Piano, Slide Guitar
• Dave Boquist: Guitars, Lap Steel, Fiddle, Viola
• Mike Heidorn: Drums, Percussion

Guest Musicians:
• Eric Heywood: Pedal Steel
• Dave Barbe: Kenyan Rattle

Correspondence:
Son Volt
c/o Black Park Management
400 W. Morgan St., Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27603

sonvolt1@aol.com
http://www.wbr.com/sonvolt