No news from the Son Volt front is undoubtedly good news for fans of this Americana band. After the socially eventful
Union (2019), the tenth studio album from the group around singer and guitarist
Jay Farrar is another solid rocking one. This time, Farrar - who always has a lot to say in his songs - is more personal, including an ode to his wife in Lucky Ones. Once a member of the influential
Uncle… Tupelo, Farrar fell out with the other core member Jeff Tweedy. Where Tweedy subsequently sought the width within the Americana genre with Wilco, Farrar always stayed true to country rock and roots music. This is no different on Electro Melodier. In Diamonds And Cigarettes, Farrar is assisted by the second voice of Laura Cantrell. This suddenly causes a freshness that this uniform album full of Farrar's flatly sung monologues somewhat lacks. (MR)more
