Son Volt

Steve Earle isn't the only twang-rocker railing against the republic. Named after and inspired by the small Okla. town that was Woody Guthrie's birthplace, Okemah is original Son Volt member Jay Farrar's most politically-driven work. "Jet Fighter" points the finger at Dubya in a "Fortunate Son" way.

On his recent solo albums, Son Volt leader Jay Farrar suffered from a serious case of the
vagues, outfitting his half-legible folkie tunes with hazy atmospherics and gazing at
American history like it was a Rorschach test. Those shortcomings make Okemah and the
Melody of Riot especially welcome: As the first album in seven years credited to Son Volt,
the band Farrar formed after the demise of alt-country pioneers Uncle Tupelo, O... More >