QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “The musical experience of being an American ... has been determined by accountants. Unless you're going to seek out the newest and the finest of whatever is available in any field, what you're presented with as your set of alternatives ... is tiny.” — Frank Zappa

SONG OF THE WEEK: “Peace Attack” — Sonic Youth

Son Volt
Okemah And The Melody Of Riot
2005
Transmit Sound/Legacy

Free at last, thank Jay, Son Volt is free at last!! Though there are no Boquist boys or Mike Heidorn (regrettably, I’d say, but then after a few listens to this album, I start to figure maybe the band leader knew exactly what the hell he was doing here) haunting the shadowy corners of Jay Farrar’s private little country-rock roadhouse this time ‘round, this is, hands down, the strongest SV release since their 1995 debut album, Trace.

Sure, the backwoods flavor and back porch ruminations of that lauded effort have morphed into amped-up, hook-a-licious roots revelry and proactive lyrical anger, but that not only ties into the times, but also makes for a perfect backdrop to Jay’s spot-on, from-the-gut songwriting. Right from the get-go, the band sets a blazing fire of passionate playing, on-the-money vocals and INTERESTING songs alight.

I stress that word because so many SV fans seemed to have lost their way as Jay’s recent solo career progressed. Having seen him live many times, I knew those songs were as great as the old fan faves, but couldn’t get people past the fact that he just didn’t seem to be working with the right combo of musicians. Jay’s recent Stone, Steel And Bright Lights (with backing help from Canyon) was a welcome return to the rock ethos that set Uncle Tupelo and early SV apart from so many contemporary roots artists, but Okemah... (named for Woody Guthrie’s birthplace in Oklahoma) signals a fresh start. That ROCK/soft/ROCK/soft dynamic so prevalent on early Tupelo cuts is back in a big way, and Farrar is at his most relaxed and unselfconscious in years.

It’s eclectic, it’s skittish, it’s simultaneously as elusive as a pretty girl’s eye and as firm, real and warm as your hand on her back during a slow dance later that night; but always, always, always, it hearkens back to the gritty, eye-to-eye, screen door rock ’n’ roll Farrar helped to establish back in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Frankly, out of 12 tracks on this release, my only minor bitch is that Jay decided to re-do the already excellent acoustic version of “Six String Belief” from Stone, Steel And Bright Lights with full band here. But hey, that’s small potatoes when ya consider that ... SON VOLT’S BACK!! Fuckin’ A!

Local Shit Not To Miss: Whatever you do, don’t miss the excellent (and silly, fun and downright mind-blowing) KINGS OF LEON (5 p.m $25, All Ages) at First Avenue on Thursday, July 28. From madness to bad-assness to fluffy, joyful gladness, and all in one drunken summer night! That’s right: The Triple Rock hosts one of the most eclectic and gleefully deranged bills of the week this Thursday, July 28, as St. Paul GRLA (I reviewed ‘em awhile back in these here pages; they’re like Beefheart meets Superhopper and Wesley Willis underneath the Big V’s stage during a four-day Beam and blow binge), Cecil Otter (from the delightfully street-real back-room rap team DOOMTREE), and Ear Candy (self-explanatory, dontcha think?) storm that hallowed stage and bring some much-needed local relief from recent corporate multi-tours and capitalist pig teenie-bopper productions. 10 p.m. $6, 21+. This is the real deal, folks—live local music—so don’t miss it!

That’s it for this time out, ya sun-drenched lil’ sweathogs. Tune in again next week, same place, same space, for more ‘Dial. Until then—make yer own damn news.

If you have local music news/gigs/events you’d like to see listed in this column, or you’d just like a sympathetic ear to bitch about all them jim-jims to, send replies to: Tmygunn777@peoplepc.com. ||