Mark Demming of AllMusic says 'Okemah and the Melody of Riot' is a compelling, strongly focused work that stands as Farrar's best music since Son Volt's debut album, 1994's 'Trace'. The album's title is a nod to Guthrie's hometown of Okemah, OK. Originally released in 2005 (and never before on vinyl) during the Bush Administration, many of the songs speak to the political agitations of the time while also looking to the past with references to 1940's political folkie Woody Guthrie. Union features long time band members Mark Spencer (piano, organ, acoustic slide, lap steel, backing vocals) Andrew DuPlantis (bass, backing vocals), returning member Chris Frame (guitar), as well as newest member Mark Patterson on drums and percussion. The legacy of Woody Guthrie helped to inform Union’s closing song “The Symbol” which was inspired by Guthrie’s classic “Deportee” (“Plane Wreck at Los Gatos”). Three songs were tracked at the Mother Jones Museum in Mount Olive, IL and four others were recorded at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “While Rome Burns” emphasizes finding unity during times of turmoil while an album highlight, “Devil May Care,” offers the distraction we need, an effusive tribute to the fun of playing and creating music.Ī unique aspect of Union is that eight of the thirteen songs were recorded at places associated with two figures in American history whom Farrar considers important – labor and community organizer Mary Harris “Mother Jones” and iconic folk hero Woody Guthrie. “What can we do to bring our society back together?” Initially intended to be an entirely political statement, Union morphed into a combination of politically inspired material balanced by a cluster of new songs reflecting the power of love, time and music that sustains us. “There are so many forces driving our country apart,” observes Farrar. Jay Farrar channels folk music’s enduring legacy of the troubadour on Union. Son Volt’s ninth studio album, Union (Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers), will be released worldwide on March 29th. Hand-cranked letterpress with hand-sown binding.Full color 32 pages on heavyweight uncoated paper.While we are trying our best to get these delivered by the holidays, please do not count on that. The books are available via the Son Volt store. A printed bookmark completes the package. This limited edition of 1,500 copies features covers printed on a hand-fed, hand-cranked letterpress as well as a hand-sewn binding to create a rich, tactile artifact as intimate and imbued with emotion as the songs themselves. Designed by Horse & Buggy Press (coincidentally moving into their 25th year anniversary as well), the 32-page 7×11 inch book is printed in full color on heavyweight, uncoated text paper. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Son Volt’s Trace, we are releasing a keepsake fine press book that includes lyrics and notes from Jay on the songs as well as a personal foreword by Jason Isbell and multiple original artworks by Phil Blank. Once again accompanied by the current Son Volt line up – keyboardist/steel guitarist Mark Spencer, bassist Andrew Duplantis, guitarist Chris Frame and drummer Mark Patterson – Farrar takes a slight turn from 2019’s politically pointed Union to a series of songs that asks questions rather than demanding answers – think of “Livin’ in the U.S.A.” as Farrar’s version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” or Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power,” an anthem to unite the populace. Social protest songs like “Livin’ in the U.S.A.” and “The Globe,” the former about the promises of this nation gone wrong, the latter referencing the street protests accompanying the Black Lives Matter movement, exist side by side with odes to long-term relationships (specifically his 25-year marriage) in “Diamonds and Cigarettes” and “Lucky Ones.” The title, taken from the names of two vintage amplifiers from the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, also describes the album’s unique blend of folk, country, blues, soul and rock – an electric troubadour with melodies that hit and stick. The first single “Reverie” is available today. Son Volt’s tenth album, Electro Melodier, will be available on July 30.
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