Son Volt — Live Free
Album: TraceAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 896
Length: 3:04
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Looking for the right kind
Of live free or die
I want to see your smile through a pay phone
The season has changed
I want to see you in it
The lights that shine are caustic without you
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will, it will remain
Nicotine and waiting
Just wanted to keep it alive
You turn and before you know it
We're just threading this needle for life
A brighter way is what you prove
Anesthetize is what you do
Someday we'll be together
Farther south than the train line
The Delta mud will be there
We're just living this way
Because we know no other
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will, it will remain
Looking for the right kind
Of live free or die
Of live free or die
I want to see your smile through a pay phone
The season has changed
I want to see you in it
The lights that shine are caustic without you
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will, it will remain
Nicotine and waiting
Just wanted to keep it alive
You turn and before you know it
We're just threading this needle for life
A brighter way is what you prove
Anesthetize is what you do
Someday we'll be together
Farther south than the train line
The Delta mud will be there
We're just living this way
Because we know no other
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will, it will remain
Looking for the right kind
Of live free or die
Comments (54)add comment
DaveInVA wrote:
Perhaps the acoustics aren't very good in that "Hovel in Damnville".
This guy sounds a lot like the Counting Crows singer in this song....
Perhaps the acoustics aren't very good in that "Hovel in Damnville".
I got myself a brand new Tube Amplifier... It's large and lovely and smells just like a dream... I just love the exquisitely modulated distortion that Jay so confidently has his way with, and how his plaintive voice gets his feelings across so well! Rock on, and thanks sincerely, RP!
You see,
If you grew up in Belleville, IL you were hearing the confluence of RnR, country rock, red neck country, blues, and punk.
And drinking Stag Beer would only enhance this crazy confluence.
If you grew up in Belleville, IL you were hearing the confluence of RnR, country rock, red neck country, blues, and punk.
And drinking Stag Beer would only enhance this crazy confluence.
Biscobret wrote:
funny...I find Jay Farrar continually trying new things - certainly his voice is distinctive. I hear Jeff Tweedy and haven't appreciated him since Sky Blue Sky.
Except Mermaid Avenue - he and Billy Bragg hit something together on that album.
update: His new album is interesting - voice sounds great and so does the band
Farar suffered more from Tweedy's loss than Tweedy did from Farar's. Jay has that wonderful old-school country longing - but without an artistic/contemporary influence, it all starts to sound the same. Jeff is an artist - absolutely - and win or fail, he's not afraid to tread new sonic ground.
my $.02
Except Mermaid Avenue - he and Billy Bragg hit something together on that album.
update: His new album is interesting - voice sounds great and so does the band
One of the top 5 Alt-Country albums of all time.
(queue Butthead voice): Sun Volt RULES!!
membeth wrote:
Really? "This guy" would be Jay Farrar, who as part of Uncle Tupelo helped to launch alt country as a genre. Don't really think he's "trying to copy" Adam Duritz, who wasn't even famous yet.
Adam who?
Really? "This guy" would be Jay Farrar, who as part of Uncle Tupelo helped to launch alt country as a genre. Don't really think he's "trying to copy" Adam Duritz, who wasn't even famous yet.
Adam who?
saellig668552 wrote:
My exact thoughts about Radiohead. Except the 'good music' part.
quite good music - BUT (as often this artist got played here) i cannot help it: something in his voice is dragging on my nerves, makes me and my ears tired, droned out, exhausted - i know its a matter of taste - but too much son volt around here...
My exact thoughts about Radiohead. Except the 'good music' part.
quite good music - BUT (as often this artist got played here) i cannot help it: something in his voice is dragging on my nerves, makes me and my ears tired, droned out, exhausted - i know its a matter of taste - but too much son volt around here...
what a great band.
I hold out hope of a UT reunion someday, though I understand the rift between Jay and Jeff runs DEEP
I hold out hope of a UT reunion someday, though I understand the rift between Jay and Jeff runs DEEP
cheers from Finland!
One of my all-time favorite albums. Good from start to finish.
This album reminds me of summers at the lake! Love it 
Jay Farrar - Uncle Tupelo - growing up in Belleville, IL...
It explains so much.
It explains so much.
unclehud wrote:
"Farrar: I wanted to get back to playing electric guitar, and part of that meant bringing out the old Webster Chicago amplifier I used for the Son Volt record Trace — the amplifier on the cover of that record. It’s a low-powered amp that just delivers a big sound, and I just wanted to revisit the sound of that amp. It sort of represents a quintessential-sounding blues amplifier. Originally its life started out as an extension speaker for a wire recorder back in the 40s. I found it at a music shop in Los Angeles and someone had modified it to be a guitar amplifier."
Anybody recognize the amp in the background on the album cover?
"Farrar: I wanted to get back to playing electric guitar, and part of that meant bringing out the old Webster Chicago amplifier I used for the Son Volt record Trace — the amplifier on the cover of that record. It’s a low-powered amp that just delivers a big sound, and I just wanted to revisit the sound of that amp. It sort of represents a quintessential-sounding blues amplifier. Originally its life started out as an extension speaker for a wire recorder back in the 40s. I found it at a music shop in Los Angeles and someone had modified it to be a guitar amplifier."
the more I hear of this band, the more I like
unclehud wrote:
Uh, no. But is it going to be on the test?
Anybody recognize the amp in the background on the album cover?
Uh, no. But is it going to be on the test?
Biscobret wrote:
I think you hit it. Like Lennon/McCartney (gritty authenticity vs. pop veneer), Farrar and Tweedy were two poles on the same magnet. Farrar's toeing the trad line is starkly contrasted with Tweedy's multitude adventures into new sounds/textures. In the end the sum of their parts doesn't equal what they made together. That said, Farrar's voice, IMHO, rings true—tho' I'm not sure that he's guilty of sameness; and Tweedy's adventures simply go on. Would that Lennon or McCartney were so fortunate.
Farar suffered more from Tweedy's loss than Tweedy did from Farar's. Jay has that wonderful old-school country longing - but without an artistic/contemporary influence, it all starts to sound the same. Jeff is an artist - absolutely - and win or fail, he's not afraid to tread new sonic ground.
my $.02
my $.02
I think you hit it. Like Lennon/McCartney (gritty authenticity vs. pop veneer), Farrar and Tweedy were two poles on the same magnet. Farrar's toeing the trad line is starkly contrasted with Tweedy's multitude adventures into new sounds/textures. In the end the sum of their parts doesn't equal what they made together. That said, Farrar's voice, IMHO, rings true—tho' I'm not sure that he's guilty of sameness; and Tweedy's adventures simply go on. Would that Lennon or McCartney were so fortunate.
City Winery Napa - April 2014 - Jay Farrar solo w/ band - very impressive!
TimeWaster wrote:
Well you just seem to be a time waster.
Oh wait...
Ok, so you know how a singer can sound pretty good on a record, but when you see them live, they never sound as good?
If this guy sounds this horrendous on a recording, I'd hate to hear him live...
If this guy sounds this horrendous on a recording, I'd hate to hear him live...
Well you just seem to be a time waster.
Oh wait...
Farar suffered more from Tweedy's loss than Tweedy did from Farar's. Jay has that wonderful old-school country longing - but without an artistic/contemporary influence, it all starts to sound the same. Jeff is an artist - absolutely - and win or fail, he's not afraid to tread new sonic ground.
my $.02
my $.02
Anybody recognize the amp in the background on the album cover?
Nice voice, nice guitar
Jay Farrar is a treasure. One of the best voices in American music, literally and figuratively.
Hippostar wrote:
This guy sounds like a lot of guys he's trying to copy. At least Adam Duritz can actually find and hit a single note.
Really? "This guy" would be Jay Farrar, who as part of Uncle Tupelo helped to launch alt country as a genre. Don't really think he's "trying to copy" Adam Duritz, who wasn't even famous yet.
This guy sounds like a lot of guys he's trying to copy. At least Adam Duritz can actually find and hit a single note.
Really? "This guy" would be Jay Farrar, who as part of Uncle Tupelo helped to launch alt country as a genre. Don't really think he's "trying to copy" Adam Duritz, who wasn't even famous yet.
Ok, so you know how a singer can sound pretty good on a record, but when you see them live, they never sound as good?
If this guy sounds this horrendous on a recording, I'd hate to hear him live...
If this guy sounds this horrendous on a recording, I'd hate to hear him live...
DaveInVA wrote:
This guy sounds like a lot of guys he's trying to copy. At least Adam Duritz can actually find and hit a single note.
This guy sounds a lot like the Counting Crows singer in this song....
This guy sounds like a lot of guys he's trying to copy. At least Adam Duritz can actually find and hit a single note.
A little too eagerly earnest for my ears, guess I'll die.Another of those bands that just resonates with me, for reasons I can't explain. I hear this, and I feel like there's hope again. 
DaveInVA wrote:
How dare you!
This guy sounds a lot like the Counting Crows singer in this song....
How dare you!
wrangler wrote:
Same here.
one of my desert island albums. and it has been since 1995. 
Same here.
This guy sounds a lot like the Counting Crows singer in this song....
wrangler wrote:
This song does have terrific lyrics:
Looking for the right kind of live free or die...
I want to see your smile through a pay phone
The season has changed
I want to see you in it
The lights that shine are caustic without you.
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will remain
Nicotine and waiting
Just wanted to keep it alive
You turn and before you know it
We're just threading this needle for life
A brighter way is what you prove
Anesthetize is what you do.
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will remain
Someday we'll be together
Farther south than the train line
The Delta mud will be there
We're just living this way
Because we know no other
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will remain
Looking for the right kind of live free or die...
one of my desert island albums. and it has been since 1995.
This song does have terrific lyrics:
Looking for the right kind of live free or die...
I want to see your smile through a pay phone
The season has changed
I want to see you in it
The lights that shine are caustic without you.
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will remain
Nicotine and waiting
Just wanted to keep it alive
You turn and before you know it
We're just threading this needle for life
A brighter way is what you prove
Anesthetize is what you do.
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will remain
Someday we'll be together
Farther south than the train line
The Delta mud will be there
We're just living this way
Because we know no other
When we're all passed over
The rhythm of the river will remain
And it will remain
Looking for the right kind of live free or die...
one of my desert island albums. and it has been since 1995.
I just saw online today that they are coming to Humphrey's here in San Diego w/ Cowboy Junkies on June 15th. Awesome. Two of my faves.
woohoo!!
Whiniest, most nasal voice ever. Like Tom Petty x 1000. Horrid.
This is REM from Fables of Reconstruction, isn't it?
We need to get a lot more Jay in general. I still haven't gotten new Son Volt.. have not been crazy about the one song that has gotten some airplay, not into the horns. Anyone out there like it/not like it?
Son Volt still kills Wilco....
Kurt_from_La_Qui wrote:
Bug Bill.
snakechaser wrote:
How do you get 'em played? I went over and rated a track from Trace the other day (Out of the Picture) in hopes that it would get some airtime.
Bug Bill.
madaxeman wrote:
I LOVE this.Brilliant.
I LOVE this.Brilliant.
greg6494 wrote:
woot! add the entire Trace track list! only 3 more to go (8 out of 11 tracks on playlist already!), and they are all great!
EXACTLY!!! Where's Cathing On???
jc005h wrote:
Indeed, the whole album is awesome...too bad the couple after weren't up to par
Trace would be hard for any one to follow up on, but the two that came after are still excellent albums.
Love Jay Farrar's voice - raspy and rough, but sounds good all the same.
jc005h wrote:
Indeed, the whole album is awesome...too bad the couple after weren't up to par
How do you get 'em played? I went over and rated a track from Trace the other day (Out of the Picture) in hopes that it would get some airtime.
Bizzarefall wrote:
No sir, I don't like it!
No like?
greg6494 wrote:
woot! add the entire Trace track list! only 3 more to go (8 out of 11 tracks on playlist already!), and they are all great!
Indeed, the whole album is awesome...too bad the couple after weren't up to par
MojoJojo wrote:
Arf!
First to post, and quite possibly the first to change the station...
That voice! Oof!
Freedom of Choice is a wonderful thing, Mojo.....
MojoJojo wrote:
Arf!
First to post, and quite possibly the first to change the station...
No like?
woot! add the entire Trace track list! only 3 more to go (8 out of 11 tracks on playlist already!), and they are all great!
Arf!
First to post, and quite possibly the first to change the station...
That voice! Oof!
Really? "This guy" would be Jay Farrar, who as part of Uncle Tupelo helped to launch alt country as a genre. Don't really think he's "trying to copy" Adam Duritz, who wasn't even famous yet.
Not sure who he's trying to imitate, or even if he is, but Son Volt is sure to get skipped every time.