Jay Farrar - Sebastopol
MAXIM
November 2001
Reviewed by David Peisner

“I call this one, GAP Button-Downs in the Key of F.”

Largely responsible for creating the alt-country sound with his band Uncle Tupelo, Farrar has been content to sit on the sidelines in recent years. His last couple of records with post-Tupelo act Son Volt were downright mediocre (after the brilliant Trace), but his first solo effort breaks out of the slump. Here Farrar rediscovers his spark, wrapping his ghostly moan of a voice around scene after surreal scene of middle-American misery. Such consistent discontent doesn’t make for easy listening, but Farrar’s ambitious and atmospheric roots rock creates a hard journey well worth taking.