The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Friday March 27, 2015
Our final #DiggingDeep, a series that highlights album cuts from our favorite artists, features Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and Son Volt's Jay Farrar in their first band Uncle Tupelo.
Train from the 1990 LP No Depression
"Cow punk" was one of the many names for Uncle Tueplo's music. Their combination of hard country and punk is displayed in all its glory on Tweedy's "Train." It transitions back and forth from loping alternative rock to almost "getaway music" quality hillbilly tune effortlessly. The youthful energy of both Farrar and Tweedy, who would soon become a bit too serious, shines through.
Life Worth Living from the 1990 LP No Depression
Life Worth Living from the 1990 LP No Depression
Although their sound often varied Uncle Tupelo specialized in two things: blistering punk rock and plaintive folk. "Life Worth Living" falls into the latter category. Farrar's first attempt at a statement song ("This song is sung for anyone that's listening/this song is for the broken spirited man"), it shows that he could write meaningful, universal songs very early in his career. Tweedy's harmonies and the combination of mandolin and distorted guitars are highlights.
Steal the Crumbs from the 1993 LP Anodyne
Steal the Crumbs from the 1993 LP Anodyne
Anodyne, Tupelo's final album, combined the rock of their early material with the more mature folk of their all-acoustic third album March 16. The results were easily the bands best album. Many of the songs touch on the bands impending breakup but none more explicitly than "Steal the Crumbs." Its title comes from one of its most biting lines (you've schemed more than you have/borrowed more than you know/better to steal the crumbs/makes it easier to go) but its chorus puts it most simply: no more/no more will I see you.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He is also a contributor for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He is also a contributor for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
RSS Feed
