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Son Volt — Loose String
Album: Trace
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 416









Released: 1995
Length: 3:39
Plays (last 30 days): 0
One-way streets and square one
The answers don't come from any one direction
Not a care in the world, no better way to go
It's fine here, watching it go down

Half the trouble's in the asking
And I know you're not the kind to wait around
Taking chances with no intent to make a killing
Too much living is no way to die

Loose string
Find the pieces don't fit in
Loose string
Coming up for air again and again
Loose string
Too much living is no way to die

See the ground sinking 'round
Tomorrow's a card to play
Same old words heard in storms, repeated doom
Too many rules, it will bleed you dry

Half the trouble's in the asking
And I know you're not the kind to wait around
Taking chances with no intent to make a killing
Too much living is no way to die

Loose string
Find the pieces don't fit in
Loose string
Coming up for air again and again
Loose string
Too much living is no way to die

Said you haven't seen it all
Just keep on searching for just one single reason

Half the trouble's in the asking
And I know you're not the kind to wait around
Taking chances with no intent to make a killing
Too much living is no way to die

Loose string
Find the pieces don't fit in
Loose string
Coming up for air again and again
Loose string
Loose string
Comments (84)add comment
One of my all time favorite albums.  Great from top to bottom.
One of the great voices.  Love it whenever Son Volt pops up.
 TimeWaster wrote:
This is pretty bad, folks. The music goes nowhere, and the guy's voice is terrible.
 
You successfully wasted my time.
Son Volt should just go away, and take all that music with. It isn't alt country, it isn't 'alt' anything. It just sucks.
So this loose string walks into a bar...
 dogpound wrote:
this never should have left the garage.

 

Exactly!
this never should have left the garage.
Alt-Country at it's finest! {#Music}
Yes! Way too loose. This just wanders.
Horrid country western. Blech.
 Excelsior wrote:
Jay Farrar has one of the worst voices I've ever heard.
 
Yep.
That's cool. I'm glad you get pleasure and enjoyment from it. Peace.

meydele wrote:
That's what makes horseraces . . . I think differently. Love his voice, love the rambling country-rock music, love it all.
  
His screechy, shrill, monotone singing? How can anyone not like it?

One-trick pony.
As much as I have liked this bands previous material, this just isn't much more than no where. Or, down by the river, which is miracoulsly following.

This is pretty bad, folks. The music goes nowhere, and the guy's voice is terrible.
 meydele wrote:
That's what makes horseraces . . . I think differently. Love his voice, love the rambling country-rock music, love it all.
 
His screechy, shrill, monotone singing? How can anyone not like it?
 bindi wrote:
How are these guys live? 

(worth a 3 hr drive good?)
 

Until I saw them Friday night, I would've said, "Save your gas money and buy the CDs."  Friday night, however, changed my mind.  The lead guitarist was killer-diller!  He had such imagination, and played manic solos from a dozen genres — all fit just perfectly.  A great addition to the drumming and a fabulous counterpoint to the monotone vocals that are Son Volt's hallmark.

 SPACEDOG wrote:

Yeah, kind of like Neil Young........look what that got him.

(edit: Bill plays Down by the River from Neil Young, just for reinforcement, right after I posted this comment. 'Nuff said.)

 

'sweird.  I like Neil Young's voice (well, most of the time).  I can't stand this guy.
...great album...
This band should have stayed broken up. This genre music was done to perfection by The jayhawks
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Son Volt • Ferrar Guitar
Son Volt • Ferrar Guitar
larger
 
{#Tongue-out}
 


How are these guys live? 

(worth a 3 hr drive good?)
Son Volt • Ferrar Guitar
Son Volt • Ferrar Guitar
larger

 
 
 
 
Son Volt Shoes
Son Volt Shoes
larger

Son Volt guitarist Chris Masterson

 Excelsior wrote:
Jay Farrar has one of the worst voices I've ever heard.
 
Yeah, kind of like Neil Young........look what that got him.

(edit: Bill plays Down by the River from Neil Young, just for reinforcement, right after I posted this comment. 'Nuff said.)

Excelsior wrote:
Jay Farrar has one of the worst voices I've ever heard.
Useless comment.
Jay Farrar has one of the worst voices I've ever heard.
coccyx wrote:
These guys sound exactly (exactly) like Counting Crows,
this mystifies me (another great song from this cd ) as someone already said - amazing how different people hear different things. i hear none of the counting crows in this band, or specifically this song. love the song, love the cd, love the band. takes me back to when it was first out. great to hear it again.
One of my favorite CDs ever.
coccyx wrote:
These guys sound exactly (exactly) like Counting Crows, complete with strained, groping-for-pitch vocals of lead singer. Unremarkable.
This song does sound alot like Counting Crows, but Son Volt and CC diverge greatly almost everywhere else.
I think it's important to understand the genre and a little of what Jay Farrar has contributed to the genre, meaning specifically alt-country/rock/americana. If you don't like that sound, cool, but the likes of Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, Son Volt are important contibuters... dig a little deeper in that genre, farther back and you'll hit up stuff like Souled American. Good stuff in my opinion. Great genre and sound - Farrar's voice is awesome, a little under-appreciated maybe.
arserocket wrote:
Amazing how different people hear different things - it just does nothing for me, sorry
That's what makes horseraces . . . I think differently. Love his voice, love the rambling country-rock music, love it all.
These guys sound exactly (exactly) like Counting Crows, complete with strained, groping-for-pitch vocals of lead singer. Unremarkable.
Yipes! This is terrible in a very bland, generic, mundane way.
Amazing how different people hear different things - it just does nothing for me, sorry Glitterbug wrote:
Farrar and the Volt consistently amaze me with complex and stunning music and a straighforward and unyeilding delivery.
tiggers wrote:
You think that's rock? God forbid I ever have to live in rural Iowa. Anyway it's a 2 from me - aside from the fact it sounds at least part way country the vocals are just dreadful all in my opinion of course.
As someone who lived through the 70's country rock era (loved a lot of it), it's not that this is "alt country", it's just that it's really weak, lame songwriting - meandering along just hoping for a sniff of an idea - or at least, also just my opinion. Another 2 vote.
okobojicat wrote:
Interesting, I'm from rural Iowa, where we only get bombarded by crappy country stations. I would never have thought this was country. Just solid rock.
You think that's rock? God forbid I ever have to live in rural Iowa. Anyway it's a 2 from me - aside from the fact it sounds at least part way country the vocals are just dreadful all in my opinion of course.
okobojicat wrote:
Interesting, I'm from rural Iowa, where we only get bombarded by crappy country stations. I would never have thought this was country. Just solid rock.
Okoboji? Grew up there. Radio was even worse there then.
Interesting, I'm from rural Iowa, where we only get bombarded by crappy country stations. I would never have thought this was country. Just solid rock. Daveinbawlmer wrote:
this is the problem that beset Lucinda Williams, the rock stations said she was too country and the country stations said she was too rock.
Out-frickin-standing
Whew! "Too much living is no way to die": indeed Awesome song, awesome CD...
ChardRemains wrote:
Bill, you're on a roll right now. Sweet... Wish I could crank it.
I cranked it.
SCprof wrote:
Got my SV tickets for Charleston in 2 weeks.Can't wait. This is going to be awesome!!!!
... So, how was it? ...
Got my SV tickets for Charleston in 2 weeks.Can't wait. This is going to be awesome!!!!
Bill, you're on a roll right now. Sweet... Wish I could crank it.
Kurt_from_La_Qui wrote:
isn't interesting KLS, that country and western stations (too rock) nor rock stations (too country) will play this type of music, but you get to hear it here on paradise? bill, you could play uncle tupelo, wilco and sun volt all day long and i would be happy.
this is the problem that beset Lucinda Williams, the rock stations said she was too country and the country stations said she was too rock.
every song on Trace is great...love Jay Farrar's voice..thanks for playing this afternoon
A great song from one of the best albums ever created!
One of my SV favorites! I'm excited to see they're touring again and hope to catch them in Charleston, SC in Feb.
2 thumbs up.
Farrar and the Volt consistently amaze me with complex and stunning music and a straighforward and unyeilding delivery.
Great song, great band, An 8 all the way. Play more Alt-Country, please?
pousso wrote:
Great band, great album. Jay Farrar is the closest I get to country music. Ok, and EmmyLou Harris, Jayhawks, Neil Young, Blue Rodeo, Johhny Cash......
This might possibly be my favorite cd (definitely top 5). I can listen to it over and over again and not get sick of it.
Great band, great album. Jay Farrar is the closest I get to country music. Ok, and EmmyLou Harris, Jayhawks, Neil Young, Blue Rodeo, Johhny Cash......
I "get" Son Volt a lot more than I do Wilco.
Dianyla wrote:
I'm so glad I don't use tampons anymore. For more information, see https://www.divacup.com/
Dianyla wrote:
I'm so glad I don't use tampons anymore. For more information, see https://www.divacup.com/
I'm so glad I don't use tampons anymore. For more information, see https://www.divacup.com/
ankhara99 wrote:
Does this sound like the Jayhawks to anyone else?
Fortunately, no. Sadly, I find the Jayhawks vocals grating and annoying.
One of my favorite road trip albums. So many memories listening to this driving across northern Canada and the AK highway. Great stuff.
Wow - my all-time favorite Son Volt track! SV kick butt! I'm glad Jay Farrar is doing a new Son Volt project even though its with three new members. Bill, please play this wondeful song more. And more SV while you're at it.
ankhara99 wrote:
Does this sound like the Jayhawks to anyone else?
Voices don't match at all.
Love this band. Just great, "dirt under your fingernails" rockin'. (oh, and it isn't country music, y'all. i grew up with country music. sorry, but this ain't it.) :P
Does this sound like the Jayhawks to anyone else?
One of those songs I guess you have to be from the US to really appreciate - just sounds like so many other tracks of a similar ilk..........
i uploaded this years ago and it was turned down. so glad its on now, though! from my favorite son volt cd. :nodhead:
KLS wrote:
My two least favorite types of music -- country AND western :p
Some call this work "Y'allternative." or alt.country. It fits in fine here. Agree with the comments about more Wilco, Son Volt & Jay Farrar. This stuff is great.
8) 8) 8)
Kurt_from_La_Qui wrote:
this is the best!
I AGREE!!!!!!!!! MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!!!!!!
ABSOLUTE GODHEAD. THIS ALBUM IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANY ASPIRING OR SEASONED FANS OF INSURGENT COUNTRY "TWANG-CORE". FARRAR AND HIS PREVIOUS UNCLE TUPELO COMPOSITIONS ARE STIRRING EMOTIONAL SENSATIONS !
isn't interesting KLS, that country and western stations (too rock) nor rock stations (too country) will play this type of music, but you get to hear it here on paradise? bill, you could play uncle tupelo, wilco and sun volt all day long and i would be happy.
Yahoo Jay Ferrar! Also, ya might like to throw in more from "Sepastopol"... thanks Bill!
this is the best!
We likes it, my precious, yes we does. 8O
I love hearing local talent on RP! Jay Farrar is on tour from Wilco right now FYI. For those out of the loop Wilco and Sun Volt used to make up Uncle Tupelo. St. Louis will never be the same! (pimp)
More MOre MORe and MORE ! ! :D
A story: Several years ago, John Mellencamp was booked into Billings Montana. The local radio station here (about 2 hours south) had some giveaway tickets. The station owner asked if I was interested but I said no (I had something else going on) but asked about who was going to be the opening act. She sniffed and said \"Son Volt. Where do they find these bands?\" Obviously never heard of them. When I said I\'d just as soon see Son Volt as John Cougar, she said \"Well, you always did like weird music.\" I suppose so.
one of the best songs, period. jay farrar at his best. wilco is a good band, tupelo was very good, but son volt is outshines them all. beautiful stuff.
Though not my favorite track, I always like to hear some Son Volt (and Uncle Tupelo), especially something from this most excellent album.
I would rather hear this awesome song a hundred times in a row then hear the Scorpians on RP again!!! This is more like it...
MORE! how \'bout some Wilco or Uncle Tupelo while your at it...