I am listening to Son Volt's new album American Central Dust. The more I listen, the more I am struck how good of a songwriter that Jay Farrar has become. I think he has always used powerful metaphors, way back with Uncle Tupelo even. But these gentle and tender tunes on American Central Dust are just soooo good. The opening track of Dynamite has this great chorus lyric of our love is like celebrating Fourth of July with Dynamite. I really like that a lot. Cocaine and Ashes is his reflecting on a story he heard about Keith Richards smoking the ashes of his cremated father and mixing them with cocaine. I could go on-and-on about this record's great songs...and I might. The album closes with my favorite tune with its cool guitar fills called Jukebox of Steel.
I would not want him to, but Jay Farrar is good enough now to head to Nashville. He could write a commercial tune. And I am certain his tunes would be better than the drek that is passing for songs on country radio now. Hell, maybe he could just pen some Laurel Canyon stuff. He's that good. If Jeff Tweedy has heard this album, his heart is pierced with searing jealousy.
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