Editorial Reviews
turnstiles
Music Review:
Music Review
Live at American University [Import]
The Sound of Music/South Pacific... [Soundtrack]
Amazon.com
On their 1998 debut, Turnstiles, it's quickly apparent that Minneapolis's Bellwether is mining the territory long staked out by the seminal alternative-country band Uncle Tupelo as well as the subsequent bands of Tupelo's frontmen Jay Farrar (Son Volt) and Jeff Tweedy (Wilco). Son Volt, in particular, is recalled on the CD's opening tracks, "Way Back Round" and "Don't You Run," with their beautifully layered guitars and the world-weary, salt-of-the-earth vocals of singer-guitarist Eric Luoma. Likewise, the raspy vocals and manic country rock on "Stick Around" is a dead ringer for Jeff Tweedy and Uncle Tupelo circa 1990. Although it's no accident that Luoma and fellow singer-guitarist Jimmy Peterson sound a lot like Farrar and Tweedy, they come off as the genuine article. They play like they have a true feel and belief for the music they're creating instead of merely aping their alternative-country heroes. For this reason Bellwether hit their stride mid-record when they deviate from the No Depression formula and explore their own sound with stunningly crafted songs such as "The Longest Way," "Hollow," and "King of the Meantime." The hooks on these songs are sublime and slow to arrive, packing a powerful emotional punch and lending the songs a wide-open, heartland folk sense of longing, regret, and opportunities pissed away. Bellwether use their dual guitar attack to their advantage throughout the record, seamlessly layering electric and acoustic guitars, while the leads have just enough dirt on them to complement the bitter loneliness of the lyrics. --Paul Ducey
About the Artist
Band Members:
Eric Luoma - guitars, vocals, harmonica, banjo
Jimmy Peterson - guitars, vocals, lap steel
Phil Tippin - bass, vocals
John Crist - drums
Album Description
tales of longing from the midwest - reviewed favorably in No Depression, Billboard, and Buscadero (italy). Radio play for way back round, hollow, and dont you run. Buscadero says one of the best reviewed this year!