Uncle Tupelo - 89/93: An Anthology
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Free Music Notes for 89/93: An Anthology
Free Music Review: Essential
Hit: 5 Stars
It's simple: Anyone who wishes to understand rock and roll music of the past decade must study Uncle Tupelo.Free Music Review: Well Planned And Even Better Packaged
Hit: 4 Stars
This new "greatest hits" package by Columbia Legacy is a great collection of Uncle Tupelo highlights from their too- short career. Clocking in at 71- plus minutes and containing 21 tracks, it's a great comprehensive overview of their entire catalog. The real treasures here, though, are the assorted seven- inch singles, alternate versions and b-sides scattered throughout. The remixed versions of "I Got Drunk" and "Sauget Wind" are a great improvement to the sound quality of the original seven- inches, and a treat to those who have yet to hear them. Equally great is the unrealeased Still Feel Gone track "I Wanna Be Your Dog", which shines through a brilliant arrangement and a haunting harmony vocal between Jay and Jeff.If there is any downside, it's the admission of the agressively powerful "Postcard" and the many assorted b- sides and unreleased live tracks out there among collectors. The inclusion of the No Alternative version of "Effigy" is a bit of a downside, as the live version from the 1993 Lounge Ax show is a brilliant representation of the tune and would have made a great closing track to this collection. Also, the live cut of "We've Been Had" seems like a poor choice, as the studio version holds up much better. A good replacement would have been the racuous live version of "Truck Drivin' Man" from the Five Live E.P. Hopefully, though, much more will come out with the album re-issues, but this collection is a great introduction to all.
Lastly, it should be noted that the packaging is as great as the cd itself. Finally UT fans get an explanation about what happened to break up the band from the band members themselves. There are great early photos dating all the way back to The Primitives and many wonderfully written comments and perspectives from all involved in their career. Pick this up! A must have all the way around!
Free Music Review: Colorful and commanding
Hit: 4 Stars
Uncle Tupelo--89/93: An AnthologyAlt-country honchos Uncle Tupelo are collected here through a
sample of their five year output and a few unreleased tracks.
They hang solid lyrical descriptions from brisk, careful
musicianship and the occasional guitar explosion. No
Depression's bass is like the quiet bump of a buggy ride and the
song is treat. The scratchy bounce of Graveyard Shift
accentuates the near-to-anger of Jay Farrar's voice. Screendoor
spins open some homey moments and the earnest grouchiness of
Whiskey Bottle comes across not quite like wayward
drunkeness with its pedal steel. The 1989 demo and previously
unreleased Outdone is like a scuffed over footprint and then
there's the galloping I Got Drunk and the jovial I Wanna Be Your
Dog, also previously unreleased.
Jeff Tweedy's tarnished denim vocals win out on the hard-givin'
Gun followed by the harmonica swept, acoustical ditty
Still Be Around.
A been-there resonance touches the vocals of Lookin' For A Way
Out, and up next is Watch Me Fall a veritable
charmer. Sauget Wind is a small classic, featuring all the alt-
country staples. Then there is the double acoustic
roll of Black Eye and the traditional Moonshiner; the way they
shape this song into a dusty gem brings a chill.
Violins and pedal steel lace the atmosphere of gloom on Fatal
Wound. The soft-pedal of Grindstone moves into
the ramshackle Effigy which I remember from the No Alternative
compilation. Long Cut is a cute wink while
Chickamauga goes out on a ruddy flush of electric. The plucky
banjo of the country-day rusticism in New Madrid
quickly distinguishes it and We've Been Had captures the band
live; they sound raucous and ready for whatever.
Colorful and commanding in vocal and approach, Uncle Tupelo
range free over their hard-working sound.
MM,
June 12/02
Free Music Review: Colorful and commanding
Hit: 4 Stars
Alt-country honchos Uncle Tupelo are collected here through a sample of their five year output and afew unreleased tracks. They hang solid lyrical descriptions from brisk, careful musicianship and the occasional
guitar explosion. No Depression's bass is like the quiet bump of a buggy ride and the song is treat. The scratchy
bounce of Graveyard Shift accentuates the near-to-anger of Jay Farrar's voice. Screendoor spins open some
homey moments and the earnest grouchiness of Whiskey Bottle comes across not quite like wayward
drunkeness with its pedal steel. The 1989 demo and previously unreleased Outdone is like a scuffed over
footprint and then there's the galloping I Got Drunk and the jovial I Wanna Be Your Dog, also previously unreleased.
Jeff Tweedy's tarnished denim vocals win out on the hard-givin' Gun followed by the harmonica swept, acoustical ditty
Still Be Around.
A been-there resonance touches the vocals of Lookin' For A Way Out, and up next is Watch Me Fall a veritable
charmer. Sauget Wind is a small classic, featuring all the alt-country staples. Then there is the double acoustic
roll of Black Eye and the traditional Moonshiner; the way they shape this song into a dusty gem brings a chill.
Violins and pedal steel lace the atmosphere of gloom on Fatal Wound. The soft-pedal of Grindstone moves into
the ramshackle Effigy which I remember from the No Alternative compilation. Long Cut is a cute wink while
Chickamauga goes out on a ruddy flush of electric. The plucky banjo of the country-day rusticism in New Madrid
quickly distinguishes it and We've Been Had captures the band live; they sound raucous and ready for whatever.
Colorful and commanding in vocal and approach, Uncle Tupelo range free over their hard-working sound.
MM,
June 12/02
Free Music Review: An Oddly Programmed Anthology from a Great Band
Hit: 4 Stars
The late, great Uncle Tupelo is not an easy band to anthologize, certainly not on a single disc. They had no radio hits, and quite simply too many great songs to choose from. Throw in the fact that they had two first rate, but seperate and distinct songwriting talents and the task becomes even more daunting. I purchased this CD because it contains seven tracks that are not on Uncle Tupelo's original four albums (of which I own all). The previously unavailable on album cuts include "Outdone," "I Got Drunk," "Sauget Wind;" cover tracks "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and Effigy; an alternative accoustic version of "Looking for a Way Out" and a live version of "We've Been Had." Of the rest, some are truly among UT's best songs, including "No Depression," "Screen Door," "Still Be Around," "The Long Cut" and "Fatal Wound." But where are "Postcard," "Shaky Ground," "Key to My Heart," and "If That's Alright"? They are all better than some of the selections that were included.
Nitpicking aside, Uncle Tupelo was the 1990s version of the Velvet Underground, a cult band that broke new ground for many other (more popular) artists to follow. Bandmates Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy have been trying to live up to UT's high standards ever since, with mixed success. According to the liner notes, plans are in the works to re-release all four original albums with bonus tracks. This is a good thing, because all of Uncle Tupelo's music deserves to be heard.