Son Volt / Straightaways by Jo Ben Whittenburg Warner Brothers To this day, faithful followers of the late, great Uncle Tupelo still argue over which is the better of the two bands formed in the wake of the its unfortunate 1994 break-up: Wilco or Son Volt. The former, fronted by Jeff Tweedy, bassist and half of the songwriting team behind Uncle Tupelo, made their case for rock immortality with the release of one of last year's finest albums, the sprawling two-disc sophomore effort, Being There. Having already made a name for themselves with their excellent debut album Trace, Son Volt, led by Tweedy's former partner, guitarist Jay Farrar, spent the majority of last year tirelessly touring the nation (including a brief stint on the H.O.R.D.E. tour). Their newest release was reportedly recorded during two breaks from their persistent road work. With Straightaways, another round of comparisons to both Uncle Tupelo and Wilco is bound to begin, and not without good reason. However, the motives behind the split between Farrar and Tweedy ultimately point to the musical roads each felt the need to travel. In Uncle Tupelo, the disparate personalities of the two merged to create some of the finest rock 'n' roll of the last decade. Apart, they have clearly gone on to create two very different bands, with distinctive sounds that resist the familiar comparisons offered by fans old and new. Straightaways is a rarity on the American music scene these days -- a rock album with heart and intelligence. In many ways, it follows the precedence set by Trace, both musically and lyrically. The songs within are rich with images of longing and loss, persistently portraying a vital need to struggle through the hard times life can often offer. "We've been through the thick / Straightaways after," Farrar proclaims on the third track, "Picking Up the Signal," displaying the subtle optimism underlying much of the album's dark tone. Later he reminds the listener, "Don't leave without speaking your mind" -- advice that many musicians today should take to heart. At times, Farrar seems just as angst- ridden as the next alternative rocker, but his delivery, both impassioned and dead sober, betrays a conviction sadly absent in standard '90s rock. All comparisons aside, Son Volt's Straightaways is a powerful, uncompromising record. It evokes both heartache and bliss with uncanny ease, while satisfying diverse tastes, from rock to country (and many things in between). Most of all, Straightaways examines the simple struggles of living as we struggle to move forward in spite of the inevitable despair hope and memory can evoke. On "Creosoto," perhaps the album's most bittersweet track, Farrar sums up much of this sentiment: "Born under widespread changes / The search for higher reason / Learning the ropes okay / But fate just runs you around." One can only hope that Jay Farrar and his fellow bandmates continue their search with the same drive and conviction that marks this fine album.

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