Here is another of my random music tips. I was just on the treadmill listening to the iPod. Skipped around a little, then settled on Uncle Tupelo. You've probably never heard of them. They never took off commercially. Like Buffalo Springfield, they are more noted for what they spawned than for what they were. They were a few young guys from southern Illinois who played in a style that has come to be called alt-country, meaning elements of rock and country. Their rocking shake-up of the Carter Family's "No Depression" hit the nail on the head.
Like so many bands, they fell apart due to personality conflicts. The main honcho was Jay Farrar, a burly guy whose voice is an acquired taste. (My ex wife did not acquire it, LOL. We saw Son Volt, his subsequent band, as an opening act for John Hiatt and she said they all sounded like the same song). The younger brother of sorts was Jeff Tweedy. As Tweedy got a little older and gained confidence he needed a band of his own. He started one and called it Wilco.
Farrar started Son Volt after Uncle Tupelo fell apart and has been interspersing releases under their name and under his own.
Here is a vintage video of them on stage --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ilDhb2qk1MAnd one of Son Volt, albeit middling quality --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRVMdMXbrK4Here is an unbelievable deal -- trust me! ;-) Could be the best 9 bucks you spend this year.
http://www.amazon.com/89-93-Anthology-Uncle-Tupelo/dp/B000063CN9/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1270433176&sr=8-6
