Uncle Tupelo - No Depression

The album that named a movement (and a magazine), No Depression rocks and twangs in just about equal measure, though the rock side wins out most of the time. Even when a song downshifts from full-on punk to banjo- and mandolin-graced interludes, it usually shifts back again, seemingly louder and angrier than before. Beyond the influential sound, though, are some great songs, whether they're raging originals like "Graveyard Shift," an earnest, acoustic cover of the Carter Family's title track, or a decidedly desperate portrait of Leadbelly's "John Hardy." Six bonus cuts flesh out the 2003 expanded and remastered edition, including a cover of Gram Parsons's "Sin City." --David Cantwell Amazon.com

Alternative country comes alive...

A friend of mine actually gave me a copy of No Depression on tape shortly after this release came out and told me I had to check this new band out. For some reason it sat at the bottom of my tape collection for well over a year. I finally rediscovered the tape one day and realized it was time to check out the band with the unique name. Man, had I missed out on some seriously good music! There is a nice mix of punk and country on many of the songs on this cd. Songs such as "Graveyard Shift" and "Factory Belt" are quick paced, high-flying country/punk tunes but the song that blew me away (and still does to this day) is the old school country drinking song "Whiskey Bottle". Everytime I hear this song it just sends shivers up my spine as you can feel the pain and heartache in Jay Farrar's voice. Some great bonus tracks on the remastered version including a great version of Gram Parson's "Sin City" and an informative booklet just add to the original beauty of this release. Tupelo move forward into a more traditional country sound after this cd but "No Depression" is a groundbreaking effort.





December 20, 2004

Oh My, yes indeed!

Now this, THIS is my kind of music. Punk meets Country, with Rock sprinkled all over for good measure! From the opening note of "Graveyard Shift" to the close of "Blues Die Hard, there's 19 tracks of pure great music to be had here.

This stuff is potent - what creativity, what diversity, what a great sound these guys put out. Makes me mad I didn't discover them sooner, because Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt are two of the best groups I've been lucky enough to come across in the past year or two. Really and truly well worth buying this one is, you will be very glad you did! August 9, 2004

Seminal!!!

This is THE album by THE band that created a whole new genre in American Underground music. It would take five years for bands like Uncle Tupelo to appear in every major city in the US, but they eventually did. It is a classic. An essential album for any music lover.

They were the first and did it the best. July 25, 2004

Alternative Country

this is a great album, so much better than what wilco has done, actually all the uncle T albums are amazing, check them out June 10, 2004

Opening Shot

Uncle Tupelo's debut record, No Depression, is a beautiful blend of the heartbreak and longing of country music and the power and fury of punk. The musical style known as alt-country or cowpunk is best summed up in the brilliant "Graveyard Shift". The verses are built around and rolling guitar riff that builds to thrashing crescendo and maniac guitars in the chorus. Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy are the two singers on the album and on this record, Mr. Farrar is clearly the stronger of the two contributing the aforementioned "Graveyard Shift", "Factory Belt" the mournful "Whiskey Bottle" and "Life Worth Living". Mr. Tweedy isn't quite up to Mr. Farrar's level, but you can see the seeds of his brilliance on "Train" and "Screen Door". No Depression went virtually unknown upon its release, but it announced the presence of a truly powerful new musical force. May 7, 2004

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