While Jay Farrar has always been a working man’s songwriter/songwriter – often writing about the woes of the working class, the hard times of ordinary folks and the lost souls who turn to liquor, drugs, guns and religion to fill a void in life – he isn’t known for overly political songs. Son Volt’s ninth album, Union, changes that with a collection of songs on the troubling political climate in the U.S., including biting criticisms of the current government administration and its divisive and polarizing effect on the people and democracy. Album highlights include: a timely track about the collapse of American democracy, “While Rome Burns”; the somber take on those who fall outside of the elite 1%, “The 99”; a pointed jab at the Trump administration on “Lady Liberty”; a chronicling of the imprisonment of an intelligence specialist “Reality Winner”; the searing story about illegal immigrant situation in “The Symbol” which took inspiration from the Woodie Guthrie anthem, “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos).” Jay Farrar and company pull no punches on Union, and it’s great to see Farrar exploring new avenues. If you’re a Jay Farrar and/or Son Volt fan, you’ll be right at home with Union. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | The Bottle Rockets, Centro-matic, Justin Townes Earle, Jay Farrar, Uncle Tupelo