No Depression is No More.

[rolliefingers]

http://www.nodepression.net/blogs/letter/

[frankpembleton]

http://www.nodepression.net/blogs/letter/

I never read it, but that's sad news. Hate to see smaller independent ventures lose the good fight.

Slightly off topic, but I have to say that based on your (as well as others) recommendation to check out Uncle Tupelo, I went out and picked up 'No Depression.' Wow - what an album. I'm not a huge Wilco fan and "alt-country" is not normally my bag, so I was a bit skeptical as to whether I would like it. I love it. I might even count it among my favorite albums. I also picked up 'Still Feel Gone' which is almost as good. I can't believe I didn't listen to them earlier. Thanks for the recommendation.

Uncle Tupelo does some awesome covers, as well.

[rolliefingers]

I never read it, but that's sad news. Hate to see smaller independent ventures lose the good fight.

Slightly off topic, but I have to say that based on your (as well as others) recommendation to check out Uncle Tupelo, I went out and picked up 'No Depression.' Wow - what an album. I'm not a huge Wilco fan and "alt-country" is not normally my bag, so I was a bit skeptical as to whether I would like it. I love it. I might even count it among my favorite albums. I also picked up 'Still Feel Gone' which is almost as good. I can't believe I didn't listen to them earlier. Thanks for the recommendation.

Uncle Tupelo does some awesome covers, as well.

UT was amazing. I'm sure Lucky Jim can expound at greater length on that topic as well.

One way to look at UT is that Jay Farrar peaked early as a songwriter and declined from there, whereas Tweedy started off mediocre and got a lot better over time (although he's started to run out of ideas, too).

I still think of Uncle Tupelo as basically Jay Farrar's band, and he did his best work with them and the first Son Volt record (which is timeless and superb, IMO).

But the album on which they almost crossed paths as songwriters was their last album, Anodyne. Acuff-Rose and The Long Cut are probably the best songs Tweedy wrote in that band.

What I'm saying is, go get Anodyne. :)

It's my birthday and I'm already a little drunk. Sentences forming coherent not I'm.

[wildbillhiccup]

One way to look at UT is that Jay Farrar peaked early as a songwriter and declined from there

Not sure I completely agree with this comment. Some of Farrar's work with Son Volt was VERY solid and Sebastopol always seems to find it's way into my cd player.

[rolliefingers]

One way to look at UT is that Jay Farrar peaked early as a songwriter and declined from there

Not sure I completely agree with this comment. Some of Farrar's work with Son Volt was VERY solid and Sebastopol always seems to find it's way into my cd player.


...the first Son Volt record (which is timeless and superb, IMO).

I certainly think he declined as a songwriter after Trace, but at the very least, he didn't improve after that album.

[Lucky Jim]

UT was amazing. I'm sure Lucky Jim can expound at greater length on that topic as well.

One way to look at UT is that Jay Farrar peaked early as a songwriter and declined from there, whereas Tweedy started off mediocre and got a lot better over time (although he's started to run out of ideas, too).

I still think of Uncle Tupelo as basically Jay Farrar's band, and he did his best work with them and the first Son Volt record (which is timeless and superb, IMO).

But the album on which they almost crossed paths as songwriters was their last album, Anodyne. Acuff-Rose and The Long Cut are probably the best songs Tweedy wrote in that band.

What I'm saying is, go get Anodyne. :)

It's my birthday and I'm already a little drunk. Sentences forming coherent not I'm.

I will, indeed, post on the subject soon. But I've got an opposition brief to write and a couple other projects that will keep me from thoroughness and eloquence - and UT deserves no less from me.

I think the No Depression moment is gone - which is sad, in its way, but also okay; these things rise up, have their influence, and fade away.

Lord knows what we'd think of Television if they cranked out mediocre album after mediocre album after Marquee Moon.

Then again, it hasn't hurt U2. ;)

[DREKTUNES]

I was not a consistent reader of it (so maybe I'm partially to blame) but I did really enjoy what I read of it.

And I like Uncle Tupelo just fine, but the Jayhawks were always my alt-country band. I even like their iffy band-with-loops record, Smile. Ok, maybe I don't. But all their other records (even the semi-obscure Live at the Women's Club releases) are worth the time. Still have to get Louris's solo record.

[ledzepp8]

I was not a consistent reader of it (so maybe I'm partially to blame) but I did really enjoy what I read of it.

And I like Uncle Tupelo just fine, but the Jayhawks were always my alt-country band. I even like their iffy band-with-loops record, Smile. Ok, maybe I don't. But all their other records (even the semi-obscure Live at the Women's Club releases) are worth the time. Still have to get Louris's solo record.

Yeah the Jayhawks are awesome.

I love Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt and Wilco. But I'd probably agree with Rollie, Trace is the best Son Volt record.

And you watch what you say about U2 Lucky Jim.;)

[Lucky Jim]

Yeah the Jayhawks are awesome.

I love Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt and Wilco. But I'd probably agree with Rollie, Trace is the best Son Volt record.

And you watch what you say about U2 Lucky Jim.;)

Just trying to get a rise.

By the way, I agree re: Trace. Though Wide Swing Tremolo is pretty good, too, as far as I'm concerned.

[ledzepp8]

Just trying to get a rise.

By the way, I agree re: Trace. Though Wide Swing Tremolo is pretty good, too, as far as I'm concerned.

I know...just messing with you LJ.

Yeah and Okemah and the Melody of Riot is pretty good too. I guess they just hit their peak with Trace as it's right up there with any Wilco or Uncle Tupelo album...hell any album really.

[DREKTUNES]

A lil bump action for this -

www.nodepression.com


Plans for a major overhaul of NoDepression.com -- the website of the former bimonthly alternative/roots-music magazine No Depression -- are well under way this summer, with the new site set to be launched in late September.

NoDepression.com, which will be edited by the magazine's founding co-editor Peter Blackstock, will include regular blogs by many of the magazine's most frequent contributors, including Blackstock and fellow founding co-editor Grant Alden. The new site will also include record reviews and live reviews, features on emerging artists, news updates, the current website's popular upcoming-releases list, reader-participant discussion forums -- and, perhaps most significantly, a vast and cross-referenced archive featuring almost all the content from No Depression magazine's 75 issues published from 1995 to 2008.

A new No Depression "bookazine" (to be designated No Depression #76) also will be available in print-form on the shelves of bookstores nationwide in October. The publication, a joint venture between ND and the University of Texas Press, will be issued twice annually (every fall and spring). Blackstock and Alden will serve as co-editors, with Alden also reprising his magazine role as art director. A handful of book-release events at bookstores and record stores nationwide are also in the works.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Just wanted to let people know that the Old 97's, who were featured in that last issue of No Depression, will be at SONAR on September 8. Tickets went on sale this morning. Great live band.

Proceeds from the show benefit one of the presidential candidates, though, so that might turn some people off.