Still Feel Gone by Uncle Tupelo (Vinyl, 1991)

Music on Vinyl

8719262000506

10050181521

Uncle Tupelo

Vinyl

1991

Still Feel Gone

LP

Rock

This reissue contains 5 bonus tracks; 3 previously unreleased, plus 1 that appears on CD for the first time. Uncle Tupelo: Jay Farrar (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, banjo, mandolin, harmonica); Jeff Tweedy (vocals, acoustic guitar); Mike Heidorn (drums). Additional personnel includes: Brian Henneman (acoustic guitar); Gary Louris (electric guitar); Chris Bess (accordion, piano); Sean Slade (piano, organ). Includes liner notes by Holly George Warren. Uncle Tupelo clearly defined their nervy Gram Parsons-meets-the Minutemen sound on their debut album, 1990's No Depression, and their 1991 follow-up, Still Feel Gone, found them branching out into new variations of their previously established themes. While No Depression was dominated by breakneck tempos with the occasional slow, contemplative number thrown in for variety, Still Feel Gone found Uncle Tupelo taking a closer look at the middle ground, as evidenced by the high-strung acoustic guitars of "Still Be Around," the measured but powerful Crazy Horse stomp of "Looking for a Way Out," the lonesome shuffle of "True to Life," and the stark atmospherics of "If That's Alright" (the latter of which in retrospect sounds like the first dawning of the ideas Jeff Tweedy would explore with Wilco). But plenty of what made No Depression so impressive is still on view here, including the brutal stutter-step of "Gun," the simple but powerful declaration of "Watch Me Fall," and the heartfelt tribute to an obvious influence, "D. Boon." And if anything, the band sounds even more powerful this time out, and the broader picture of their abilities only confirms how strong a combination Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, and Mike Heidorn really were. If Still Feel Gone isn't as immediately impressive as No Depression, a few plays confirms it's still the work of a gifted band at full strength, and this reissue gives the album the special treatment it deserves. ~ Mark Deming

Q (10/03, p.131) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A more measured Crazy Horse-like folk-rock distinguished 1991's STILL FEEL GONE..."

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