Uncle Tupelo - "Anodyne" (1993) - Sire Records
an·o·dyne [an-uh-dahyn]
noun
1. a medicine that relieves or allays pain.
2. anything that relieves distress or pain: The music was an anodyne to his grief.
adjective
3. relieving pain.
4. soothing to the mind or feelings.
Hello Friends,
They say parting is such sweet sorrow and Anodyne is the sound of a band coming apart at the seams.
By 1993 Uncle Tupelo were ready to conquer the world. Anodyne was their fourth record as well as their major label debut (Sire Records). By now, the Tupelo sound really developed into a perfect balance of angst-ridden, early 90's indie rock and more traditional country music. However tensions between founding members, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Jay Farrar (Son Volt), were at a breaking point. So much so that Farrar would refuse to play on Tweedy songs live in concert! (What a jerk!) As is often the case with bands (or artists, in general), its this kind of unflappable tension that helps create one of the early 90's great records, both musically & lyrically.
The 12 songs on Anodyne are part early R.E.M., part Replacements, part Sticky Fingers, part Neil Yong and with a healthy dose of Hank Williams, The Louvin Brothers, Johnny Cash and the Bakersfield sound. (Actually, as I listen to this record 20 years since I first heard it, I'm thinking Sticky Fingers is the closest comparison to Anodyne in sound, style and mood!)
So many great lyrics too. Overall a very sad record...
"A worn out joke to keep the flies away
Carried it this far
Got the west side winds to keep it steady
We bury the hatchets we find
Could carry that heavy load" (Slate)
"When jousting is for pleasure
Pleasure is way out of hand
The time is right for getting out while we still can
Chickamauga's where I've been
Solitude is where I'm bound
I don't ever wanna taste these tears again
I don't ever wanna taste these tears again" (Chickamauga)
"All my daydreams are disasters
She's the one I think I love
Rivers burn and then run backwardsFor her, that's enough" (New Madrid)
"You threw out the past
When you threw out what was mine
Throughout the years
It was hard to make it last
Anodyne" (Anodyne)
"There's a guitar leaning on a Marshall stack
Used to sound like the sun on the horizon
Now I think we've been had" (We've Been Had)
"Slings and arrows completes the score
Always leaving, wanting more
And I try to throw it away
Strings that pull, strings that bend
This song and dance never ends" (Fifteen Keys)
"So long since I've seen you
Haven't we both been living the high life
It flows to the bottom
No more, no more will I see you
No more will I see you
No more will I see you" (Steal the Crumbs)
Smack dab in the middle of Side One is the one cover on the album. A great version of Doug Sahm's (of The Sir Douglas Quintet) "Give Back the Key to My Heart" with Sahm himself accompanying on guitar & vocals.
Here's Jeff Tweedy's The Long Cut live on Conan O'Brien (sadly, the band's only nationally televised performance):
RATING: 4.5 Mister Browning has a Prediction out of 5
By 1993 Uncle Tupelo were ready to conquer the world. Anodyne was their fourth record as well as their major label debut (Sire Records). By now, the Tupelo sound really developed into a perfect balance of angst-ridden, early 90's indie rock and more traditional country music. However tensions between founding members, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Jay Farrar (Son Volt), were at a breaking point. So much so that Farrar would refuse to play on Tweedy songs live in concert! (What a jerk!) As is often the case with bands (or artists, in general), its this kind of unflappable tension that helps create one of the early 90's great records, both musically & lyrically.
The 12 songs on Anodyne are part early R.E.M., part Replacements, part Sticky Fingers, part Neil Yong and with a healthy dose of Hank Williams, The Louvin Brothers, Johnny Cash and the Bakersfield sound. (Actually, as I listen to this record 20 years since I first heard it, I'm thinking Sticky Fingers is the closest comparison to Anodyne in sound, style and mood!)
So many great lyrics too. Overall a very sad record...
"A worn out joke to keep the flies away
Carried it this far
Got the west side winds to keep it steady
We bury the hatchets we find
Could carry that heavy load" (Slate)
"When jousting is for pleasure
Pleasure is way out of hand
The time is right for getting out while we still can
Chickamauga's where I've been
Solitude is where I'm bound
I don't ever wanna taste these tears again
I don't ever wanna taste these tears again" (Chickamauga)
"All my daydreams are disasters
She's the one I think I love
Rivers burn and then run backwardsFor her, that's enough" (New Madrid)
"You threw out the past
When you threw out what was mine
Throughout the years
It was hard to make it last
Anodyne" (Anodyne)
"There's a guitar leaning on a Marshall stack
Used to sound like the sun on the horizon
Now I think we've been had" (We've Been Had)
"Slings and arrows completes the score
Always leaving, wanting more
And I try to throw it away
Strings that pull, strings that bend
This song and dance never ends" (Fifteen Keys)
"So long since I've seen you
Haven't we both been living the high life
It flows to the bottom
No more, no more will I see you
No more will I see you
No more will I see you" (Steal the Crumbs)
Smack dab in the middle of Side One is the one cover on the album. A great version of Doug Sahm's (of The Sir Douglas Quintet) "Give Back the Key to My Heart" with Sahm himself accompanying on guitar & vocals.
Here's Jeff Tweedy's The Long Cut live on Conan O'Brien (sadly, the band's only nationally televised performance):
Fucking crazy how young they all look back in 1994 (including Conan!!)
Great... now I'm sad!
Thanks to Amy & Jim for the sweet 180 gram vinyl re-issue!
RATING: 4.5 Mister Browning has a Prediction out of 5
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