In the early '90s, the American rock 'n' roll scene was so focused on Seattle and Nirvana that only a lucky few noticed another "underground" musical phenomenon brewing in St. Louis - well, Belleville, IL to be precise. Uncle Tupelo were also communicating about the general malaise in this time of post-Reaganomics and pre-internet IPO's, when the young generation were told they would be the first in U.S. history to earn less money than their parents.
Throughout Uncle Tupelo's reign, Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar split vocal and songwriting duties and revealed diverse influences from Hank Williams to Black Flag, proving Uncle Tupelo to be THE purveyors of "Punktry." Building a hard-core mid-west following centered around Cicero's in St. Louis, Uncle Tupelo's intelligent, heartfelt, feedback-drenched Still Feel Gone, their second Rockville Records release, sings simultaneously of the woes and joys of Belleville, actually transforming the town into a mythical, sub-noir landscape. The album contains contemplative, liquor-soaked tracks about the seamy underground of an industrial small town, where the residents rely on alcohol as their main source of entertainment. In "Looking for a Way Out" Farrar confirms this fact: "What has life for 50 years in this town done for you, except to earn your name and place on a barstool?"
Unveiling wisdom far beyond their years, insightful standouts like Tweedy's "Watch Me Fall" and Farrar's "Still Be Around" showcase acoustic finger-picking effectiveness and reflect the emotion and introspective melancholy of a Neil Young ballad. Tweedy's "Gun" is an enigmatic and rollicking guitar anthem that should have been a radio sensation.
Amid the ashes of Uncle Tupelo lies a powerful legacy waiting to be realized. Someday many will discover this album and wonder what they were doing in the early '90s and why they missed the pinnacle of Americana. Although it failed to make the cultural impact that grunge did, the legend of Belleville will continue to intensify.
If you like Uncle Tupelo, check out:
Uncle Tupelo No Depression
Uncle Tupelo March 16-22, 1992
Uncle Tupelo Anodyne
Giant Sand Chore Of Enchantment
The Byrds The Notorious Byrd Brothers
Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps
Flying Burrito Brothers Hot Burritos!
The Jayhawks Hollywood Town Hall
The Replacements Let It Be
-- Joanna Lux
