Anodyne
by Uncle Tupelo

From buzzdainer TOP 100 COMMENTER 02/09/2016 03:25 | #159170 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

In the spring of 1994, a group of friends and I followed Uncle Tupelo around New England on what turned out to be their final tour. They were playing small venues then, so much so that by the third show, they were giving us comp tickets and inviting us to join them on their tour bus to play Sega hockey with them after the shows. Every time I hear this terrific album, perhaps the crowning achievement of the alt-country genre, I'm grateful to have shared a few moments of the great musical odyssey that was Uncle Tupelo. "Chickamauga" is a stomping rocker that showcases Jay Farrar's abilities as songwriter and lead guitarist, ans is one of the great band breakup songs of all-time.

From Romanelli TOP 100 COMMENTER 05/14/2011 15:53 | #21757 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Sucks when a band gets it all right while they're breaking up, and there won't be a follow up.

I'm sorry, I love this site, but it is a shame that this album doesn't get rated higher. It is so good and the peak album of a band the defined a genre, sometimes called no depression after their first album. I know alt country didn't start with them, but they obviously influenced so many other bands. All their albums should be rated much higher.

From TheDude85 06/14/2019 18:04 | #237524 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

A legendary alt-country release. Unfortunately not my cup of tea. I guess the musicianship is stellar, but I confess the twang doesn't do it for me. My problem, not the band's.

Anodyne defined as a noun is a painkiller and as an adjective, it means inoffensive. The former definition is probably the inspiration of this major label debut and swan song for Uncle Tupelo. Jay Farrar would leave the band and the rest of the group would re-christen themselves as Wilco. For Anodyne, the group continues the acoustic live recording of their previous record, with some excellent electric performances to add balance. The songwriting is particularly strong from both Jeff Tweedy (see New Madrid) and Jay Farrar (the title track). Recorded in Austin, the group invited R&B legend Doug Sahm to sing his composition "Give Back the Key To My Heart." An outtake of this session features Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely singing Waylon Jennings' "Are You Sure Hank Done It That Way?" This is an essential alt-country album, equally influenced by the rock of Neil Young and The Replacements, as well as the traditional country of The Carter Family and Hank Williams.

Track Pick: New Madrid
Gems: Anodyne, Chickamauga, No Sense in Loving