Jakob Dylan, son of the famous Bob, has a great voice (much easier to listen to then dear old Dad's) and a great knack for songwriting, especially the kind of deep, classic pop that he is trafficking here on 2010's Women + Country. Most folks would know his voice from that Wallflower's song that you are always hearing in the grocery store (either "One Headlight" or Sixth Avenue Heartache") and say "I remember this guy, I really dug those songs on the radio back in the 90's." Well, after quietly putting his band on hiatus in the early 00's Dylan released two solo albums and this one is the pick of the litter. It's clear that Dylan is making a "big statement album by all the American icons he has stuffed into the artwork (an eagle, the flag everywhere) and he largely accomplishes his goal. Like his Dad, Dylan can write social commentary like it's no one's business and "They've Trapped Us Boys" and "Truth For A Truth" sting like his dad's best work. The country harmonies are gorgeous on "Everybody's Hurting" and "Holly Rollers For Love." Dylan found two great harmony singers in Nekko Case and Kelly Hogan and a producers dream in T Bone Burnett (who has produced a few of my favorite records like the Counting Crow's August And Everything After and Natalie Merchant's Motherland).
This album is what this project is all about. I'd quite forgotten how much I like this dusty, classic cowboy record and it is a joy to put it on again and hear a master voice in action. 4 1/2 stars.
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