With the rise of artists like Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, and the Old 97’s, the alt-country genre has experienced a massive spike in interest over the last decade. And while the genre’s most celebrated acts are definitely worth checking out, alt-country aficionados know that there is a whole ’nother world of twangy alt-rock that’s never quite connected on the same commercial level. Here, we run down three alt-country obscurities that come highly recommended—if you can find ’em, that is.
Slobberbone Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today (New West, 2000) — In the late ’90s, it seemed like Slobberbone were going to be the biggest alt-country act in the world. The Denton, Texas, band merged gritty country riffs with punk’s energy, impressive arrangements, and frontman Brent Best’s caustic lyrics to craft one of the most flawless alt-country albums of all-time in Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today. From the apocalyptic opening line “10 minutes to meltdown” (“Meltdown”) to the final track “Pinball Song” (in which the protagonist cheats with his buddy’s ex-girlfriend and “lost it all for just another score”), the lyrics on the disc read more like a collection of short stories than traditional songwriting fare, and the mix of amplified and traditional instrumentation makes the disc all that much more captivating.
Patterson Hood Killers and Stars (New West, 2004) — Most people know Patterson Hood as the frontman for alt-country superstar act the Drive-By Truckers, but four years ago he released a lo-fi collection of stripped-down acoustic tracks, lovely for their urgency and vulnerability. According to Hood, Killers and Stars was recorded in his dining room in March of 2001 right after he had been divorced and tensions were running high in the band. The result is an album that’s equal parts morbid (“The Assassin”) and nostalgic (“Miss Me Gone”) with a sensibility that’s strikingly reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska.
[Note: Album too Obscure to Locate Album Cover]
The Paper Hearts Plans for the Past (Heartshape, 2003 now available at New Scratch) — A lot of people are familiar with Memphis-based alt-country/punk act Lucero, but for our money it’s tough to beat the band’s ex-guitarist Todd Gill’s other project, the Paper Hearts. With one flawless full-length and two EPs that combine Gill’s twangy tenor with gorgeous arrangements and heartfelt vocals, the Paper Hearts are producing some of the most honest music we’ve heard in recent memory. We recommend Plans for the Past for the plaintive rocker “On Again Off Again,” a song that sums up life on the road in five succinct minutes.