Product Description:
Originally released on Moodfood Records, this remixed reissue contains new artwork and bonus tracks.
Whiskeytown: Ryan Adams, Phil Wandscher (vocals, guitar); Caitlin Cary (vocals, violin); Steve Grothman (bass); Eric "Skillet" Gilmore (drums).
Additional personnel: Bob Ricker (pedal steel); Nicholas Petti (pedal steel, banjo, accordion).
Recorded at the Funny Farm, Apex, North Carolina and at Captured Live!, Durham, North Carolina. Includes liner notes by Caitlin Cary.
Personnel: Phil Wandscher, Ryan Adams (vocals, guitar); Caitlin Cary (vocals, violin).
Audio Mixers: Chris Stamey; Tim Harper.
Audio Remixer: Chris Stamey.
Liner Note Authors: Ryan Adams; Caitlin Cary.
Recording information: Captured Live!, Durham, NC; Funny Farm, Apex, NC.
Photographers: Ray Duffy; Ryan Adams; Caitlin Cary.
Much has been made of Whiskeytown's turbulent, short-lived life and the antics and attitude of its lead singer and songwriter Ryan Adams. But all that falls by the wayside with one listen to the alt-country youngsters' 1996 debut FAITHLESS STREET. Though its antecedents are easy enough to trace (Uncle Tupelo, anyone?), FAITHLESS STREET updates the classic country-rock sound with enough grit and sincerity to make it fresh and vital.
In part this vitality comes from Adams's punk rock background: there is enough muscle and DIY attitude here to spawn any number of front-porch alt-country wannabes. But the real weapon is Adams' songwriting, be it the spiraling melancholy of opener "Midway Park," the waltz-time beauty of the title track, or the serious country perfection of "Matrimony." The musicians--with their weeping pedal steel, steady backbeats, and fierce electric guitars (not to mention Caitlin Cary's fine violin and vocals)--are no slouches either. FAITHLESS STREET deserves a place alongside seminal alt-country albums by Uncle Tupelo and the Jayhawks, which is high praise indeed.
Entertainment Reviews:
Q - 9/00, p.135
Included in Q's "Best Alt.Country Albums Of All Time" - "...The last great alt.country album."
Option - 11-12/97, p.138
"...Whiskeytown writes good songs, the kind you might actually find yourself singing. When they aren't pushing the cornpone...their garage-country has the warm glow of familiarity..."
