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Album Details

• Artist: Whiskeytown
• Album: Stranger's Almanac
• Label: Outpost
• Year of Release: 1997
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2004-02-07

When people think of No Depression, many think of Uncle Tupelo or The Jayhawks as the most important artists in the genre. Whiskeytown is a band that I feel should be up on a pedestal. Now that the rest of the world has discovered the talent known as Ryan Adams we need to look at his former band. This is where all his really truly great songs were. Strangers Almanac was my introduction to the band (as well as a lot of other people) and it still sticks as one of the finest moments of this ill-fated band. You may have heard some mention of Caitlin Cary whenever Ryan is mentioned. She was one of the really important elements to Whiskeytown. Consider her as Ryan Adams own personal Emmylou Harris had he been Gram Parsons, that voice that adds so much to the mix. Not to mention her fiddle playing. I still remember the first time I heard "16 Days". It was when I put in the latest CMJ CD into my stereo and I thought, "Holy shit, this is what the Eagles would sound like if they were actually cool". This album opens with "Dancing With The Women At The Bar" and you know what you are in for on the rest of the album. Ryan may be young here but he still knows the power of heartbreak. The only song that I wish never made the mix is the track "Losering". It just feels like a waste with its repetitiveness. But tracks like "Inn Town", "Excuse Me", and "Avenues" make this a more than respectable release that belongs in any Americana collection.

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