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Album Details

• Artist: Drag The River
• Album: You Can't Live This Way
• Label: Suburban Home
• Year of Release: 2008
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2008-02-05

Drag The River has long been awaiting its due. Its blend of country and rock with stellar songwriting places it right up there with Uncle Tupelo, Slobberbone and the Gourds on the top shelf of alt-country bands, yet they hardly get the hype they deserve. “You Can’t Live This Way” is another solid release; there is not a bad song here, and several are great. If this is, as it seems, their final release (though I do believe they are doing a short tour to support it) then they are going out large. They whole thing ends with the title track, which is really a 35 minute recap of the entire record, a ballsy bit genius and fun. Before that, greatness abounds in “The Death of the Life of The Party,” “Lost Angle Saloon,” “Bad Side of a Good Time,” “WW Too.” Anchored by deft and honest lyrics, and delivered by a brooding stomping rhythm, the songs on “You Can’t Live This Way” ring true and familiar; like all classics, they sound as if they’ve been with you all along. Here’s hoping that Drag The River decides to hang on for another record or two; lord knows they are on a serious roll.

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