Alt-country trailblazer Jay Farrar has announced he’s retuning with another Son Volt record, as well as a new record deal. On July 7, Farrar will release his long-running outfit’s sixth full-length American Central Dust via his new label home of Rounder Records, the roots-oriented imprint behind such acts as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Sam Roberts and Bruce Cockburn.

"Rounder has shown a long-term commitment to music forms, like folk and blues, that I have a lot of respect for," said Farrar in a statement. "Going with Rounder has been a kind of a full circle continuum — the first Rounder person I met with was instrumental in booking Uncle Tupelo gigs years ago."

The new Son Volt album will follow 2007’s The Search, which found Farrar blending more electronic elements such as synths and keys into his more traditional, alt-country framework. However, it appears that bit of experimenting may not return on the new album, which apparently recalls "the melodic succinctness of the band's debut album Trace [1995]."

In support of American Central Dust, Son Volt have lined up a few co-headlining U.S. tour dates with Cowboy Junkies. Here they are, along with the tracklisting:

American Central Dust:

1. "Dynamite"
2. "Down To The Wire"
3. "Roll On"
4. "Cocaine And Ashes"
5. "Dust Of Daylight"
6. "When The Wheels Don't Move"
7. "No Turning Back"
8. "Pushed Too Far"
9. "Exiles"
10. "Sultana"
11. "Strength And Doubt"
12. "Jukebox of Steel"

Tour dates:

7/8 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater *
7/10 Snowbird, UT - Snowbird Ski and Resort Summer Music Festival *
7/15 San Diego, CA - Humphrey's *
7/17 Saratoga, CA - Montalvo *
7/18 Jacksonville, OR - Britt Fest *
7/22 Seattle, WA - Zoo *

* with Cowboy Junkies

Actually, the last two Son Volt albums were really good. I think Okemah is just as good as the Search.

On first listen, it's good. I don't think anything will ever compare to Trace, which is easily top 5 of the 90s. The rest of the original incarnation of Son Volt and Jay Farrar solo were a mixed bag, and Son Volt Redux has been much better than those records. This fits in nicely with Okemah and the Search. You can tell Farrar is comfortable with himself now.

I like "The Search" a lot more than Trace. Outside of "Tear Stained Eye," I really don't view Trace as being better or worse than the average Son Volt output. I also don't think Farrar solo is a mixed bag. I actually prefer "Terroir Blues" to most Son Volt albums. I think Caputo is probably the only one here that agrees with me on that and I'm not sure even if he agrees on that or just shares my love of it.

Not so- I think Terroir Blues is his best work.

I think if you take the electronic crap off, it's strong. Thus a mixed bag. Sebastapool was poor. And honestly, how can you listen to Windfall and not think that is an amazing song?

In some respect, I think BG might be right in that latter day Son Volt is probably more consistent through out.

I like Sebastapool. Windfall is a good song. You are basically making my point for me in just adding one more song as the basis for preferring Trace. The average output of Farrar/Son Volt was pretty consistently good. That was my main point. I can't think of a third song on Trace that i'd prefer to the average Farrar output. I definitely agree that more recent Son Volt is more consistent.

As far as Terroir Blues goes, I'm not sure what you mean by electronic crap. I'd guess you mean the transitionary pieces between songs? Those which are mostly guitar pedal effects took a while to grow on me but after seeing him perform the album live, I really like them. At least when i'm listening to the album and not just having my ipod decide to play one alone on random.

I might be with Tentoze that Terroir Blues is my favorite. At worst, its my second favorite.

Hook a brother up.

Link?

We should have a Tweedy vs Farrar thread.