Honky Tonk’s greatest strength is also somewhat of a liability: in recreating and refashioning a signature sound, much of the album sounds as a coherent whole, and perhaps too coherent.
This recording feels more like a pleasant diversion rather than a necessity.
Honky Tonk feels more in touch with its broken-down country lineage than anything the band has done in years.
The problem with Honky Tonk is that it’s more suited to the road than the roadhouse. The pacing is so languid, the dynamics so muted that I doubt this iteration of Son Volt would last very long in a real honkytonk.
#32 | / | American Songwriter |
#83 | / | Rough Trade |