The 1985 Listening Post - The Long Ryders - State of Our Union

The Long Ryders - State of Our Union

#199

June 1 1985

The Long Ryders

State of Our Union

Genre: Rock/Alt-Country

4.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Looking for Lewis and Clark

Lights of Downtown

Here Comes that Train Again

You Just Can’t Ride that Train

Capturing the Flag

Dayum!

What got into the Long Ryders? From jump I feel like they kicked the whole Paisley rock thing in the ass and decided to be the American Clash. 

It’s weird how this band eluded me entirely. I think I would’ve eaten this up. I certainly am right now. 

It’s The Beat Farmers with more punch and less irony. They get a little Rolling Stonesy towards the end (especially on the title track) but that’s not a bad thing. These guys know what they are doing and they are doing it well.

My question for those who know better: Are the roots of “Alt-Country” to be found in 1985?

https://music.apple.com/us/album/state-of-our-union/1443416322

The 1985 Listening Post - Donny & Dusty - The Lost Weekend

Donny & Dusty - The Lost Weekend

#157

May 13 1985

Donny & Dusty

The Lost Weekend

Genre: Cowpunk

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

The Word is Out

Song for the Dreamers

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

Take one part Green on Red (a band that I never really cared for) and another part Dream Syndicate (a band I felt is pretentious and annoying at times, not really dreamy) and add 3 parts The Long Ryders (Who are excellent) and what do you get? 

You seem to get a bunch of drinking buddies who have access to a studio to play around and jam and come up with a ramshackle of terrific Cowpunk stuff.

Legend has it this album was recorded in one beer fueled evening.

Doesn’t sound like it. Sounds like songsmiths getting together and enjoying the shit out of themselves.

This album is a delight.

Put it on with Long Ryders and Beat Farmers (and Lone Justice and Jason and the Scorchers, maybe) and hit shuffle, go out in the backyard, fire up the grill, pop open some cold ones and toss a ball with your kid, throw the frisbee with your dog (he doesn’t care if your drunk, long as you aren’t an angry drunk), laugh with your friends, it’s summer, man.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-lost-weekend/293530076

The 1984 Listening Post - The Long Ryders - Native Sons

The Long Ryders - Native Sons

#75

April 1 1984

The Long Ryders

Native Sons

4 out of 5

Highlights:

Final Wild Son

Run Dusty Run

Tell it to the Judge on Sunday

Gone is the sound of power pop, seemingly forever and in is the roots rock revival with another band that fell through the cracks. The late 60s garage sound swirls around gems like “Still Get By” and 

There was no radio play for this kind of stuff and college radio was awash with, well, jangle rock and synth-wave and should have sound room for this stuff but, maybe it just looked too country (which it does) and maybe it sounds too steeped in 1968 psychedelic rock (it is) but that doesn’t mean it isn’t pretty terrific. Their determination to update The Byrds sound never really sounds edgy enough, and REM would take that to whole new place in these guys’ stead. 

If you’re of the mind, look these guys up. They released some new stuff a few years ago and are apparently working on a new album after years apart pursuing different interests. For those who think, “Hey, I thought you weren’t doing ‘country’!”, we aren’t. This is about as deep we will get with a toe in that water. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/14EzB1aqtLehKLUohRdZEV?si=ZypX-j-7RUKfNp1PTxEJRA