Sons Of Bill / "One Town Away"

"The Sons of Bill", literally sons of Bill Wilson, with the help of producer Jim Scott (Whiskeytown, Wilco and Tom Petty) have recorded an impressive alt country disc that plays like some late-night radio hillbilly hybrid of Chris Knight, early Steve Earle and Son Volt. Hard livin', hard drinkin' and lost love dominate the songs and the Wilson boys write, sing and play it with an authority beyond their years. I love "One Town Away" and my only complaint is the songs almost always fall back on romanticized versions of drinking, hangovers and whiskey (you know that really didn't work out so well for Townes and Hank). "Never Saw It Coming" examines the forces behind a Columbine like shooter and drives home their conclusion with sobering lyrics ("You could have been the one who took the bullet, you could have been the one that held the gun"). With "Never Saw It Coming" the Wilson brothers show what they can do when they step out of the No Depression comfort zone (think the great Todd Snider's "You Think You Know Somebody"). "One Town Away" is a very good disk from a band with great promise. Mr. Wilson should be very proud.

News Flash: AMA Americana Airplay for week of (8/24/2009)
-------Sons Of Bill make their chart debut at #39!-------