Backyard Tire Fire - Bar Room Semantics (2006)

Chicago's Backyard Tire Fire pursues roots rock with a vengeance on Bar Room Semantics, the band's sophomore effort. The spunky trio throws together a mean musical porridge, slicing and dicing portions of Midwestern rock (think Head East, or maybe early REO Speedwagon), tossing it into the pot with a slab of Uncle Tupelo, a dash of Wilco and Springsteen-esque lyricisms, blending it all with a soupcon of psychedelia and a spoonful of authentic Southern twang. Frontman Ed Anderson sounds like R. Stevie Moore and writes like Joe Grushecky, penning down-and-out story-songs about hard times and harder people, the hopeful and the hopeless.

Much like the Boss and Joey G, however, Anderson provides his characters with a glimmer of hope, and the band choogles along behind his soulful vocals like a spare, leaner version of Levon Helm's former crew. Call it Americana, call it alt-country, call it country-rock -- it won't fit easily, no matter what convenient label you want to stick on Bar Room Semantics. This is music created with a purpose and delivered with a heart and fire far too often lost on young bands eying MTV, The OC and major label deals without a future. Backyard Tire Fire is the real deal, creating songs that are cerebral, with weeping pedal steel and plenty of atmosphere that, at times, also delivers bone-jarring rock & roll thrills. (O.I.E. Records)

(Click on CD cover to buy Bar Room Semantics from Amazon.com)