CD Reviews: Son Volt, Our Lady Peace

Son Volt

"American Central Dust" (Rounder)

3-1/2 stars

Son Volt's newest album "American Central Dust" oozes the kind of sultry alt-country heat that seeps into your ears.

Leader Jay Farrar may get less attention than Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, his bandmate in seminal '90s band Uncle Tupelo, but his talent as a singer-songwriter is abundantly clear on "Dust."

Farrar's world-weary twang and poetic, politically inspired lyrics elevate such tunes as "Down to the Wire" and "When the Wheels Don't Move," with its distorted guitar and railing against the car industry. A country-ish Flying Burrito Brothers vibe courses throughout.

"Dust of Daylight," a beautiful, graceful ballad, slow rides on pedal steel, as Farrar emotes, "Love is a fog, and you stumble every step you make."

Live, the tunes sound even better.

At a recent show in Los Angeles, Farrar's voice lifted up in bright harmony, backed by lead guitarist Chris Masterson's spiraling riffs, Andrew Duplantis' noodling bass, Mark Spencer's slinky lap steel and organ and Dave Bryson's expert drumming.

"Body and soul, cocaine and ashes/ We'll get to that place in time," Farrar sang with verve on the gorgeous "Cocaine and Ashes," a passionate tribute to Keith Richards, on record.

Skillful, smart, soulful, Son Volt is already there.

Our Lady Peace

"Burn Burn" (Warner Independent).

3 stars

Our Lady Peace maintains their status as one of Canada's strongest bands with the release of their seventh studio disc, "Burn, Burn."

The Toronto four-piece made a splash south of the border in the 1990s with their first two efforts – '94's "Naveed" and '97's "Clumsy" – but have since fallen into relative obscurity in the States.

That may not change too much with "Burn Burn," but the band's first disc since 2005's "Healthy in Paranoid Times" is a nice return to the soaring rock they made their name on.

Lead singer Raine Maida sounds more mature than ever – mostly forsaking his once eye-popping falsetto – and brings a poetic touch to his tales of everyday struggle and hope, and guitarist Steve Mazur offers plenty of fine lead work throughout.

They kick off with the single "All You Did Was Save My Life," a straightforward radio rocker with a soaring chorus, before sliding into the hope-filled "Dreamland."