The Riverfront Times
By Roy Kasten 2/21/07

With the self-released album Through Side One, the Linemen have raised the bar for the St. Louis country scene — and they've done so without sinking into predictable punk attitude, all-too-familiar rockabilly fashions or the winking, hiccupping twang-core that plays well in south-city dives but is as far from the emotional core of country as the Wichita lineman is from home. Butterfield's warm, supple tenor — with a fine high register, like a young Don Gibson or a less-uptight George Strait — caresses original songs of regret, towns that barely exist, losses without second chances and the comforting smell of smoke and whiskey. Guitarist Scott Swartz finds some echoes of the Flying Burrito Brothers with a few fuzz-tone runs but mostly lets his pedal-steel shine around the melodies. Drummer John Baldus (also of Waterloo and the Dirty South) and bassist Greg Lamb (also of Magnolia Summer) lay back and let the songs unfold with a steady throb of sweet, sweet pain.

Reviews:

3Hive.com Review

Sauce Magazine Review




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