Son Volt — The Picture
Album: The SearchAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 346
Length: 3:20
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Hurricanes in December-earthquakes in the heartland
Bad air index on a flashing warning sign
Bound for trouble-the picture is dirty
We'll know when we get there
If we'll find mercy
Flotsam and Jetsam in charge of the agency
Where truth gets twisted in danger of dissolving
When war is profit and profit is war
We'll know when we get there
If we'll find mercy
Certified minds exacting a toll
Trying to fit a square block in a round hole
A heart of darkness facing 1000 bloodshot eyes
We'll know when we get there
Bad air index on a flashing warning sign
Bound for trouble-the picture is dirty
We'll know when we get there
If we'll find mercy
Flotsam and Jetsam in charge of the agency
Where truth gets twisted in danger of dissolving
When war is profit and profit is war
We'll know when we get there
If we'll find mercy
Certified minds exacting a toll
Trying to fit a square block in a round hole
A heart of darkness facing 1000 bloodshot eyes
We'll know when we get there
Comments (82)add comment
peter_james_bond wrote:
His grit has grit
Jay Farrar's voice is the definition of gritty. I like it.
His grit has grit
sporkster wrote:
I like Son Volt too, but at first listen I thought it was a out take from an early Springsteen session....
I dig Son Volt, but this is not my favorite track... the trumpets grate on my freaking nerves!! 
I like Son Volt too, but at first listen I thought it was a out take from an early Springsteen session....
Jay Farrar's voice is the definition of gritty. I like it.
I dig Son Volt, but this is not my favorite track... the trumpets grate on my freaking nerves!!
davin wrote:
I agree. I've got the impression there's more and more of this easy stuff on RP in the last time.
This is waaaaaaaay too friendly and safe to be interesting.
I agree. I've got the impression there's more and more of this easy stuff on RP in the last time.
This is waaaaaaaay too friendly and safe to be interesting.
This guy makes Bob Dylan sound like Pavarotti. Worst. Voice. Ever.
Zamoeba wrote:
My wife has commented of late that a lot of the songs I like on RP are "light pop", which makes me suspect my listening habits of late.
I feel no embarrassment when I own up to liking "light pop".
Mugen wrote:
I can deal with the horns, it's the voice that kills it for me.
The guy just can't hit the note to save his life.
This reminds me of Excitable Boy
a GREAT tune. love the horn...the lyrics...the voice.
bit 'hold steady'ish
very RP, which means I like it a bit.
only because it reminds me of RP though??
philbertr wrote:
Please explain the relevance of this quote to this particular piece of music.
I may not be able to prove relevance to your (or anyone else's) satisfaction, but.....I quoted the lyrics from R.E.M.'s "Voice of Harold", as the vocals and melody of this song reminded me of it.
Very interesting...there seems to be a large number of indifferent or negative comments.
I like the energy of this tune...and the horn riffs do indeed resolve, at least to my ear.
My wife has commented of late that a lot of the songs I like on RP are "light pop", which makes me suspect my listening habits of late.
However, Bill is doing a great job of playing tunes that I enjoy listening to while I'm coding at home, working in the garage, riding the train to/from work, or making dinner.
Isn't that the point?
kindermanltd wrote:
The horn riff makes the whole tune sound unresolved.
For me it was the horn section that made this song a little more interesting!
This is light pop
man, we just heard this crap yesterday.
redeyespy wrote:
The pure tenor quality of the voice of Harold Montgomery
Gives a special interpretation to the grand old hymn "The Old Rugged Cross"
Chill bumps appear and I am frozen in the web they weave as they reveal their
Innermost selves with the outpouring of their hearts
On and on the songs roll and soon you are caught up
In the sermon in each rendition as you come to feel
The devotion and dedication that is poured forth
Suddenly, you know they are real, they mean it!
Please explain the relevance of this quote to this particular piece of music.
The horn riff makes the whole tune sound unresolved.
Such an annoying song
CafeRacer wrote:
I was thinking REM with a horn.
I took my daughter to see Son Volt in June. She said something about them reminding her of REM....but there were no horns in concert.
CafeRacer wrote:
I was thinking REM with a horn.
Ugh. I can't think of anything worse.
The pure tenor quality of the voice of Harold Montgomery
Gives a special interpretation to the grand old hymn "The Old Rugged Cross"
Chill bumps appear and I am frozen in the web they weave as they reveal their
Innermost selves with the outpouring of their hearts
On and on the songs roll and soon you are caught up
In the sermon in each rendition as you come to feel
The devotion and dedication that is poured forth
Suddenly, you know they are real, they mean it!
reminiscent of the Love, American Style theme.
Just realised that its a FACE on the album cover there...doh.
Southside Johnny...
I can deal with the horns, it's the voice that kills it for me.
blove wrote:
Close your eyes, it's the Wallflowers with a horn.
I was thinking REM with a horn.
time to take it out of the rotation. I used to like, but now it's overplayed. Bill, i thought that only happened on regular radio.
mattt wrote:
For some reason, I'm starting to hate this song. Something about it just grates
It could be the horns. But, when listening to it, it just seems like there's too much music in general. The horns, the drums, some kind of droning backup... They're all overwhelming.
This could be a great song if it was done much more sparely. A good candidate for the unplugged/slowed-down treatment.
It's the horns. They sting my ears.
Billy Bragg & Wilco to Son Volt. What a coincidence... 
Its the horn segue!
Only on RP 
They are excellent in concert.
I like the horns!
I must admit to being surprised by how much this song is played of late. Especially when the next song on the disc (Action) is so much better, IMO.
For some reason, I'm starting to hate this song. Something about it just grates
It could be the horns. But, when listening to it, it just seems like there's too much music in general. The horns, the drums, some kind of droning backup... They're all overwhelming.
This could be a great song if it was done much more sparely. A good candidate for the unplugged/slowed-down treatment.
RobK wrote:
You would agree he's still entitled to do it once in every, oh, 100 or so songs, wouldn't you? I mean, if he wants to and all?
I gave the song an 8, so I guess I do.
the beginning had my toes tapping and my ears expecting van morrison. but i can\'t place the van morrison song that has a similar intro (with the horns and all).
DarkStar wrote:
Trade the horns, good as they are, for a steel guitar.
In concert there were no horns, just a fabulously wicked harmonica....
Lose the horns, Farrar. Don\'t fall into the same pop trap where Wilco now resides...hopefully you haven\'t done so already...
radioparadisehead wrote:
Who's playin' that horn?
The E Street Band?
Trade the horns, good as they are, for a steel guitar.
Uuuaaaahhh...
Son Volt = nails + chalkboard
:thedudeshudders:
meydele wrote:
Random, I know, but: The singer's voice is just not a "blends well with a brass section" voice. He's an alt.country.rock kinda voice, not a full orchestration kind of voice.
You would agree he's still entitled to do it once in every, oh, 100 or so songs, wouldn't you? I mean, if he wants to and all?
Is that Frank's (from "Donnie Darko") little brother on the cover there?
First time hearing the song and I like it. Look forward to a few more listens, but a 7 for now.
Love Son Volt, but-
..The horns sound like the theme song to some cheesey sit-com.
Close your eyes, it's the Wallflowers with a horn.
Who's playin' that horn?
gormiester wrote:
go man go... catchy tune, very good live as well.
Yeah baby! Very good live indeed. Especially with the 24-plus other songs played at the same show!!!
go man go... catchy tune, very good live as well.
Like the vocals. Can't stand those horns. So grating!
FlatCat wrote:
Totally catchy and upbeat. I'll be happily humming this the rest of the day. The horns remind me of Cake a little.
first time I heard this song and I agree is so catchy.I love the trumpets.
Totally catchy and upbeat. I'll be humming this the rest of the day. The horns remind me of Cake a little.
YUK!
Zevonesque vox
madaxeman wrote:
Hey!This is good 
It would appear that the Scots are united on this one, fine track.
goo wrote:
lame horns
Annoyingly repetative.
Thanks - I agree
Random, I know, but: The singer's voice is just not a "blends well with a brass section" voice. He's an alt.country.rock kinda voice, not a full orchestration kind of voice.
madaxeman wrote:
Hey!This is good
I like where these guys are going... differentiating more and more from the Uncle Tupelo/Wilco sound; though I also like Wilco, this is much more upbeat and danceable. "8"
This is awful. Really amature sounding band/vox and lame horns. Lyrics are cliche and stupid.
jraum wrote:
I'm hearing a little REM in there...
Me2; think it's the vocals.
Hey!This is good
Ow! First time in several hours this evening that I had to say 
This is still pretty good, but it's not what I expect from Son Volt. As a matter of fact, it sounds more like Van Morrison and REM doing a song together (not a bad thing).
Bleyfusz wrote:
Can't help it: reminds me of Warren Zevon somehow.
Less jaded lyrics.
Bleyfusz wrote:
Can't help it: reminds me of Warren Zevon somehow.
Mmm hmmm - I hear it.
Can't help it: reminds me of Warren Zevon somehow.
RobK wrote:
I agree but it's still great to hear Son Volt get played, even if it has to be on the internet. Just saw them a couple weeks ago and it was as good as always. I like his current band. Oh and someone should add Methamphetamine, that's a nice track.
So add it. It still gets a 4 > 5
volnomad wrote:
The rest of the cd sounds nothing like this track, with its bright horns section. Very unusual for SV. I like the other tracks on the cd better.
I agree but it's still great to hear Son Volt get played, even if it has to be on the internet. Just saw them a couple weeks ago and it was as good as always. I like his current band. Oh and someone should add Methamphetamine, that's a nice track.
Never would have imagined transitioning from "Superstition" to here in one song, but I just heard it. hail.
This Satuday, Son Volt is comming to Boulder and I will be there!
I'm hearing a little REM in there...
The rest of the cd sounds nothing like this track, with its bright horns section. Very unusual for SV. I like the other tracks on the cd better.
rocco1207 wrote:
I just really love the horns!
What's that line supposed to mean? We'll know when we get where? Mercy from who? What's that got to do with war?
well i'm not exactly sure...but to me the song describes several snapshots or pictures of things going on around. Chronicling the direction of things. What does it all mean? Can we tell where we are heading? Kind of unknown answers...but we'll know when we get there. You know "there"....some magical place where all is forgiven, kindness, clemency....for things that have happened or we have done or not done......war can bring profit and you might have to win a few battles to have profit.....It's almost as if everything's a paradox- war and profit are not the same but yet they are. We are on a journey to find something desirable but shouldn't we be finding "it" along the way....and what/where is thedestination? We'll know when we get there but not until then..........LOL
I just really love the horns!
driver8 wrote:
ohh - outstanding! Thank you RP!
War is profit and profit is war.
We'll know when we get there.
We'll find mercy....
What's that line supposed to mean? We'll know when we get where? Mercy from who? What's that got to do with war?
War is profit and profit is war.
We'll know when we get there.
We'll find mercy....
Hm. I've heard two songs off this album, here on RP, and they sound like they're off completely different albums by completely different groups.
ohh - outstanding! Thank you RP!
War is profit and profit is war.
We'll know when we get there.
We'll find mercy....
War is profit and profit is war.
We'll know when we get there.
We'll find mercy....
Ooo, I'm first, I'm first!
I have yet to hear anything from Uncle Tupelo and alumni that I didn't like. Except one exceptionally dissonant track on one CD, sort of an experimental feedback thing. Among UT offspring SV seems the most accessible of the lot. This tune doesn't jump out at me yet. But I'll give it time.
c.
The horns are great! Digging them.