In the mid to late Nineties, the original heyday of alt.country (too country for rock, too rock for country), a band like the Harvest Thieves seemingly hailed from every burgh in America on a monthly basis. That happens much less frequently these days, making the local quintet’s first full-length a novelty, but one that’s backed with strong songwriting as well as twangy atmospherics that hang in the air long after the music ends. Fans of early Whiskeytown, Old 97’s, and Blue Mountain will find lots to like among titles “Bob Dylan’s 78th Hangover,” “I Killed Laura Palmer,” and “Upstage on the Front Page.”
This article appears in January 29 • 2016.