Relix - music for the mind

If you like country[rock with a ragged-but-real edge, Drag The River from Fort Collins is well worth investigating. The band's album, Hobo's Demos (Upland), features ten rugged tales of ups and downs, hard luck and boozing, all wrapped in rich melodies counterpointed by sweeping pedal steel and buoyant melodies. Best cuts are the lilting "The Bottle" and the mournful "Back To God." The rollicking stomper "Tomorrow Morning" and guitar-drenched rocker "Sterilize" bring to mind the garage rock of Crazy Horse.