The Search (album)

Reception

The album so far has a score of 65 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews". Billboard gave the album a very favorable review and called it "Son Volt 2.0, a modern, mature album that might be the group's best yet." The Boston Globe gave it a positive review and called it "A collection of highly listenable roots-rock tunes that stray little from its longtime formula." The New York Times also gave it a positive review and said, "Simple but effective sonic details — a chirpy horn arrangement, a reverse-looped guitar part — prevent “The Search” from feeling either preachy or repetitive." Other reviews are pretty average, mixed, or negative: Q gave it three stars out of five and said it "revisits the social commentary of Farrar's old band." Alternative Press, however, gave it two-and-a-half stars out of five and said that the album "lacks the spark of the band's classic catalog material." Blender gave it one-and-a-half stars out of five and stated: "The saggy country-rock complaints about corporatization and alienation [Farrar] offers... sound like submissions to an Air America poetry contest."

Track listing

1. "Slow Hearse" - 2:32
2. "The Picture" - 3:27
3. "Action" - 2:48
4. "Underground Dream" - 4:32
5. "Circadian Rhythm" - 5:02
6. "Beacon Soul" - 2:31
7. "The Search" - 2:59
8. "Adrenaline and Heresy" - 5:05
9. "Satellite" - 2:14
10. "Automatic Society" - 2:26
11. "Methamphetamine" - 4:02
12. "L Train" - 2:58
13. "Highways and Cigarettes" - 3:54
14. "Phosphate Skin" - 3:52

In addition to the regular compact disc release, a vinyl version and an iTunes version of the album were also released featuring all 22 tracks from the recording sessions. The vinyl version features exclusive cover art and is titled "On Chant and Strum."

Vinyl and iTunes editions track listing

1. "Slow Hearse"
2. "The Picture"
3. "Action"
4. "Underground Dream"
5. "Circadian Rhythm"
6. "Beacon Soul"
7. "Coltrane Free"
8. "Waking World"
9. "Highways and Cigarettes"
10. "The Search"
11. "Adrenaline and Heresy"
12. "Satellite"
13. "Automatic Society"
14. "Methampetamine"
15. "Phosphate Skin"
16. "Carnival Blues"
17. "L Train"
18. "Bleed The Line"
19. "Exurbia"
20. "Houdini Punches"
21. "Bicycle Hotel"
22. "Acetone Angels"