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Anyone in the market for honest-to-goodness, no nonsense country-style rock, equal parts grit and honey? Halfway may just be the best steak on your barbie. The six-man Brisbane, Australia, group spent their youth listening to country music on AM radio stations and have appropriated classic torch and twang with pop sensibilities. The resultant album has an authentic country rock feel to it; crunchy guitars and big drums alongside touches of harmonica and dobro and stories of lovin' and losin' and gettin' drunk. But 'Farewell To The Fainthearted' doesn't get mired in the lachrymose sentiments that clog up traditional country music; but it's not 'alt country; either. There are no Wilco-esque experiments here, just straight-ahead blue collar songs that should find favour with rock and country lovers.

John Stacey
October 2005

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