Jay Farrar is an old soul. He has been since at least 1992, when he stripped most of the punk power and fury from his band Uncle Tupelo and recorded an album of prewar traditionals and acoustic originals called March 16-20, 1992. His longtime project Son Volt has always had an anachronistic feel, whether tackling road-weary roots-rock (as on the band’s classic 1995 debut Trace) or classic country (see 2013’s Honky Tonk). Son Volt’s 2017 album, Notes of Blue, continues this theme, exploring a frenetic, electric strain of the blues inspired by 20th-century legends like Mississippi Fred McDowell and Skip James. Present as always is Farrar’s voice, one of the most distinctive in roots music, and his reliable cache of cozy melodies. Listening to the guy sing is like opening an old leather book. The appeal never wears off, no matter how many times you do it. by Ben Salmon