Anchorhead

Armed with an arsenal of great songs under one arm and a case of whiskey under the other, Anchorhead is one of the few young alternative country bands floating around the underground that truly deserves more attention from the mainstream. Fans of the genre should hunt this down, while even curious listeners should be able to enjoy the lush and amiable country rock found here.--Bradley Torreano - All Music Guide

The real joy of Anchorhead's work, though, is the unpretentious way it's performed. Band members sing in their natural Midwestern accents, instead of opting for the affected and appropriated Nashville twang. Their pace is not rushed and there's not a 'stage persona' to be found in the group. Lemon comments, 'I don't think any of us have any delusions of becoming rock stars.' And none of his comrades counters that thought; their faces don't show so much as a twitch.

If they're not rock stars, then they're something better. Anchorhead are the band next door, simply playing their songs and speaking their minds without annoying the hell out of you. Listening to their music, you can just kick back and be comfortable in your own skin--although if you're part of their typical Lee's Liquor Lounge or Terminal Bar crowd, you know nothing says 'the band next door' quite like a cold beer. Thank you, beer.--Sarah Sawyer City Pages - City Pages

At a time when alternative country is taken for granted or dismissed as old news, Anchorhead is cutting its path with an acoustic-electric sound that has the sort of foundation that many bands, alt-country or otherwise, lack: strong songs, thoughtful lyrics, pop hooks with staying power and three-part harmonies that suggest even better things to come.--Jim Walsh - St. Paul Pioneer Press

The excellent Uncle Tupelo retrospective may have been the alt-country release of the month, but No Depression fans should know that the Tupe spirit is alive and well and living in Minneapolis. The debut by this four-piece (Tony Thomas, Nick Holz, Todd Holdman, Joshua Hill Lemon) contains some of the freshest, smartest and most heartfelt songs to come out of these parts in some time.

Like all the best bands, they can go from fourth gear to reverse in a hiccup, and boozy, bluesy, country stomps make time with ballads that'll make you cry in your 3.2. Plus, anyone who ever loved a Derham-Brady-anyCatholic girl should hear the spot-on tribute to 'St. Paul.'--Jim Walsh - St. Paul Pioneer Press

It would be an injustice to lump Anchorhead in with the lost ranks of alt-country, since they appear to have a natural knack for pop hooks and not just a desire to mine a currrent trend. Far from the country fried blasts of Slobberbone and the early bluegrass punk of Uncle Tupelo, Anchorhead weigh in closer to the Jayhawks before their surprise hit "Blue" convinced them they should become pop stars. Which is to say the 'Heads rely strongly on an innate sense of melody and a rich three-part harmony, much like the late Accident Clearinghouse.--John Lamb - High Plains Reader

There's a lot of old-fashioned Minnesota in this band's music. You want Dylan, listen to Dylan; if you want to hear about where he's from, listen to these guys. They have 3 distinct voices in this band: one kinda broke and lonesome (the song "Mary"), one almost Pogues/Irish ("Whiskey in the Snow"), and one kinda downhome and pure ("Unkle Ray"). And, even though the three voices out front are about as different as 3 voices can be, they create a very distinct harmony that works really well when they all chime in on their songs, which they're singing with more and more conviction as they get more gigs. Buy the record, but see them live first.--Jack Sparks - The Other Side of Country