Turn 4

"There has always been the underground, alternative, outlaw country/Americana scene, the likes of which Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan and others pioneered. Turn 4 unabashedly takes up this rebel banner. But their music is more than just angry romps, with songs about home, racial strife and economic woes.
- Lindsay Nicholes and Maggie Canty-Shafer,
- The Scene

"In an ideal world, alternative country would become country's primary direction the way that Nirvana, Pearl Jam and their Seattle colleagues made alternative rock the primary direction of rock back in the early '90s. But it's hard to imagine the Nashville establishment allowing that to happen (at least as of early 2008). Regardless, worthwhile things continue to happen in alt-country, and a perfect example is Faders Up. The fact that the Greeley, CO-based Turn 4 calls their label Fuck All Y'all Records lets you know that they aren't playing corporate country or trying to win over Nashville execs; a fiercely independent spirit prevails throughout this 2006 recording, which draws on direct or indirect influences ranging from Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard to Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, The Band and the Rolling Stones. Turn 4 aren't pretending to be country purists; Faders Up is alternative country-rock from the 2000s, not a collection of old-time bluegrass or honky tonk from the '40s. But emotionally and lyrically, ballsy tracks like "Nobody Gets Out Alive," "Where I Grew Up," "Half a Tank" and "Whiskey Song" are much closer to the spirit of classic honky tonk than the contrived and toothless corporate country that dominated country radio in the United States in 2006. Clearly, Turn 4 strongly identifies with the outlaw country aesthetic that made Haggard, Jennings, Johnny Cash and Johnny Paycheck so compelling in their heyday, and their songs have a lot of substance--songs about tough economic times in America, songs about small town life, and of course, songs about alcohol ("The Bottle," in fact, recalls Haggard's "The Bottle Let Me Down," but without actually emulating that honky tonk classic). Faders Up is a very promising effort from these gutsy providers of alternative country-rock." - Alex Henderson, - All Music Guide

"To the recent run of excellent late-season Colorado releases, add a fine alt.country quartet from Greeley, Turn 4. Of course, one of the water marks we use when we're assessing alt.country is Son Volt's early trifecta, Trace, Straightaways and Wide Swing Tremolo. While few if any albums really measure up to these late 90s legends, Turn 4's buzzing electric guitars, steady dino-drumming (courtesy of Darren Radach, last seen with Motorhome and Glove Trucker) and Farrar-esque vox more than hold their own in spirit. Moreover, What You Do About It clock in at 17 cuts and more than an hour's worth of songs. Doesn't sound like the album will be officially unleashed until February, but keep tuned to R&B and WMM and no doubt you'll eventually hear nearly the entire glorious mess." - Routs and Branches