Album review: THE FARGO RAILROAD COMPANY – Under These Lights

[Release date 15.11.19]

The band’s name and the iconic sleeve/artwork featuring a vintage Chevrolet pick-up would never lead you to the band’s steel hometown – of Sheffield. But these days, southern rock/Americana knows no bounds.

A hard working band, influenced by the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, ’38 Special and the 70′s sound of Cash, Young, and Dylan, The Fargos are looking to appeal to the contemporary Blackberry Smoke and Jason Isbell fan bases.

And in that sense, Under These Lights – the band’s sophomore release does just that, wearing its influences unashamedly.

The opening salvo of ‘Bought & Sold’ and ‘Pretty Little White Ones’ is as if time’s been stood still in the 70′s when Southern Rock was at the peak of its popularity. But thereafter the band ease into more mellow country rock (‘Barroom Band’, and ‘Coast To Coast’) which bears more of a debt to The Eagles and Dr Hook.

’1523′ throws in a mild swamp ‘twang’ element into the mix, and in ‘Good Lord’ a typically ‘Southern’ acoustic ballad. The soft rock ‘Something In The Water’ has a great hook, ‘Arizona Dust’ another mildly Southern infused ballad, ‘Punch Drunk’ a gentle boogie, and ‘Magazine Lied’ a pop rocker.

There’s much to admire here, not least how band from Sheffield sound so Southern States authentic. Probably a little too ‘soft rock’ to appeal to the Blackberry Smoke fanbase, but I would imagine, a highly enjoyable evening’s entertainment. ***

Review by Pete Whalley

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)