San Saba County: Its Not the Fall That Hurts

Where Austin-based San Saba County’s 2004 debut, Easy Does It had its roots firmly planted in the alt-country soil of the Lone Star State, their follow-up It’s Not the Fall That Hurts proves to be a lot like the Texas desert — a far more expansive proposition. The traditional heartbeat of the band can still be heard on tunes ranging from the impressive banjo-led crooner “Psalm 102” to the country-blues of “Oh, And One More Thing”, which resonates with a perfect melancholy pedal steel provided by special guest Bill McCullough. However, this time it’s all massaged into life by the swirl and swoop of excellent brooding indie rock guitar as on the opener “More Than Me” and the Byrds ’68-era jangling country-rock of “New Morning”. Elsewhere, touches of Townes Van Zandt are laced together with a ’60s vibe that continues to make its presence felt through the evocation of Dylan on “Nothin’ Like the Homesick Blues” and the Stones-inspired all-out garage rocker “Let’s Spend Some Time Together”. Were Gram Parsons still alive, he would surely approve of these innovative alt-country-rockers.

Listen to “More Than Me”

Listen to “Psalm 102”

Listen to “Medicine”