Wagonwheel Blues

The War on Drugs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 17, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Secretly Canadian
• ASIN: B0017V7HC0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,974 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The War on Drugs, Wagonwheel Blues. Their songs recall the '80s guitar army of Sonic Youth with the captivating lyrics and vocal stylings of Tom Petty or Bruce Springsteen. Walls of guitar--acoustic, electric, twelve string--douse each track of Wagonwheel Blues, the band's debut, threatening to cast the War on Drugs into space rock territory, but the melodies and immediately identifiable lyrics keep these songs grounded. It's one of those albums that each of us holds onto tightly.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great debut...., June 18, 2008

By 

Justin Snavely (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wagonwheel Blues (Audio CD)

This is an excellent debut from a band that will hopefully gain more exposure in the near future. The War on Drugs combine an Americana influence with a little bit of guitar experimentation. It's great summer music, and it totally kicks butt. It makes me smile every time I listen to it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The War on Drugs' Wagonwheel Blues, December 16, 2008

By 

Katie J. Knaub (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wagonwheel Blues (Audio CD)

The War on Drugs is littered with pleasant contradictions. That goes for the U.S. government's real "War on Drugs" as well as this band from the delightfully trashy musical playground that is Philadelphia. The group combines a refreshing plethora of completely distinctive sound combinations like, for instance, Sonic Youth coupled with Tom Petty. Lush guitars hearken back to early Bruce Springsteen while dreamy vocals ring reminiscent of The Jesus and Mary Chain. Synth-soaked and audibly fulfilling, The War on Drugs will, quite possibly, attract many a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah fan as well as aficionados of shows that leave your ears ringing for days. Their classic yet modern debut album Wagonwheel Blues, released by Secretly Canadian in June, yields thick, textured soundscapes that might serve as a fitting soundtrack for those times when you're sticking your head out the car window on the highway.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite albums, November 17, 2010

By 

Seda (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagonwheel Blues (MP3 Download)

Give it a listen for yourself. The entire album is generally repeated a few times in my player before I finally force myself to change albums for variety. Yes, Dylan is a big influence, and that's one of the things I like about it! It's a great road trip album, as is their following EP, "Future Weather". Take some time to enjoy it!