This core trio appears rooted deep in the likes of Uncle Tupelo and the Rolling Stones in their Gram Parsons-influenced period; this album is a testament to the strength of alt-country. From the lazy and loose back-porch sound of "South Dakota" to the brief country-pop of "Walk It Off," the sound is very relaxed and composed. After a couple of times, one might be questioning if the style is too formulaic or the songs sound too similar, but the infectious guitar riffs from the dueling bandmates are hard to forget. Some of the better numbers stray from this groove, though, including the lush and heartfelt "Groundspeed," despite the rather abrupt ending. "Shine a Light" is much in the same vein, fitting perfectly among other acoustic quasi-waltz ballads with its traces of piano. On the whole the album is a great snapshot of Americana and the rustbelt. ~ Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide
Ed Ackerson (Engineer), Ed Ackerson (Keyboards), Ed Ackerson (Mixing), Jimmy Johnson (Pedal Steel), John Crist (Drums), Bellwether (Producer), Jimmy Peterson (Vocals), John Crist (Tambourine), Jimmy Peterson (Guitar), Eric Kris (Mandolin), Ed Ackerson (Producer), Eric Kris (Violin), Jimmy Peterson (Lap Steel Guitar)
The Minneapolis-based alternative country-rock quartet Bellwether was led by singer/guitarist Eric Luoma and guitarist Jimmy Peterson, who first collaborated as an acoustic duo before recruiting bassist Phil Tippin and drummer John Crist, a former member of the Athens, Georgia band Dashboard Saviors. Their debut LP Turnstiles was issued on the local Rustbelt label in 1998. An eponymous album followed in 2000 and garnered rave reviews from the alternative country underground. Bellwether's third album, Home Late, was the first to be released on their own label Rust Belt Records. By stripping down their sound and utilizing acoustic instruments more than anything else, the record stood out from their previous efforts and was warmly received by fans. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
The main character, Dr. Sandra Foster, studies fads in Boulder, Colorado. Her employer, Hi-Tek, wants to know how to predict fads, in order to take advantage of this knowledge and thus to possibly create one. While Dr. Foster is extensively researching and analysing fads, Hi-Tek itself is swept by management fads. In addition, the Management wants one of its employees to win the mysterious Niebnitz Research Grant (the fictitious award is very similar to the MacArthur Fellowship's Genius Grant). Meanwhile, the employees struggle with chaos created by the administrative assistant from Hell. Willis uses humor to come to an unsettling conclusion.
Resolution
The scientists experiment with sheep, finding that they are guided by bellwethers, which are "indistinguishable from the rest of the flock, only a little greedier, a little faster, a little hungrier, [a] little ahead of the flock." Analogously, fads are started by some persons among the crowd, who, even without realizing it, are a little ahead of the rest.
