Wagon – Beauty Angel Queen

Wagon emerged in 1996 with the Lloyd Maines-produced No Kinder Room on HighTone, following with more low-key country-rock in 1998 with Anniversary on overseas label Glitterhouse. Given that they hail from St. Louis, it’s no surprise this sturdy quartet displays imprints of their hallowed homeboys, Uncle Tupelo, as well as pre-split Jayhawks. Of course, you can’t twirl a dead cat these days without smacking into a slew of outfits who cite those influences, so that description must surely qualify as a mixed blessing.

On the downside, the well-worn framework of four guys playing earnest, languid roots-rock ‘n’ country in (primarily) midtempos runs the risk of quick dismissal. The nuances, personal touches and well-placed grace notes can go unheard if the music doesn’t quickly set it apart from the crowded pack.

Written and produced by Wagon, Beauty Angel Queen relies on a variety of additional instruments and some inventive arrangements to augment their own beautiful, restrained musicianship and first-rate vocalizing by co-leads Ben Davis (guitars) and Danny Kathriner (drums). Bassist Len Small chimes in with swell harmonies, while Chris Peterson decorates the proceedings with tasty licks on mandolin, fiddle, mandola and dulcimer.

Guitar wizard Dave Schramm guests on a couple of tracks, providing a stinging counterpoint to Kathriner’s neo-McGuinn vocal on the riveting opener, “Everything She Owns”. The title track really loads up, with Wagon joined by an additional guitar, piano, organ and a boozy, good-timey horn section that drags the country-rock motif down Basin Street.

Overall, a solid, steady, well-played effort. And, if it doesn’t quite separate Wagon from the herd, they’re at least up near the front where the dust isn’t so bad.