• Detroit's Volebeats specialize in a sort of classic pop form of north woods country music. Each record is a statement of bittersweet longing couched in lovely harmonies, ringing guitar waves, and bountiful tides of reverb.

    — Allmusic.com
Hometown: 
Detroit, MI

As much myth as institution in the Motor City, The Voles have been around since the late 80's and, like their namesake, are hard to track down, disappear for long periods of time, and remain totally loveable.

Sure, they've got the twang, but they infuse it with some serious Brian Wilson lushness and pop smarts. With Jeff Oakes' languid, forlorn vocals and guitarist/vocalist Matt Smith's (Outrageous Cherry, Rodriguez, Andre Williams, Nathaniel Mayer and many others) bountiful knowledge and love of all good music as the constants (virtually everyone in Detroit has been a Volebeat at one time or another), The Volebeats managed to elude widespread success despite writing and performing some the of most supple and catchy music since Pet Sounds.

Compilation Tracks: 
Recommended if You Like: 
The Sadies
Jayhawks
Brian Wilson
Beatles
Whiskeytown

Similar Bloodshot Artists

  • Paul Burch

    Paul Burch's works are those of thoughtful eloquence and spirited storytelling. He is, there's no other way to put it, a craftsman. His honey smooth voice is a national treasure, if only ya'll were paying attention.

  • Ryan Adams

    Heartbreaker was released on Bloodshot Records in 2000. The album is currently owned and distributed by PAX-AM.

  • Mark Pickerel

    The drummer in seminal grunge faves The Screaming Trees. But he's got the goods to be out front and a voice, alluring and just a little bit sinister, evinces his influences ranging from Leonard Cohen, Lee Hazlewood, the Gun Club and Nick Cave.

  • Various Artists

    New Bloodshot 25th Anniversary Album Too Late to Pray: Chicago Defiant Roots coming November 8th, 2019!

  • Whiskeytown

    Falling out of the sky in the mid-90's, Whiskeytown grabbed the mantle of Critical Darlings by the throat and did not let go.

  • Justin Townes Earle

    From Music Row classicism to the storycraft of Greenwich Village-era Dylan to laid back soulful cool, and inspirations as diverse as Townes Van Zandt, Jimmy Reed, Kurt Cobain, The Replacements, Mance Lipscomb, Ray Charles and The Pogues, it's hard to say what JTE does the best.

  • Grievous Angels

    When the Angels got locked in, they could create one of the most rapturous dins ever. We were hooked on their country-inflected rock hybrid. Big, fuzzy, indie rock guitars filtered through an unashamed love of Gram Parsons and the Man in Black.

  • Ben Kweller

    Since his arrival, he's been called everything from balladeer to punk rocker, anti-folker to indie-popper. His ability to weave together opposites that coexist happily on the same album is something few can do.