"The twinge in Dodd Ferrelle's voice spreads a shroud of sadness over the Athens, Ga.-based band's new disc, The Murder of Love. Ferrelle's mournful croon haunts these Americana rock tunes like the ghost of Roy Orbison. He's cryin' over all things lost-love, home, youth, faith. In the wake of his blues, a flood of rock guitars and crashing symbols washes over the songs, providing redemption and catharsis. Recorded with producer Dave Barbe, former Sugar bassist and producer for Son Volt and Drive-By Truckers, The Murder of Love resurrects Ferrelle's rock spirit after his foray into personal acoustic territory on 2003's Sweet Lowland. A good signal that heartache hasn't ruined Dodd's sense of adventure: the disc includes a 100-percent irony-free cover of ABBA's "S.O.S.," with tambourine and handclaps. Ferrelle's plea of "What happened to our love? It used to be so good" sums up the disc's theme and exemplifies just how much heartache can rock."

Paige M. Travis, Metropulse, 3/24/05

LIGHTNING STRIKES