Don't be fooled by the prominent Deathwish Records symbol on the back of Halfacre Gunroom's criminally overlooked 2004 debut album, Wrecked, or the group's propensity for tossing out covers of Belle & Sebastian and Pulp. Unlike hardcore labelmates Converge and Some Girls, these Memphis boys bleed pure country heartache and whiskey-soaked melancholy. Vocalist Bryan Hartley drawls with the wisdom found only in those burdened by too many late nights and broken hearts, as churning organ, stripped-down riffs and bashing beats whistle Dixie with a barnstorming flair. In fact, Wrecked possesses the sunburned twang of grizzled Johnny Cash if the Man in Black were obsessed with the Clash as a teenager and later counted Lucero as pals.
