Whether they realize it or not, most alternative country acts these days owe a tip of the hat to Uncle Tupelo. The Belleville, Illinois trio seamlessly blended the disparate worlds of country and underground college rock, throwing in some hardcore punk influences for good measure. The band's success was fueled by the joint songwriting careers of Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy, who would later go on to separately front Son Volt and Wilco respectively. No Depression, the group's 1990 debut album, became an underground sensation, pleasing country music fans who yearned for the genre's rebellious spirit in a world of increasingly polished radio singles. Ultimately however, Tweedy and Farrar's friendship couldn't survive a series of tumultuous tours and recording sessions, forcing the band to disband in 1994.
