Midwestern alt-country rockers Hadacol surface with their first release for Missouri indie Slewfoot, and it’s a focused, confident effort showcasing insightful, often dark lyrics, robust instrumentation, and the effective sibling harmonies of brothers Fred and Greg Wickham. “Down Again” is a raucous hayride, “Watch It Burn” is a Neil Young-influenced slow-smolder, and the title cut recalls Dan Baird with its mix of crunch guitars and barroom wit. Interestingly enough, the brothers don’t co-write, but both turn out great songs individually, with Greg’s mellow “Another Day” and Fred’s twisted “Gerald Ford” among the many memorable cuts. The tracks are also intriguing thematically, with the claustrophobic “Libby’s Tune” delivered under the guise of a bouncy melody, and the hangdog “What I’m Doin’ Wrong” comes off like the Everly Brothers on moonshine. Like its namesake—the liquid “medicine” once touted by Hank Williams—Hadacol does indeed make you feel good. Racked by City Hall.—RW
