"We are lonesome animals. We spend all of our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story" John Steinbeck

It's fair to say that the word Country, when used as a prefix to the word music, can tend to leave a bad taste in the mouth of a discerning listener. This is not always for incorrect reasons. Presumably Melbourne band The Wildes are aware of this, yet they have willingly braved the moniker and set about trailblazing their way into the heads and hearts of indie and rock fans from St Kilda to Surry Hills.

Of course, these guys aren't really or exactly a country band. But what they have taken from country music (aside from a little twangy guitar and pedal-steel) is the one element that the much-maligned genre seems to have lost of late - the willingness and ability to get up and tell a good story.

Storytelling is what its all about with The Wildes, and its probably what sets them apart in an increasingly isolated world of facebook profiles and personal mp3 players. In some ways you could call them romantics - historians keeping alight the flame of cautionary tales, sea-shanties, murder ballads and country rambles. But even that description could be misleading - their debut album is a long way from sentimental retro-folk.

The record itself, titled Ballad of a Young Married Man, was produced by the appropriately Arkansas-born (and ARIA winning) producer Jonathan Burnside, and whilst Americana elements abound, the themes are undoubtedly Australian. The title track, a dark tale (told from beyond the grave) of an adulterous young husband shot down in his prime by a scorned wife, is typical of The Wildes' vivid and engaging stories.

With the imminent release of first single 'Jack the Blacksmith' the band are playing a string of Melbourne and regional Victoria shows throughout the remainder of 2008. In January they will be appearing several times at the Tamworth Country Music Festival as part of their east Coast tour (which will also take in Sydney, Brisbane and Newcastle).

Jack the Black Smith will be available exclusively through iTunes from the 14th of October 2008.