The Drive-By Truckers

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Tendrils:

Here's a track-by-track explanation of the lyrics on each song on "Decoration Day," straight from Patterson Hood and Jason Isbell:

http://www.drivebytruckers.com/writeup_dd.html

DBT's lyrics are sensational, a perfect compliment to the incredible music. Every song is almost like a little story.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Probably more in relation to Neil wanting Ronnie in the ground.

False. Here's Patterson Hood's lyric notes from the song, from the band's Web site:

RONNIE AND NEIL
I wrote this song to tell of the misunderstood friendship between Ronnie VanZant and Neil Young, who were widely believed to be bitter adversaries, but were in truth very good friends and mutual admirers... I also used it as a personal way of writing for the first time about my hometown's musical and cultural legacy. (Muscle Shoals AL. was the town where many of the finest R&B and Soul records ever made were created, with whites and blacks working together during the height of the civil rights movement in the 60's).

Source: http://www.drivebytruckers.com/writeup_sro.html

Take care,
PK

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Oh yeah, PK. Don't worry, I have all of The DBT's albums and Isbell's solo album. I need to find a copy of Hood's solo album. Personally, Cooley is my favorite song-writer in the band, because all of his songs are my favorites.

Although I don't have it (been meaning to pick it up), but the guys are the session band for Bettye LaVette's "come-back" album The Scene of the Crime.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Oh yeah, PK. Don't worry, I have all of The DBT's albums and Isbell's solo album.

Yeah, it's not like I responded within a week. Sorry, again!

Thanks for the tip, too.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Three tunes from new album -- "The Righteous Path," "I'm Sorry Huston" and "A Ghost to Most" are streaming at the DBT MySpace site:

http://www.myspace.com/drivebytruckers

Two more tunes -- "Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife" and "Daddy Needs a Drink" -- are available through a blog search at The Hype Machine.

I already love "A Ghost to Most." A DBT classic in the making. And it's written by Cooley!

If these tracks are indicative of the entire new record, it's going to be killer.

P.S. to Tendrils: This new record apparently has a lot more Cooley-written songs than past albums!

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

The new record is fantastic. Ranks right up there with "Southern Rock Opera" and "Decoration Day" as the band's best.

Definitely a change in direction from the Isbell years back to the rootsier, more country-fried sound of the first two records. I can see why Isbell and the Truckers parted company -- divergent creative directions, for sure.

And who knew Shonna Tucker could sing like this?

Take care,
PK

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Hopefully I will have this waiting for me on Tuesday night when I get home.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Tendrils:

You'll dig it, man. You know a band is quality when it releases a 19-track album and maybe one song is filler, at most. Just a fantastic disc.

Cooley's songs kick azz!

Good review of the new record:

http://www.breakthruradio.com/index.php?b=article.php?id=413

Take care,
PK

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

I've been able to listen to the album once through so far (in my car) and I have to say its definitely on par with Decoration Day and Dirty South. Cooley's "Bob" is my favorite song thus far - great little ditty. Shonna Tucker is a pleasant surprise, who knew she had that in her - she sounds great and I would love for her to do a solo album or at least have more vocal parts in upcoming albums.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Bob ain't light in the loafers
He might kneel, but he never bends over



My favorite lyric so far, from Cooley's "A Ghost to Most," my favorite tune on the record and right up there as my favorite DBT tune ever:

Talking tough is easy when it's other people's evil
and you're judging what they do or don't believe
It seems to me you'd have to have a hole you're own
to point a finger at somebody else's sheet

You're right about Shonna Tucker, man. "The Purgatory Line" is just a beautiful tune by her. Patterson Hood said he always knew she could sing and write, but she wasn't comfortable bringing her stuff to the band. Maybe it was because she was married to Jason Isbell and wanted him to have more of the songwriting spotlight or thought her stuff didn't compare to his.

Well, she and Isbell are divorced and Isbell left the band, so I guess the shackles are off Shonna. Good thing!

One more thing: John Neff's pedal steel is GORGEOUS throughout this entire record.

Take care,
PK

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

I just think all the lyrics in "Bob" are great - they have a good rhythm and humor about them.


My favorite line, thus far, was in Lisa's Birthday:

So happy Birthday Lisa, Good evening Jim Beam

But yeah, I love Shonna's vocals. You can tell she has a genuine southernness about her that all these mainstream country stars have to fake.

[Howie75]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Definitely a cool band.

My personal favorite song??

Tornadoes off Dirty South.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

My favorite song is Zip City off of Southern Rock Opera.


Here is an interview Patterson Hood did with Pitchfork.

Link


As a heads up, I'm working on a review of the album and will post it in here by the end of the week.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

As much as I love "A Ghost To Most" off the new record and "Never Gonna Change" off "The Dirty South," my favorite DBT song remains "(Something's Got To) Give Pretty Soon" off "Decoration Day."

Eager to read your review, Tendrils!

Take care,
PK

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

I think I could make a CD of just Cooley songs and listen to that all day every day and be happy.


While we're naming songs off the albums...

Gangstabilly - Steve McQueen
Pizza Deliverance - Bulldozers and Dirt
SRO - Zip City / Plastic Flowers on the Highway
Decoration Day - Hell No, I Ain't Happy
The Dirty South - Carl Perkin's Cadillac
A Blessing and a Curse - Space City


By the way, pk, have you gotten Isbell's solo album yet?