The Drive-By Truckers

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

I posted my review for the album here:

If there is one common variable in all of mainstream music today, it is that music is too clean. Clean not only in the sense of a too-polished-for-its-own-good sound of production, but clean in the sense that its all formulaic and safe. I can live with a clean production, so long as the other aspects of the music are willing to take risks, but mainstream music has decided to play it safe for the past ten years and country is the biggest offender. There is no tradition or identity left in mainstream country radio - its all too clean for any recollections of the Golden Past. All too greedy and narcissistic to make any true connection with the roots that made the genre successful in the first place and the common people who pushed the genre to its success. Everybody wants to talk about me this and I that, there's no room for stories of struggle and survival that the everyday man experiences. While it seems like all of country's creation has darkened, there is a light that shines brighter than any of them and it comes in the form of the hardest and most consistent working band in the U.S. today - The Drive-By Truckers.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

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

Yep, had it right at release. A very good album, one of my top 10 from 2007.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Tendrils:

That was an excellent review, man. About the only quibble I might have is your contention that the album is driven by acoustic guitars. If anything, it's driven by John Neff's pedal steel, which is the glue of this record, in my opinion.

But again, fine review. A fine analysis. And I like how you don't use a rating system -- it forces the reader to digest the entire review.

It says a hell of a lot about a band when guys draw up their lists of favorite songs by that band, and there's very little overlap. Few of the tunes you guys named are among my favorites, but they're all great songs. I can see why you enjoy them.

Since Tendrils had the cool idea of listing his favorites by album, here's my list:

Gangstabilly: "The Living Bubba"
Pizza Deliverance: "Nine Bullets"
Southern Rock Opera: "Let There Be Rock"
Decoration Day: "(Something's Got to) Give Pretty Soon"
The Dirty South: "Never Gonna Change"
A Blessing and a Curse: "Daylight"
Brighter Than Creation's Dark: "A Ghost To Most"

Take care,
PK

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

I still believe the album is pushed along through the acoustic guitars. Not to discount Neff's pedal steel at all, it definitely adds another layer to the songs and a emphasizes each songs' specific atmosphere (hard to believe I didn't mention it in my review). I don't think the pedal steel really pushes the album from start to finish though. Its hard to explain what exactly I'm thinking, but for me the pedal steel is more of a complementary piece (not to say its not integral to the album). I know I'm kind of flip-flopping back and forth a little bit, but who cares, lol.

Daylight is probably my second favorite song off A Blessing and A Curse.

By song-writer this time...

Patterson: The Sands of Iwo Jima
Jason: Danko/Manuel
Mike: Zip City
Shonna: I'm Sorry Huston (unofficial)

I wish Patterson would do more narration songs - I love The Three Great Alabama Icons, especially how it leads into Wallace.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Yep, had it right at release. A very good album, one of my top 10 from 2007.

Take care,
PK

What's your favorite tune? I don't think it gets any better than Dress Blues, personally - although I just love the strutting groundwork of Down in a Hole.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

What's your favorite tune? I don't think it gets any better than Dress Blues, personally - although I just love the strutting groundwork of Down in a Hole.

"Dress Blues" is the tear-jerker and most emotional song on the album, by far. It's a great tune, but my favorite song on the record -- and this probably will catch you from left field -- is "The Magician."

Not sure why. I just love the "down-home pop country ditty" melody of it, and I really like the story told in the lyrics. It's clearly an Isbell tune -- you don't hear much DBT in it at all.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Funny you mention "Danko/Manuel:" I was doing dishes tonight, and that song popped up on my MP3 player during a Truckers' random shuffle. I forgot how damn good that song is.

Take care,
PK

[roadman]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

There might be another convert here.

I just bought the new one and SRO.

I've only heard about half of the new one so far.

So far, my faves are 3 Dimes Down and Home Field Advantage. Man, does HFA rock out.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Just wait til you hear SRO

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Just wait til you hear SRO

Yep. And you'll buy "Decoration Day" and "The Dirty South" within two weeks of hearing "SRO."

Take care,
PK

[roadman]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Yep. And you'll buy "Decoration Day" and "The Dirty South" within two weeks of hearing "SRO."

Take care,
PK

Probably, hook, line and sinker.

I've heard the first 4 songs of SRO. Outstanding. So far, much different musically then SRO. It looks like SRO didn't have Isabell, either.

[pk500]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Probably, hook, line and sinker.

I've heard the first 4 songs of SRO. Outstanding. So far, much different musically then SRO. It looks like SRO didn't have Isabell, either.

Nope. Isbell joined the band for "Decoration Day," staying until spring 2007.

Take care,
PK

[roadman]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Nope. Isbell joined the band for "Decoration Day," staying until spring 2007.

Take care,
PK

Thanks for the info. I also meant above SRO is musically different than their new one.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

Thanks for the info. I also meant above SRO is musically different than their new one.

Oh yeah. I touched on that in my review and actually, even though they have been experimenting since Decoration Day, I think A Blessing and A Curse was a big push in their current direction of being a more country-rock band than the hard Southern rock that is SRO.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Drive-By Truckers

A couple of announcements this morning via the DBT Newsletter:

1) All of the DBT's albums are available on vinyl now.
2) DBT will be playing at Bonaroo on Feb 16th.