DRIVE BY TRUCKERS fans, UNITE!!!

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hey - why such little talk about this kickass band? Any fellow diehards? Anyone seen them / planning to see them on their current tour? How about a POX or Search and Destroy?

For me, I'd search almost everything, especially Pizza Deliverance and Decoration Day, destroy a little over half of Southern Rock Opera(except Cooley's songs, they all rule).

Me and the lady have tix to see them here in NYC on Halloween - psyched!! May try to hit the Michigan gig on the 7th too...

― roger adultery, Tuesday, 14 October 2003 23:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

*raises hand*

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 00:27 (9 years ago) Permalink

they're actually coming to State College next month. Just listened to Alabama Ass-Whuppin' two nights ago. I keep forgetting to apologize to Chuck for ignorantly mockin' them a while back. Great band. (though I still need to buy Pizza Deliverance and Southern Rock Opera).

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 00:29 (9 years ago) Permalink

I think Decoration Day is (even) better than their other albums. they keep getting better album by album, no small thing. never seen 'em, for which, rest assured, I kick myself repeatedly on a daily basis.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 00:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

They played at the annual free festival on campus (opening for Jimmy Eat World!!) circa Southern Rock, but I was doing a radio show when they were playing. Glad they're coming back to let me rectify the situation.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 01:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

I've seen them every time they've come through town over the course of the last two years or so, which has been a lot. Each time I walk into the show thinking, alright, this will be the night they let me down, and each time I leave with even more admiration for them than before. Fortunately, there is such a dedicated DBT tapers circle that I've been able to track down several of the shows I've seen, and the recordings bear out my initial thoughts. In fact, their recent shows have been among the best I've ever seen from anyone. I most recently saw them the night after Johnny Cash died, but they had the good taste not to do a Cash cover. Instead, they wrote a song about him, and it's a good one (and may still be up on their site). They did, however, cover Warren Zevon's "Play It All Night Long," and it kicked as much ass as their cover of "People Who Died."

Those shows are pretty futhermucking loud, though. On night two I occasionally popped in earplugs, which I never do. Do I smell a thread? "Earplugs at Shows?"

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 15 October 2003 12:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'm seeing them in Birmingham tomorrow night, my sixth DBT show and hopefully not my last. They do have a demo of "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" up on their website, http://www.drivebytruckers.com/.

― largehearted boy (largeheartedboy), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 13:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

fan-friggin-tastic. though they tend to veer off into jam-band territory during live shows. decoration day is easily in my Top 5 (perhaps even 3) albums of the year.

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 13:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

whooo!

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 14:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

They come this month -- or next month -- to NYC. 18 Wheels Of Love is so NOT a novelty song.

She had three televisions just like Elvis, the King, used to have...

― ModJ (ModJ), Wednesday, 15 October 2003 15:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

Josh - would love to get ahold of some of those live tapes. Email me if interested in dubs / trades / etc.
<>
Okay, now that there's enough of us - How 'bout a Pick Only Ten? Here's mine, off teh top of my head:

1. The Company I Keep
2. Love Like This
3. Whiskey Without Women
4. Sink Hole
5. Wife Beater
6. Dead Drunk & Naked
7. Nine Bullets
8. Guitar Man Upstairs
9. Margo & Harold
10.Marry Me

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Thursday, 16 October 2003 03:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

so far I like them
but I do not love them though
I know that's MY fault

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 16 October 2003 03:19 (9 years ago) Permalink

CINNIBLOUNT TO THREAD!

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Thursday, 16 October 2003 04:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

Echo Decoration Day as a top-fiver. But also love some other tracks--Why Henry Drinks, Panties in Your Purse.
Tomorrow night they are in Memphis!

― elle (elle), Thursday, 16 October 2003 14:23 (9 years ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

What I posted on another thread yesterday:

>Playing the new Drive By Truckers album *Dirty South* now. It sounds even more tired than their last one; they've totally given up on trying to be Skynyrd, which sucks. Not horrible, though. Better than Patterson Hood's solo CD, I guess. So I bet it gets very good reviews.<

I'm now convinced, by the way, that *Dirty South* is their worst album ever, by far. The first song rocks okay, but just about everything else drags drags drags, almost 100 percent ballads, damn near no fucking memorable melodies, no fucking energy, nothing. Track #4 is okay, probably some others here and there, I forget which ones. Sometimes the high singing is kinda pretty, and the thing definitely is better to play at work than in a car, since the record does not move AT ALL. "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" strikes me as pandering bullshit. Track #9, "Cottonseed," is one of the most tedious, interminable songs I've heard all year. If somebody really believes I'm missing something, I wish they would explain what it is. Their three EARLY albums (as in pre Southern Rock Opera) blow this one out of the water, if anybody's curious.

― chuck, Saturday, 19 June 2004 19:17 (8 years ago) Permalink

worse than the Rob Malone tracks on Southern Rock Opera?

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 19 June 2004 19:27 (8 years ago) Permalink

You mean, like, "Cassie's Brother," which is probably better than anything on *Decoration Day*? Yeah, way worse than that. Not even close.

― chuck, Saturday, 19 June 2004 19:37 (8 years ago) Permalink

Is that song that Cooley sings about NASCAR on this album? I saw them do it live about four months ago and it was definitely a crowd pleaser. I gotta tell you, I'm sorry to hear your report ...

― Mr Deeds (Mr Deeds), Sunday, 20 June 2004 03:23 (8 years ago) Permalink

They are the loudest band I've ever heard live.

― TheNewJMod (JMod), Sunday, 20 June 2004 03:32 (8 years ago) Permalink

Seeing Patterson Wednesday - can't wait.

Chuck's description doesn't worry me one bit if he really thinks "Cassie's Brother" is better than Decoration Day.

And yes, JMod, I agree - one of the loudest (and best) live shows i've ever seen.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 20 June 2004 05:32 (8 years ago) Permalink

Who exactly is "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" pandering to? I mean, any more than Big and Rich are pandering, which you've gotta admit they totally are in places (ie. that whole race thing never made sense to me blahblah bullshit), even though I do still really like the CD.

Now, I haven't heard the Dirty South yet so I guess I can't sufficiently respond, but what I'd heard live sounded terrific.

Mr. Deeds 100% OTM about "Daddy's Cup" - blew me away live, and honestly unless they TOTALLY changed the demo version on the website and the way they play it live for the record, I'm really surprised Chuck wouldn't like "Carl Perkins" 'cause it's got such a GREAT poppy riff on it, one of the catchiest I've heard all year.

"Where the Devil Don't Stay" was a great rocker live as well, and "Danko/Manuel" was a terrific ballad to these ears. I will admit that Patterson's songs did sound kind of weak in comparison to Cooley and Isbell, and of course again I haven't actually heard the album so I might be totally off base altogether.

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Sunday, 20 June 2004 06:56 (8 years ago) Permalink

yeah and Roger OTM about "Cassie's Brother" vs. All Of Decoration Day - I mean, c'mon, next to "Outfit" and "Sink Hole" and "Marry Me" and the title track, "Cassie's Brother" is a dud.

I will say however that I agree with Chuck about missing the humor and playfulness of the first three rekkids, the Truckers definitely do take themselves a little too seriously from time to time nowadays and I'd sure love it if they'd inject a little bit of that Panties in Your Purse/Steve McQueen/Too Much Sex (Too Little Jesus) spirit into their newer stuff.

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Sunday, 20 June 2004 07:01 (8 years ago) Permalink

The two times I saw DBT live (once on the Southern Rock Opera tour -- a show so disappointing that it convinced me not to vote for their album the year it came out {it finally wound up being my number two behind Rocket from the Tombs a year later}; once on the Decoration Day tour) they weren't loud at all -- Again, I wanted them to be Skynyrd (or at least try to be Skynyrd), and they just came out as an alt-country ballad band with way too much of the lazy drunken Replacements shtick I was sick of by 1986. I'm playing "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" right now; it's not that catchy -- a better than average Tom Petty song, at best. Jangly, I guess. I think it's pandering to the same people that the Dixie Chicks are pandering to when they drop Johnny Cash's and Merle Haggard's names in their otherwise excellent "Long Time Gone" (and all kinds of country songs in recent years pander to elsewhere): i.e., people who pat themselves on the back for knowing about music history. And its pandering is a lot less fun than the pandering on Southern Rock Opera (maybe because Lynyrd Skynyrd is more fun than Carl Perkins? could be), not to mention the pandering on on Big & Rich's album. And I can't follow the story, to be honest. And it doesn't rock. It's a stodgy old whitebread alt-country powerpop history book, and to hell with it, you know?

― chuck, Monday, 21 June 2004 14:16 (8 years ago) Permalink

In other news (in re: other "Dirty South* tracks plugged above), "Daddy's Cup" sounds alright I guess - A car song with a car rhythm; kinda monotonous, but at least it's got a bit of forward motion chugging it ahead. "Danko/Manuel" is an amorphous, deadassed bore of a ballad, trudging along aimlessly and hooklessly for almost six quiet minutes. And "Where The Devil Don't Stay," as I admit above, does indeed rock.

― chuck, Monday, 21 June 2004 14:28 (8 years ago) Permalink

Basically, though, I still believe they should release "Where the Devil Don't Stay" as a single, and relieve people of the burden of having to buy the whole album.

― chuck, Monday, 21 June 2004 14:31 (8 years ago) Permalink

I wanted them to be Skynyrd (or at least try to be Skynyrd

the key line

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 June 2004 14:41 (8 years ago) Permalink

Ballads < Rockstuff.

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Monday, 21 June 2004 14:49 (8 years ago) Permalink

you can have both, esp. when you accept that the band's not gonna play "freebird."

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 June 2004 14:53 (8 years ago) Permalink

though that's a ballad too! heck, my fave skynyrd is "Simple Man"!

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 June 2004 14:54 (8 years ago) Permalink

*Southern Rock Opera* DID have both rockstuff and ballads. But at least the ballads on that album rocked. (As do "Free Bird" and "Simple Man" and "Tuesday's Gone" etc.) The problem with DBT is that they've almost entirely given up on rocking. THEY'RE the one who chose one style over the other, not me. (Their best song is still "Zip City," as far as I'm concerned, by the way.)

― chuck, Monday, 21 June 2004 15:07 (8 years ago) Permalink

I'm pretty saddened by the idea of a rock-free DBT album, I'll admit.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 June 2004 15:13 (8 years ago) Permalink

Frankly I wish they'd drop one element of Lynyrdism and not have a third songwriter. Neither Rob Malone or Jason Isbell ever did much for me.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 June 2004 15:14 (8 years ago) Permalink

third guitarist/songwriter, I mean.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 June 2004 15:14 (8 years ago) Permalink

"Their best song is still "Zip City," as far as I'm concerned, by the way."

I'll agree with this. Ah well, can't really argue with Chuck on this until I gets me a copy of Dirty South myself.

And I really like Isbell BTW, I thought his two contributions to Decoration Day were among the best on the album, and at least when I saw it performed live, I thought "Danko/Manuel" was absolutely haunting.

I can see Chuck's point about pandering as far the Dixie Chicks are concerned b/c that song did seem specifically geared to orient themselves in the "don't make 'em like they usedta" camp, but I don't see it with "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" - I mean, that's what the song's about, y'know? It doesn't seem to me to be contrived in the least, certainly it is a "history lesson" and maybe that's a bore for some, but I don't see it as pandering at all.

Funny you mentioned "Long Time Gone" Chuck b/c I referenced that song in my Stylus review of Gretchen Wilson today, how she's big-upping Bocephus while the Chicks prefer Hank Sr.

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2093

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Monday, 21 June 2004 15:50 (8 years ago) Permalink

CeCe you're crazy dude, Isbell is a FANTASTIC songwriter

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Monday, 21 June 2004 20:51 (8 years ago) Permalink

he's definitely better than Rob Malone, but his doesn't really get to me like Hood and Cooley's best do.

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 21 June 2004 20:55 (8 years ago) Permalink

>>I don't see it with "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" - I mean, that's what the song's about, y'know? It doesn't seem to me to be contrived in the least, certainly it is a "history lesson" and maybe that's a bore for some<<

I might not think the history lesson was such a bore if it was, say, "Michael Murphey's Cadillac, actually -- which would be way more clever, too, given Geronimo's and all. (Plus, the Kentucky Headhunters did a better song about Carl Perkins on a way better Southern Rock/country album LAST year. And it was easily one of the lesser songs on *that* album.)

― chuck, Monday, 21 June 2004 21:57 (8 years ago) Permalink

yeah, the new album is pretty sparkless and a lot more jammy, which is OK but I wish they'd get out of their torpor. I liked that on Decoration Day they were obviously pissed off at the world/fucked in life; they wrote great songs from it. this time they seem to have said, "Let's get looser on this one," and they did, but they're so much better when they're both at once.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Monday, 21 June 2004 22:19 (8 years ago) Permalink

Do any of you have any idea why I can't find DBT CDs in Japan? I can find pretty much anything here, but DBT's label or seems to have no Japanese distributer or something (I really have no idea how it works).

― Debito (Debito), Tuesday, 22 June 2004 02:19 (8 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

Man I really love this album. Only a smidge less than Decoration Day, but liking this one more with every listen. Fucking Isbell, man. "Danko / Manuel" and "Goddam Lonely Love." Met him the other night (on my birthday!) and he was really nice (they all are)

I honestly can't remember the last time I was actually excited to meet a band - comes with the territory of being a rock journo I guess

Anyway, I wholeheartedly disagree with chuck upthread - and if you miss the lighthearted stuff, well, there's two songs about Walking Tall, fer chrissakes!! What do you want?? What's more lighthearted than Walking goddamm Tall? :)

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Friday, 10 September 2004 15:41 (8 years ago) Permalink

I keep listening to this and I can sort of hear the criticisms about the music being a little slack but these have got to be some of the angriest songs on earth right about now. The voices just keep grabbing at me.

They were on Conan last night and they did an Isbell song I think. How old is that kid? His lyrics are just too much. So well written and so fucking defiant. He was all dressed up and looked like an American Idol contestant singing about his sort of fucked up/backwoods life and how he doesn't (or can't, I guess) give a shit. It was pretty perfect.

He knows his southern writers I guess.

― danh (danh), Friday, 17 September 2004 15:03 (8 years ago) Permalink

It's awesome. i reviewed it and am still kicking myself for not giving it enough love. isbell really has it. he's about 25 - older then you'd think, still carrying the puppy fat.

god, i love them truckers.

― Peter Watts (peterw), Friday, 17 September 2004 15:14 (8 years ago) Permalink

so which should be my first album? Decoration Day?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 17 September 2004 15:17 (8 years ago) Permalink

it's the best i reckon, but southern rock opera is more immediate. pizza deliverance is a blast, but less, er, authored.

― Peter Watts (peterw), Friday, 17 September 2004 15:19 (8 years ago) Permalink

I wasn't planning on buying this (if Chuck's review was otm I knew how painful the experience would be), but the three mp3s on their site are terrific. Maybe the rest is too slow but those three had great hooks and the kind of guitar interplay I die for. I'll get it today and I feel like a shmuck for waiting this long.

(judging from the song samples I heard on Northern State's site he's dead on about that album though)

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 17 September 2004 15:31 (8 years ago) Permalink

fell asleep to this last night on conan, but i was beat, i'm interested though

― kephm, Friday, 17 September 2004 15:40 (8 years ago) Permalink

Those aren't even the best songs on the record.

― danh (danh), Friday, 17 September 2004 15:50 (8 years ago) Permalink

I really want to hear a Jason solo album. Cooley too.

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Friday, 17 September 2004 15:51 (8 years ago) Permalink

Seeing them tonight in NYC!

― 57 7th (calstars), Friday, 17 September 2004 16:00 (8 years ago) Permalink

(And here's to an Isbell solo record, that would be great).

― 57 7th (calstars), Friday, 17 September 2004 16:01 (8 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 38 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

My soon to be former roommate just gave me 7 of their CDs to rip. Oh boy oh boy.

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 30 July 2008 06:24 (4 years ago) Permalink

I saw them at First Ave in Mpls just a little while back and they were incredible. I must have been one of like three people dancing the entire time.

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 30 July 2008 06:25 (4 years ago) Permalink

God I hate when people brag about dancing at shows.

― Reatards Unite, Wednesday, 30 July 2008 08:31 (4 years ago) Permalink

one of the statues huh

― RabiesAngentleman, Wednesday, 30 July 2008 08:36 (4 years ago) Permalink

God bless the man that dances at a DBT show.

― myndbloom, Wednesday, 30 July 2008 14:18 (4 years ago) Permalink

You should have been at Nottingham last night.

DBT do attract White Trash. God bless em.

Do DBT attract Trailer Park in the USA?

― Fer Ark, Friday, 8 August 2008 18:59 (4 years ago) Permalink

Brighter Than Creation's Dark is uneven like their others

They've been getting more-and-more uneven over the course of their last few albums. Before that, the three-disc run of Southern Rock Opera -- The Dirty South was pretty special.

― Daniel, Esq., Friday, 8 August 2008 19:07 (4 years ago) Permalink

I wish more bands were this uneven.

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 8 August 2008 19:11 (4 years ago) Permalink

New one is great. The only dip in their stunning consistency was Blessing and a Curse.

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 8 August 2008 19:25 (4 years ago) Permalink

blessing and a curse...

imho ,the opener and closer are splendid

― Fer Ark, Friday, 8 August 2008 20:18 (4 years ago) Permalink

Brighter is better! Some good tracks on Blessing, but too many slammed doors, shit happening offstage, before and after. I wanna see!

― dow, Saturday, 9 August 2008 02:13 (4 years ago) Permalink

You should have been at Nottingham last night.

Actually, I was...

― mike t-diva, Saturday, 9 August 2008 12:38 (4 years ago) Permalink

lol britishes.

― Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved, Saturday, 9 August 2008 12:51 (4 years ago) Permalink

Hey Mike t diva.
I wasn't one of those favoured ponces stood on the balcony either. I was mixing it in the pit with the chavs...
Nice summary btw.
I was under the impression that they would be loud?

One of the quietest bands ever esp. considering the 'three pronged guitar attack'

― Fer Ark, Saturday, 9 August 2008 21:35 (4 years ago) Permalink

The initial sharing of the bottle was so fucking phoney too.
Did anybody have a slice beyond that?

― Fer Ark, Saturday, 9 August 2008 21:37 (4 years ago) Permalink

Jimmy - what am i not getting fella me lad?

― Fer Ark, Saturday, 9 August 2008 21:41 (4 years ago) Permalink

Fer Ark: I missed the bottle sharing, as the nutters down the front on the right were blocking my sight-line (and did you clock the twerp who kept offering Popeye-style bicep-clenches to Shonna?!), but my mate told me that the old JD was getting a hammering...

― mike t-diva, Monday, 11 August 2008 14:38 (4 years ago) Permalink

So I'm a big classic/hard rock fan, everything from Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac to Neil to Allmans. About 10 minutes ago I finally GOT the Drive-By Truckers. I've tried before but it never worked. Anyway, the third song on Southern Rock Opera, "72," made it all clear, especially the gnarled groove ''n'riff interplay. Just awesome.

Just curious, do these guys stretch out any songs when they play live?

― QuantumNoise, Friday, 15 August 2008 13:36 (4 years ago) Permalink

Not really. Only the set closers, like their cover of "People Who Died" or "Buttholeville/State Trooper." Not a jam band (thank god).

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 15 August 2008 14:59 (4 years ago) Permalink

Thanks for the info. Just because you stretch out a bit doesn't mean you're a jam band though. Look at Crazy Horse, CCR and even Skynyrd at times. That's all I was wondering.

― QuantumNoise, Friday, 15 August 2008 15:03 (4 years ago) Permalink

Mike T ^ those annoying cuntocks down the front were about to get twatted.

It was like a care in the community bus trip. The idiot that tried crowd surfing looked like he'd come straight from a Limp Bizkit gig in the mid 90s.

I never realised that DBT were a teen band

― Fer Ark, Friday, 15 August 2008 20:12 (4 years ago) Permalink

I don't think of them as a teen band, but god help me there was a group standing near me at the Sacramento show, 4 girls and 2 guys, all dancing in a little circle and not even really watching the band...talked the whole way through the gig. firmly established my position as an old grump.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Saturday, 16 August 2008 22:25 (4 years ago) Permalink

QuantumNoise, track down a copy of their legit live album, Alabama Asswhuppin'. Not terribly stretchy, but "gnarled groove 'n' riff" yes. Also prob some good live boots, but I haven't heard 'em, things posted here and there no doubt (did see some goodies on YouTube a while back).

― dow, Monday, 18 August 2008 04:24 (4 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

Anybody seen any of the shows with Hold Steady yet? Have they started yet?

― antexit, Wednesday, 29 October 2008 01:03 (4 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

OK so Brighter Than Creation's Dark is a good drinkin album but it wasn't really blowing me away, I wanted more rock in my country. So I picked up Southern Rock Opera. Holy Hell if "Let There Be Rock" isn't my favorite shit I've heard in forever.

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 26 June 2009 02:29 (3 years ago) Permalink

I like Decoration Day even better, especially Sinkhole, Marry Me, and My Sweet Annette. But I think all DBT discs are uneven. And I think losing Isbell was a big blow to the band.

― Daniel, Esq., Friday, 26 June 2009 02:32 (3 years ago) Permalink

I'm crazy, but I love BTCD more than any of the other albums, even with what's-her-name's boring tunes.

― My name is Kenny! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 June 2009 02:35 (3 years ago) Permalink

Yeah I mean I got drunk to BTCD the other day and really enjoyed it! The varying styles really helped even out the mood of the record I think.

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 26 June 2009 02:40 (3 years ago) Permalink

Actually I think their best individual songs are on The Dirty South, and they're all by Isbell: Danko/Manuel and Goddamn Lonely Love. But it's one of my least favorite DBT discs, overall.

― Daniel, Esq., Friday, 26 June 2009 02:46 (3 years ago) Permalink

BON SCOTT SINGIN
LET THERE BE ROCK TOUR

BON SCOTT SINGIN
LET THERE BE ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOCK

~~~~SOLO~~~~

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 26 June 2009 02:47 (3 years ago) Permalink

i agree with Daniel, Esq. Isbell became a force, not just a piece of the puzzle. He owns Decoration Day which is my favorite album & song.

― myndbloom, Friday, 26 June 2009 05:54 (3 years ago) Permalink

Though "Sinkhole" is a close second.

― myndbloom, Friday, 26 June 2009 05:54 (3 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

new album, Go-Go Boots, out Feb 15

Pre-order here: http://www.drivebytruckers.com/

I sprung for the deluxe version with the DVD.

Judging by the live versions of songs from this new one, it's gonna be a lot better than The Big To Do, which I thought was sort of a stinker.

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Friday, 3 December 2010 01:08 (2 years ago) Permalink

Not quite a stinker, but I've found the last couple to be varying levels of disappointing. I was actually kinda hoping they'd slow down with the next one and wait til they get an album full of awesome tunes instead of cranking one out with like 5 great tunes and a bunch of filler. Granted, their filler is still pretty good, but I think it is pretty obvious that their quality control has dipped of late and not just because Isbell left. Remember when they used to release one front-to-back classic after another? I miss those days.

― one pretty obvious guy in the obvious (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 3 December 2010 02:32 (2 years ago) Permalink

Miss Isbell but his solo record was meh

― calstars, Friday, 3 December 2010 02:45 (2 years ago) Permalink

His first one was decent, but I really liked the second one.

― one pretty obvious guy in the obvious (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 3 December 2010 02:45 (2 years ago) Permalink

yeah, the last couple albums have been disappointing. Not BAD, but very forgettable.

― skip, Friday, 3 December 2010 02:46 (2 years ago) Permalink

I like The Big To-Do a lot. While it didn't have as many peaks as Brighter did, there were fewer valleys than that record has, so it's an overall more enjoyable listen front to back.

And yeah, Isbell's first one was very good, but he's gotten a little too MOR for my liking.

― A. Begrand, Friday, 3 December 2010 04:57 (2 years ago) Permalink

The Big To-Do is probably their worst album. What a letdown after Brighter Than Creation's Dark.

As for Isbell, his biggest problem is that his songs sound a heck of a lot better with the Drive-By Truckers playing them, instead of the 400 Unit.

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 3 December 2010 09:55 (2 years ago) Permalink

As for Isbell, his biggest problem is that his songs sound a heck of a lot better with the Drive-By Truckers playing them, instead of the 400 Unit.

^^^^ this. Sorta hate his band.

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Friday, 3 December 2010 13:31 (2 years ago) Permalink

Upcoming Truckers album is kind of mellow, but in a good way. Half the songs slow and soulful, other half the usual stories of working class folks getting shot/killing others. Two Eddie Hinton covers on the disc.

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 3 December 2010 14:19 (2 years ago) Permalink

That's.....sort of encouraging.

The best thing I've ever heard Isbell do is a solo acoustic show that's floating around the web, from before either of his albums came out. Originally, the song Dress Blues was called Mickey Rooney.

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 3 December 2010 14:30 (2 years ago) Permalink

Isbell's Twitter feed is more interesting than his solo albums. I really like him, I just hope he puts out a really solid album. I don't know anything about his split from the Truckers (other than the fact that he divorced the bassist), but it seems like he got a rough deal. He was great for that band and vice versa.

― Benjamin-, Friday, 3 December 2010 14:35 (2 years ago) Permalink

It's kind of sad. For awhile I thought he coulda been a contendah. His contributions to Decoration Day and Dirty South set the bar so high.

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 3 December 2010 14:46 (2 years ago) Permalink

I think the reason for the split is generally thought to be some combo of the following:

1) Divorce from Shonna (duh)
2) Their fighting was distracting
3) Isbell and Cooley would fight, which was leading Cooley to drink more
4) Isbell was writing more music than there was room for
5) He was much younger than the other dudes, and pretty much the only dude without a family

Just general conflicts all around, I guess. I agree he was really good for the band, but then, the last couple times I saw the DBTs they were as awesome as I've ever seen them.

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 3 December 2010 14:47 (2 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

Ugly Buildings, Whores, and Politicians: Greatest Hits 1998-2009 is a compilation album released by New West Records of songs coming from the first seven albums of the Drive-By Truckers discography. It was produced by David Barbie, and "leads fans on an abbreviated journey of what the band has accomplished in their first 11 years."

1 The Living Bubba
2 Bulldozers and Dirt
3 Ronnie and Neil
4 Zip City
5 Let There Be Rock
6 Marry Me
7 Sink Hole
8 Carl Perkins' Cadillac
9 Outfit
10 The Righteous Path
11 Gravity's Gone (Remix)
12 Never Gonna Change
13 3 Dimes Down
14 Lookout Mountain
15 Uncle Frank (Alternate Version)
16 A World of Hurt

― Bee OK, Sunday, 17 July 2011 05:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

Very cool of them to include two Isbell songs even though he's no longer in the band.

Of course everybody's going to have a few favorites not included--Puttin' People On The Moon and That Man I Shot are mine--but overall, it's a pretty strong representation of their career.

― kornrulez6969, Sunday, 17 July 2011 23:15 (1 year ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

This band, man... When they nail it, I really feel it. I never heard this story about "The Living Bubba" before: http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2003/06/the-living-bubba.html

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 14 August 2012 03:44 (9 months ago) Permalink

Two brief observations:

-How great is that cover of "Hey Ya" with Booker T?
-Their cover of Rebels is pretty earnest and awesome. (And it was used in an episode of King of the Hill because of course.)

― Everything You Like Sucks, Tuesday, 14 August 2012 04:54 (9 months ago) Permalink

new Patterson solo album next month!

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Tuesday, 14 August 2012 20:51 (9 months ago) Permalink

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