DRIVE BY TRUCKERS fans, UNITE!!!

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?"

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

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

>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'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.

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.

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.

the key line

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

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.)

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? :)

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.

god, i love them truckers.

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

https://732204.smushcdn.com/1222810/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DBT_TheUnraveling_cover-1-296x300.jpg?size=300x300&lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1

ooh nice cover

it's a very dark record.

These are dark times, I expect it will echo how many of us feel.

https://732204.smushcdn.com/1222810/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DBTwithMick.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1

Drive-by Trucker, lost yer way...

Cooley / Jagger

star trucker

this is fkn adorable tbh

So does Patterson always stand in the back In these photos ?

fantastic pic!!!

It was in No Depression:

“I think we clocked in 85 hours in the studio that week making the record,” says Patterson Hood, reflecting on the recording of Drive-By Truckers’ latest LP, The Unraveling, the bulk of which took place at the Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis. The album is a nine-track treatise on the state of the country following the 2016 presidential election, which means it’s heavy, poignant, and rarely lighthearted.

The recording process, though, featured a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will forever be etched into the making of The Unraveling.

“It’s a small studio, it isn’t a big, sprawling building or anything like that,” Truckers co-founder Mike Cooley says. “I was in the reception area just hanging out, looking out the front window, and I saw maybe four black vehicles — it looked like a small motorcade pulling up.”

Tourists stop by the famed studio all the time hoping to get a tour, but since it’s an active recording business, the best they can do is get a photo outside and maybe poke their head in the lobby to say hello.

“I figured this was some type of VIP situation,” Cooley says of the SUVs and sedans he saw pull up to the studio. “It could be anybody, so I just walked back into the control room. A few seconds later, Patterson walks in and says, ‘Mick Jagger is in the hallway.’”

There’s a sense of excitement in Cooley’s voice as he tells this story, but he admits he didn’t believe Hood at first: “I told him to fuck off.”

Mick Jagger and Leonardo DiCaprio own the movie rights to the Peter Guralnick book Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll. The Rolling Stones frontman was in town with the author, along with their screenwriter and production designer, and wanted to get a peek inside the studio.

“They had spent the earlier part of the day at Sun Studios,” Hood explains. “We had heard Peter was coming over, but that’s it. He walks in and he introduces himself, we all sit down, and then Mick Jagger walks in. Holy shit!”

Hood adds, “He was very much the old-school British gentleman. Super polite.”

“Oh yeah, he was pretty cool,” Cooley agrees, with a chuckle in his voice. “I’m glad he was nice, because it was our session that he interrupted.”

Aside from his English manners, Cooley remembers Jagger walking around with his signature onstage swagger. “Even in that setting,” he says, “he moved around with that energetic sense of movement. He’s always been over the top with his movements, constantly in motion, real physical. He seems to always move around with that same sense of purpose, even at 76 years old. He’s a ball of energy. It’s pretty amazing.”

The thing that stood out to Hood was not just how Jagger acted, but how his Truckers brothers reacted.

“I got to see my bandmates shaking in their boots like they were teenagers or something,” he says. “That was awesome. I tend to be that way naturally, and I don’t necessarily see that side of Cooley or Matt Patton that often. They both keep a surly and cool demeanor. It was cool to see them as excited as I was.”

Hood takes a break from the story to have a laugh about Cooley and Patton meeting Jagger.

“It was a fun day. And then when they left, we got back to work. That was probably the biggest break we took in seven days.”

lol!

This is beautiful:

A few seconds later, Patterson walks in and says, ‘Mick Jagger is in the hallway.’”

There’s a sense of excitement in Cooley’s voice as he tells this story, but he admits he didn’t believe Hood at first: “I told him to fuck off.”

I got pushed some Paste "Top 15 Drive-By Truckers" feature, and I think it's a testament to the band that while they picked some winners/ringers, so many of my favorites or songs I consider their best are not on there, and so many songs I don't think about at all are:

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2020/01/best-drive-by-truckers-songs.html

My PO8:

Let there be rock
Angels and fuselage
Dead drunk and naked
My sweet Annette
Heathens
Outfit
Women without whiskey
Three dimes down

New album could use more rock, but still sounded alright on first listen. The lyrics are perhaps even more on the nose re: their subject matter than usual (song titles include "Thoughts and Prayers" and "Babies in Cages") but I get that America in 2020 might not be the time and place for subtlety.

They always write good songs but they're so boring when DBT play them these days.

I've missed out on their last couple of records but I'm trying to start rectifying that now, starting with this new one. Agreed about the relative lack of rock (I do like the riff to Armaggedon's Back in Town), would add that the rekkid needs more Cooley too. Lyrically though it's definitely hitting me right in the gut this morning, in concert with the impeachment cover-up plus my viewing last night of the American Factory documentary.

I've only listened to the closer once so far but it seemed pretty fluid musically.

Cooley was apparently struggling with writer's block so severe he thought he was done for good.

I've been listening to the last two recently. At the time they kind of underwhelmed me but when I listen to them now, with fresh ears, I feel bad for ever doubting them. I suppose it's easy enough to describe the albums as musically boring, but I feel they've always been lyrically driven, with hooks and riffs nice bonuses.

A good example of what bores me about them since 2010: "21st Century USA." Every detail so creative-writing-seminar perfect, and the arrangement so enervated that all I feel is trapped by bric-à-brac.

Musically I can't figure out what's changed, exactly. I've seen them live a million times, and new songs and old songs alike kick ass. My only theory is that they are an awesome rock band approaching the studio like session musicians might, except they are not awesome session musicians.

I think it's the same thing that has hurt a lot of recent Springsteen records, but these guys have better songs.

"Armageddon's Back in Town" is definitely the album highlight for me.

Second close listen of "The Unravelling" reveals more of the depth of this record, the lyrics are killer and both of Cooley's songs are strong, though "Grievance Merchants" is the better of them. "Babies In Cages" is surprisingly catchy for what it's about. A more consistent record than their last one though the highs are not quite as high ("Surrender Under Protest" is monumental).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIN-CUBhhHc

"I never saw Lynryd Skynyrd, and I never saw the Clash. But I ran monitors for fuckin' Fugazi, motherfuckers!"

Fumes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQelOp8oEJU

They need more guitar players

Impressive album imo: https://humanizingthevacuum.wordpress.com/2020/05/05/ranking-drive-by-truckers-brighter-than-creations-dark/

If Karen was music, it would be Jason Isbell

Given most of Isbell's views on societal issues and politics, I'm not sure how that take could be more wrong.

I mean, he's often heavy handed with some of his messages but, uh, really struggling to understand the leap to being a Karen.

If We Were Karens

Everything I have read about or from Isbell has made me like him more and more, no matter how I feel about his music.

I didn't say he was a Karen. I said he makes Karen music.

I wished I liked him more cuz he seems like a cool guy!

the song Ronnie and Neil is like someone reading a Wikipedia page over a bar band

Karen as a concept is at the point where it's losing any meaning

otm

plz elaborate on what him “being a Karen” actually means in this context

or “making Karen music”

I'm p sure a "Karen" would be the type telling Isbell to "shut up and sing" when he talks or tweets about politics, which he very specifically addresses on the new one.

I view Karen Music as any bland, toothless NPR bullshit that makes John Mellencamp sound edgy. Alt country pumpkin spiced latte music.

oh man you played the pumpkin spice card

actual Karens listen to dude modern country singers who I've never heard of but they sellout hockey arenas

I was reading some past interviews with him, and there are a few where he confesses his only real indulgence since hitting it big was buying Ed King's' famed '59 Les Paul "Red Eye." I don't remember if King's wife offered to sell it to him, or just care for it first, but apparently at some point it went up for sale and he called his accountant and asked if he could afford it and his accountant said "absolutely not." So he called his manager and explained the situation to her and then asked her to book him as many weirdo private parties as she possibly could to pay it off. I know the original asking price was $650k ...

the song Ronnie and Neil is like someone reading a Wikipedia page over a bar band

I was confused for a second - that's not an Isbell song, I think that's Hood.

Isbell has a few anthemic political songs that get heavy handed but mostly he just writes great short narratives IMO. I don't think Karens are lining up to hear songs about a guy's friend who's dying of cancer?

huh, i really dig isbell doing stretched out marvin gaye jams

every thread gets the troll it deserves