Drive By Truckers fans?

JAlexander · Sep 3, 2004

I picked up their new album last week, and I've been listening to it non-stop ever since. I thought that Decoration Day was a masterpiece, and it is, but The Dirty South is just as good.
I wish I could think what to compare them to, if you haven't heard them, but I can't. They get billed as Southern Rock, but they're a bit more complex than that.
Anyhow, let me know if there are other fans. Or if you want album recommendations, I can do that, too.

James

donovan · Sep 3, 2004

DBT write some of the most intelligent lyrics ever. They are hard to describe. Sort of an extremely literate, southern gothic garage band. Patterson Hood may be a genius.

Jack

JAlexander · Sep 3, 2004

donovan said:
DBT write some of the most intelligent lyrics ever. They are hard to describe. Sort of an extremely literate, southern gothic garage band. Patterson Hood may be a genius.

Jack

Yeah, I pretty much agree. In fact, after listeing to Decoration Day and The Dirty South back-to-back earlier today, I think Pat Hood is definitely a genius, and Mike Cooley and Jason Isbell may well be, too.
And I don't say that lightly. In the past I've reserved the title of genius for songwriters like Hank WIlliams, Townes Van Zandt, and Shane MacGowan.

James

hawkpatriot · Sep 3, 2004

I haven't heard their music, but if it's anything like classic Southern Rock and is as good as yall say it is, I'll try it out. Heard they did a Skynyrd tribute, or am I wrong?

JAlexander · Sep 3, 2004

hawkpatriot said:
I haven't heard their music, but if it's anything like classic Southern Rock and is as good as yall say it is, I'll try it out. Heard they did a Skynyrd tribute, or am I wrong?

Yeah, they did something called Southern Rock Opera a couple albums ago. It's not exactly a tribute in the usual sense of the word, since they don't actually cover any Skynyrd songs, it's more like a song cycle based on the life and death of the band. Highly recommended, in any case.

James

donovan · Sep 3, 2004

Like James said, Skynyrd figures very prominently in the "mythology" of the band. Even down to using the same three guitar lineup. James-have you heard "Killers and Stars", Patterson's solo album? Supposedly very dark, even for Patterson.

Jack

komondor · Sep 3, 2004

How would they compare to early Tragically Hip? The Hip's first two albums- Up To Here and Road Apples- were heavily southern-rock influenced. The former one was more straightforward, and the latter one was more hybrid and eclectic. They both feature The Hip's excellent trademark lyrics and Gordon Downie's amazing voice.

If DBT are anything like that, I'm all over them.

JAlexander · Sep 3, 2004

donovan said:
Like James said, Skynyrd figures very prominently in the "mythology" of the band. Even down to using the same three guitar lineup. James-have you heard "Killers and Stars", Patterson's solo album? Supposedly very dark, even for Patterson.

Jack

Jack,

Yeah, I got a copy a couple years ago from a buddy. It's really really dark,, but it has some fine songs on it. I think my favorite tracks are 'Uncle Disney', 'The Assassin', and his cover of Tom T Hall's 'Pay No Attention to Alice'. It's really simple, although I wouldn't call it crude.
I'm really kinda aggravated because the 'Truckers are gonna be playing in Austin in a couple weeks, but I have to go to a wedding, and it's one of those that I can't skip. It's cool, though. They come to town two or three times a year.

James

donovan · Sep 3, 2004

Komondor, I don't think that you would be at all disapponted in DBT. I only have a passing knowledge of The Tragically Hip but I would definitely say that the Truckers are grittier and when they get those guitars cranked up it is a wall of sound. The genius is in the lyrics, though. If you have ever travelled, read about, or lived in the South they will really ring true. This isn't the "Gimme Three Steps" of Skynyrd South, but the dark underbelly South of poverty, pride, and prejudice. Good stuff.

James, DBT is scheduled for the Austin City Limits Fest aren't they?

Jack

komondor · Sep 4, 2004

Alright, I'm sold.

What would be the 1st album to get? Or the next best one?

JAlexander · Sep 4, 2004

Jack,

DBT are indeed going to be playing at the ACL Fest, but it's happening the same weekend as my oldest friend's wedding, so it's a no go.

Komondor,

I'd say as a first album, Decoration Day is your best bet, but you really couldn't go wrong with The Dirty South, either.

James

komondor · Sep 4, 2004

Thanks.

I just got Decoration Day this afternoon. I gave the album a once over. Overall, I'd say I like it. I think it will be a decent album. They sound very talented.

It's funny, I don't like Country-Western at all, but some of my favorite music is country-rock / Southern-rock.

The Jayhawks
The Silos
Wilco
The Volebeats
Sun Volt
Blue Rodeo

JAlexander, I strongly recommend you get The Tragically Hip's Up To Here. Based on your love for DBT, I firmly believe you will really dig this album.

donovan · Sep 4, 2004

komondor, I was going to recommend Southern Rock Opera for a first go round. More "rockish". Give Decoration Day a few more listens and if it doesn't do it for you I'll swap you out a SRO. A little background info, "When the Pin Hits the Shell" and "Do It Yourself." are Cooley and Patterson's different takes on the suicide of a mutual friend.

I've tried to like Wilco. I really want to. There's just something that strikes me as gimmicky about it. Son Volt, on the other hand, I'm all about.

Jack

TorzJohnson · Sep 4, 2004

I'm gonna have to check out DBT for sure. If you guys like southern influences in your music, you should try to dig up this out-of-print jewel:

JAlexander · Sep 5, 2004

donovan said:
komondor, I was going to recommend Southern Rock Opera for a first go round. More "rockish". Give Decoration Day a few more listens and if it doesn't do it for you I'll swap you out a SRO. A little background info, "When the Pin Hits the Shell" and "Do It Yourself." are Cooley and Patterson's different takes on the suicide of a mutual friend.

I've tried to like Wilco. I really want to. There's just something that strikes me as gimmicky about it. Son Volt, on the other hand, I'm all about.

Jack

Yeah, I kinda forgot that Decoration Day isn't quite as rawk as Southern Rock Opera or The Dirty South. GUess I overlooked that. It still has some great songs, though.
And speaking of songs... What's your favorite DBT song, Jack? I think my overall favorite is 'The Living Bubba', but there's also 'Sink Hole', 'Heathens', 'Tornadoes', and "The Day John Henry Died'. And... But you get the idea.

And I'm with you on the Wilco/Son Volt thing, too.

James

slide13 · Sep 5, 2004

Thanks for posting this, just picked up Decoration Day today at the store. Figured they had it used for only $6 so I wasn't risking much. Anyway I love it. Havn't made it through the whole thing yet since I just got it about an hour ago but this is the kind of music I like but have trouble finiding. I'll have to check out the other bands listed as well.

donovan · Sep 5, 2004

JAlexander said:
And speaking of songs... What's your favorite DBT song, Jack?

Hmmm. Sink Hole, Heathens, Outfit, Do It Yourself-all great. Birmingham, Carl Perkins Cadillac, Too Much Sex, Too Little Jesus-very memorable. But the winner is:

The Southern Thing.

Love that song.

Jack