The Drive By Truckers are certainly one of my favourite bands of the last ten or so years. They have been going a lot longer that but I did not really become aware of them until I heard them name checked on a Slobberbone LP and I picked up a copy of their record Southern Rock Opera. This record sees them back to the original core members of Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley after the slow departures of John Neff, Shonna Tucker and Jason Isbell.
I was fortunate to see them three times in a weekend at Byron Bay a few years ago. Once with Booker T and then two completely different sets the second complete with two women fighting rolling around in the mud in front of Jan. Probably a typical DBT's show - I have already rated their live DVD in the blog as one of the best around.
Also very pleased that Sam's band has Where The Devil Don't Stay in their set list. Looking forward to seeing them playing it when they finally get a a gig going in Wellington.
One of the things you always get with a Drive by Truckers album is a complete package. Great Album covers (with artwork provided by Wes Freed) that have days of exploring, good liner notes usually by Patterson Hood, and of course good music with a mixture of solid musicianship, social commentary and country style story telling. So it is with English Oceans.
It has been a few years since their last album Go Go Boots. Many people did not rate that as highly as earlier albums but I really enjoyed it. I actually introduced a few friends to the band by recommending it and they consider it their best. It maybe a case that people will always enjoy them most with the album they hear first.
So now I have their new one which has been getting rave reviews. The band even got a write up in the NZ Listener (where their almost perfect Brighter Than Creation's Dark was dismissed with a two sentence review a few years back).
So it is on its second play through at the moment - and the first thing that is noticeable is that Cooley is Back. When he is on top form his songs were always my favourites (even more than Isbell's) but he has not been on top form since Brighter Than Creation's Dark.
Patterson's songs are always interesting - great stories and always with a political or social point to make. Somehow he seems to manage to pack what could make whole series of Justified or True Detective into a single song. On this album he excels himself on Grand Canyons and When Walter Went Crazy.
However many people (including Jan) are put off because he is not a a great singer in the traditional sense. However on stage his manner is infectious - he is having a great time and loves to tell stories.
I have always felt that one of the reasons the DBTs work is that the balance of singers and songwriters mean that the sound is never limited by any particular singer/writer's strengths and weaknesses.
Hardly any reviews of their music are made without mentioning that Patterson Hood is David Hood's son. So I won't disappoint. David Hood was/is the bass player for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and while it was hardly relevant to mention it on their first releases I think one of the interesting parts of the band's evolution is that they have settled more and more into that groove - probably starting with their backing of Betty Lavette on her Scene of the Crime album but working with Booker T has also rubbed off.
So another solid album by the Drive By Truckers - a good place for new comers to enter before heading back into their catalogue (about which I will post later on).
I was fortunate to see them three times in a weekend at Byron Bay a few years ago. Once with Booker T and then two completely different sets the second complete with two women fighting rolling around in the mud in front of Jan. Probably a typical DBT's show - I have already rated their live DVD in the blog as one of the best around.
Also very pleased that Sam's band has Where The Devil Don't Stay in their set list. Looking forward to seeing them playing it when they finally get a a gig going in Wellington.
One of the things you always get with a Drive by Truckers album is a complete package. Great Album covers (with artwork provided by Wes Freed) that have days of exploring, good liner notes usually by Patterson Hood, and of course good music with a mixture of solid musicianship, social commentary and country style story telling. So it is with English Oceans.It has been a few years since their last album Go Go Boots. Many people did not rate that as highly as earlier albums but I really enjoyed it. I actually introduced a few friends to the band by recommending it and they consider it their best. It maybe a case that people will always enjoy them most with the album they hear first.
So now I have their new one which has been getting rave reviews. The band even got a write up in the NZ Listener (where their almost perfect Brighter Than Creation's Dark was dismissed with a two sentence review a few years back).
So it is on its second play through at the moment - and the first thing that is noticeable is that Cooley is Back. When he is on top form his songs were always my favourites (even more than Isbell's) but he has not been on top form since Brighter Than Creation's Dark.Patterson's songs are always interesting - great stories and always with a political or social point to make. Somehow he seems to manage to pack what could make whole series of Justified or True Detective into a single song. On this album he excels himself on Grand Canyons and When Walter Went Crazy.
However many people (including Jan) are put off because he is not a a great singer in the traditional sense. However on stage his manner is infectious - he is having a great time and loves to tell stories.
I have always felt that one of the reasons the DBTs work is that the balance of singers and songwriters mean that the sound is never limited by any particular singer/writer's strengths and weaknesses.
Hardly any reviews of their music are made without mentioning that Patterson Hood is David Hood's son. So I won't disappoint. David Hood was/is the bass player for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and while it was hardly relevant to mention it on their first releases I think one of the interesting parts of the band's evolution is that they have settled more and more into that groove - probably starting with their backing of Betty Lavette on her Scene of the Crime album but working with Booker T has also rubbed off.
So another solid album by the Drive By Truckers - a good place for new comers to enter before heading back into their catalogue (about which I will post later on).
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