Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Love that Southern Rock

This week I've been slacking. I'm sorry it has taken so long to update, but now that I am getting to it, I want to talk about

Drive-By Truckers.



While a little tardy, this post is actually quite timely -- according to its official Web site, the band is slated to appear on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" on March 11. I encourage you to check them out if you are not familiar.

The band's newest album, "Brighter Than Creation's Dark," just came out in January 2007 and was well recieved from what I am reading here.

Pitchfork Media rating: 8.2
Metacritic.com: 84 out of 100 (based on 27 reviews)

Many reviewers have compared the Truckers to the sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd and other Southern Rock greats. I, too, am a fan. (They are definitely on my list of must-sees at the festival this year.)

According to drivebytruckers.com, 2007 was a year of transition and reinvention.

In the spring, they parted ways with Jason Isbell, who had been in the band for five years and three albums. As a result, they moved away from the “big rock show” to focus a little more on the stories and music and playing new stuff in front of a live audience.

According to the site, the band finished recording “Brighter than Creation’s Dark" in August and
mixed it themselves to keep to the album’s “homegrown feel.”

The album comprises music from three different writers, including bassist Shonna Tucker, whose songs have not been featured before, the site reads.

The band considers the album to be its best yet.

Two of my favorite tracks on the new album are "Two Daughters and a Wife," and
"Perfect Timing." But don't take my word for it (wow, I sound like Levar Burton
on "Reading Rainbow")...

Check out Drive-By Truckers on their site, http://www.drivebytruckers.com/. You can watch video performances or listen to audio if you like. I will be adding new tracks to the playlist below.

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