I'm putting this here since I figure all the Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Eagles or even much-less-hip bands might get attention here. If you haven't noticed or paid attention to Drive-By Truckers yet, you've completely missed the boat. I believe they are comparable to all the bands I mentioned earlier but they seem much more honest and ass-kickin' than all of 'em. This band should be posted at Alternative or Indie, but as I said, they are just too true to a line of music, so I hope they don't get shafted for it.

I missed the first few Truckers albums, which is a shame, but based on the last three, they easily qualify as one of the GREATEST AMERICAN rock bands of the last few decades. They kick ass with their guitar-based songs, but the thing which really makes them important is their awesome lyrics which are far-more evocative than basically anything in a similar genre.

Now comes their latest, "The Dirty South." It starts out as more of the same (which means REALLY good hard rock with a soul). But early- on, it turns into an even-more blistering set of songs about subjects as diverse as Buford Pusser, The Band, Carl Perkins and Sun Records, stock car racers, Neil Armstrong, John Wayne in "The Sands of Iwo Jima", drug dealing, pimping, and trying to be a family man while dealing with all the presidents since Reagan.


This album has to be the best Truckers I've heard, if only for the incredible set of songs where the singers basically take turns playing acoustic and singing their hearts out about subjects they care about. It makes all the kick-ass songs even more "realistic" and much easier to relate to. I hope I'm not the only one around here to understand their genius. Drive-By Truckers "The Dirty South" is a classic.

I finally got a hold of a copy of The Dirty South, mark, and it's every bit as good as you (and practically everybody) promised.

I've only sampled The Drive-By Truckers here and there over the years, but they've always reminded me of Son Volt in all the right ways. This time around, though, I'm struck by how much they invoke the spirit of vintage Warren Zevon (think "Play It All Night Long" from Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School).

I know comparisons are weak and unfair, but that's what I'm taking away from first listen and it's certainly intended as a compliment.

Now Playing: "Danko/Manual" The Drive-By Truckers The Dirty South (New West)

After wearing out my copy of "Decoration Day", I'm looking forward to hearing the "Dirty South." I avoided the Truckers for a long time simply because of their jokey band name and all the critical comparisons to Skynyrd, and I regret not checking them out earlier.

The Son Volt and Zevon comparisons are much closer than Skynyrd. They also remind me alot of Neil Young's Crazy Horse material and early Uncle Tupelo. Check 'em out!