**Official Drive-By Truckers Thread**

[Gorge18Hopeful]

Originally Posted by Cobo

Anyway, two months until Homecoming and I'm going this year. So stoked!

Looks like they were holding out for homecoming. 28 songs the first two nights and 27 the third night. Nice rockin in the free world to close it out

[mja271]

Homecoming sets look awesome. I didn't know they covered Adam Raise a Cain, that's so badass

[AlexK79]

Damn, Homecoming sets are absolutely insane. I gotta make it down for that one of these years. First Careless since 2006! And Birmingham would be a treat too, definitely never seen that in any of my shows before.

[justinandimcool]

Not saying First Air of Autumn is Cooley’s best song, but I’ve been listening to it a lot for the first time in a few years


It has to be one of the cleanest and most poetic songs written in recent memory. The imagery is picture perfect and almost no word is wasted. The delivery and flow is flawless, the words are so unique and original. Definitely the song I’d pick to showcase Cooley’s talent as a writer. The fact that he can make this kind of song as well as he can make a simple no nonsense rocker like Guitar Man Upstairs or Love Like This is amazing

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by justinandimcool

Not saying First Air of Autumn is Cooley’s best song, but I’ve been listening to it a lot for the first time in a few years


It has to be one of the cleanest and most poetic songs written in recent memory. The imagery is picture perfect and almost no word is wasted. The delivery and flow is flawless, the words are so unique and original. Definitely the song I’d pick to showcase Cooley’s talent as a writer. The fact that he can make this kind of song as well as he can make a simple no nonsense rocker like Guitar Man Upstairs or Love Like This is amazing

The bolded honestly is a fantastic description of Cooley's writing as a whole, IMO. I don't think there's a better lyricist out there. I listen to his stuff and just constantly think "Goddamn how does he do it? It's so simple and so unique and original at the same time."

First Air is definitely a fantastic and underrated tune. English Oceans is probably my least favorite/least revisited DBT record, but that one, Primer Coat, and Shit Shots Count are all knockouts from Cooley on that album.

[mja271]

I thought EO was a great return to form for Cooley. He didn't have a ton of songs from the Big To Do/Go Go Boots era and that album was a real bright spot for him in terms of it basically being an even split between him and Patterson on the tracklist.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by mja271

I thought EO was a great return to form for Cooley. He didn't have a ton of songs from the Big To Do/Go Go Boots era and that album was a real bright spot for him in terms of it basically being an even split between him and Patterson on the tracklist.

Definitely. They've talked about how Cooley was in a bit of a writing slump during that time and Patterson was shouldering more of the load + they were working in Shonna's songs. That being said, though the volume was low Cooley did have some amazing tunes (Birthday Boy, Eyes Like Glue, Cartoon Gold.)

[AlexK79]

Anyone catching any of these Dimmer Twins shows? Really wish there was something close to me, the sets have looked absolutely amazing so far.

[Gorge18Hopeful]

Caught the two Asheville shows. Very enjoyable, not to knock the full band but that’s a great way to see/hear the material. Hood only repeated a couple songs between nights and Cooley played mostly the same songs each night. Both shows are up on threedimesdown, have not listened yet but folks are saying they came out good, mix of soundboard and crowd mic’s. Hood said they would be returning to Asheville this summer, presumably full band. Also looking to catch them full band in May at the gears & guitars event in Winston

[Cobo]

I'm going to the three night Toronto run. I don't think Homecoming can or will be topped, but I'm sure they'll try!

I wish I could have seen The Dimmer Twins but they didn't come close to the Midwest.

Now that Cooley dusted off a few rarities the last couple of weeks (Carl Perkins, Cotton Seed, Pulaski, etc.) I hope he can take them to the full band. I doubt it but one can dream and at least they're in his head.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by Cobo

I'm going to the three night Toronto run. I don't think Homecoming can or will be topped, but I'm sure they'll try!

I wish I could have seen The Dimmer Twins but they didn't come close to the Midwest.

Now that Cooley dusted off a few rarities the last couple of weeks (Carl Perkins, Cotton Seed, Pulaski, etc.) I hope he can take them to the full band. I doubt it but one can dream and at least they're in his head.

Nice! Give us a review, that should be a blast of a 3-nighter. They do 'Carl Perkins' fairly regularly so I'd be surprised if that didn't make at least one appearance! Cooley did Cotton Seed solo when I saw him in December, but I can't recall ever hearing the full band do it?

I really wish the Dimmer Twins tour would have come to the midwest too, I know Cooley was just here solo but man that would have been cool.

[mposey34]

Pulled the trigger on both nights at Gruene Hall in November. Now I have 3 months to find someone to watch the kids.

[Gorge18Hopeful]

Bumping for the rock show I witnessed last night. Most intimate venue I’ve seen them full band, probably 300 people max. Hood threw in a short “nightlife baby” tribute to Ocasek. First time seeing Cooley play the harmonica on “sands of Iwo Jima.” New album coming late January, early February. Whole band exited, one by one, stage left after “Grand Canyon”

[justinandimcool]

new album out
will listen tonight and post thoughts later
can’t wait tbh

[justinandimcool]

rosemary B-
armageddon B
slow ride B
thoughts B-
21st B+
heroin C-
babies B+
grievance C+
awaiting B

production C-
writing C-


lots of good ideas. i think even the better songs underachieve greatly tbh. the lyrics are wordier than ever and a lot of the songs feel too on the nose. i get that they want to write another angry political record but thought and care still needs to be put into the finished product. on top of that Cooley’s vocals sound like complete crap. good thing the music mostly rocks so i skewed the grades up more than i actually enjoyed the record

at the end of the day DBT is at their best when they have a creative original idea or a relatable character with heart and there’s not one of either in this album. safely at the bottom of the album rankings. they’ve shown they can write good political songs but not good political albums. enough is enough

[mposey34]

Between English Oceans, American Band and now this album, I’m pretty over DBT.

It’s a shame, I absolutely love their older stuff

[justinandimcool]

the last two albums at least have some of Cooley’s best work (primer coat, jimmy, ramon, imagine, first air)

he’s at best an afterthought and at worst an annoyance on this album which i think automatically makes it the worst, compounded by my issues above

not over them though, some of it rocks

[justinandimcool]

new Isbell album out in May

released a new single today

sounds good, a little bit of the usual, a bit of a new bite instrumentally. hope he challenges himself with this new album

[mja271]

I enjoy the new single. Fascinated to hear what an Isbell song titled Dreamsicle is going to sound like

[AlexK79]

After a few weeks to let the Unraveling sink in, I'm really enjoying it. I do wish there was more Cooley material, but I don't think it's a function of stifling him, I think he just goes through periods where he doesn't write as much, whereas Patterson is a guy who is writing pretty much constantly. The albums are usually weighted a bit more towards his stuff (English Oceans is the only one I can think of off the top of my head that's truly a 50/50 split) but this one obviously is really light on Cooley with just the 2 songs.

I do agree with Justin that some of the lyrics are a bit more on the nose this time around, even compared to American Band, but I think that's what they were going for. Patterson has said they meant this one to be "personal," whereas with AB while it was still political, much of it was still done in a storytelling manner (i.e. Ramon Casiano.) Lyrical content aside, I think AB was absolutely a much stronger record from a songwriting *and* production standpoint. I rank AB probably in the top 1/3rd of their catalog and as of now, I'd put Unraveling closer towards the bottom. I still enjoy it greatly, and I think it speaks to the strength of their catalog that their worst albums are still, IMO, B/B+ material.

I *do* understand where the people are coming from who are shouting for them to get off the political angle. Without wanting to get into a political debate here, my beliefs generally align with theirs and as such, it makes it easier to get into the material. Whereas someone who doesn't agree with their viewpoints obviously is going to be turned off by the lyrical content straight away regardless of how good a given song or album might be, and that's understandable. But at the same time, their willingness to say what they believe in and not give a shit who it offends, pisses off, or alienates is a big part of the reason why I love this band.

It's been WAY too long since my last Rock Show and really pumped for Chicago in a couple of weeks.

My updated rankings after a few weeks of letting The Unraveling sink in:

1. SRO
1a. DD
1b. Dirty South
4. Brighter Than Creation's Dark

5. American Band
6. Big To-Do
7. Pizza Deliverance

8. Go-Go Boots
9. Blessing and a Curse
10. The Unraveling
11. Gangstabilly

12. English Oceans

[Cobo]

New album is average to me. Some great material (The two Cooley Tracks, Heroin, and Rosemary) and some absolutely abysmal material (21st Century, Thoughts and Prayers, Babies in Cages).

rosemary B
armageddon B-
slow ride A-
thoughts D-
21st F
heroin B+
babies D
grievance B+
awaiting B-

production B- (why are Cooley’s vocals so low?)
writing C

I never came back to this thread to review the Toronto shows, last July. They were absolute monsters. Definitely the best Truckers shows I’ve seen and up there with the best concerts I’ve seen. The last night was so unbelievable with so many rarities and great performances.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by Cobo

New album is average to me. Some great material (The two Cooley Tracks, Heroin, and Rosemary) and some absolutely abysmal material (21st Century, Thoughts and Prayers, Babies in Cages).

rosemary B
armageddon B-
slow ride A-
thoughts D-
21st F
heroin B+
babies D
grievance B+
awaiting B-

production B- (why are Cooley’s vocals so low?)
writing C

I never came back to this thread to review the Toronto shows, last July. They were absolute monsters. Definitely the best Truckers shows I’ve seen and up there with the best concerts I’ve seen. The last night was so unbelievable with so many rarities and great performances.

I just took a look at those Toronto sets, DAMN. You did get a hell of a 3-nighter.

[coldengrey12]

Is this the spot to drop off Jason Isbell's new single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYJlg0u7Ee0

[justinandimcool]

jesus christ now it’s isbell’s turn to feel like he needs to make a “woke” record

i’m gonna go insane. same boring subject matter

[mja271]

Not a big fan of that song. Talk about repetitive. The slide guitar is nice, but the hook which isn't even that good, is repeated 100x.

[Cobo]

Isbell is toast. Last good record was Southeastern. Bummer. I expected good things from him after that one.

[AlexK79]

New single up today 'Quarantine Together,' fun little tune, along with a t-shirt (I love the 'Six Feet Away...motherfucker' on the back. ) They also made available all 3 nights of the 2020 Homecoming run as a download which I am definitely going to grab. $10 per show or $25 for all 3.

drivebytruckers.bandcamp.com

[Foreverford05]

Originally Posted by Cobo

Isbell is toast. Last good record was Southeastern. Bummer. I expected good things from him after that one.

Something more than Free is fantastic.

[AlexK79]

Originally Posted by Foreverford05

Something more than Free is fantastic.

I actually probably go back to that one the most of his "post-sobriety" (for lack of a better way to classify) records. It's really similar in tone to Southeastern but I that one got a little beat to death for me and SMTF stayed a little fresher to my ears I guess.

[mposey34]

Originally Posted by Cobo

Isbell is toast. Last good record was Southeastern. Bummer. I expected good things from him after that one.

this is a horrible take