"The duality of the Southern thing" for a new listener
March 26, 2022 7:32 AM Subscribe
Checked out this book (As Seen on the Blue) about the Drive-By Truckers. Their catalogue is overwhelming. What top three albums should I start with?
I'm a native Southerner that was definitely in the South at the time they began their ascension, but I always kind of wrote them off. (I can still remember when I'd see that they were playing the Star Bar in the Loaf back in the day.)
And yet subsequent articles about them, their background, their creative process, the constant familiar wrestling of the South for good and bad, sounds all up in my wheelhouse. This book is blowing me away and I would like to give them a listen to see if I'd want their entire catalog. (I tend to be a completist when I really love an artist/band, sometimes to my detriment.)
Where I should start? If you to had to pick three albums for me to really delve into about the Truckers, which would they be?
I'm a native Southerner that was definitely in the South at the time they began their ascension, but I always kind of wrote them off. (I can still remember when I'd see that they were playing the Star Bar in the Loaf back in the day.)
And yet subsequent articles about them, their background, their creative process, the constant familiar wrestling of the South for good and bad, sounds all up in my wheelhouse. This book is blowing me away and I would like to give them a listen to see if I'd want their entire catalog. (I tend to be a completist when I really love an artist/band, sometimes to my detriment.)
Where I should start? If you to had to pick three albums for me to really delve into about the Truckers, which would they be?
I'd start with Decoration Day, which is my personal favourite but also one that really goes deep on the 'duality of the Southern thing'; as their career has progressed, they have moved away from just focusing on Southern things -- literally in Hood's case; he now lives in Portland.
I also would recommend American Band, which is a great album and a good gateway to what they're doing now; more directly political in particular.
Those are the two tentpoles for me; for a third, I'd probably send you back to The Dirty South or Southern Rock Opera if you're more into the Southern mystique; Brighter Than Creation's Dark is also a good one. Or a live album; they're a really great live band; an all-time best show. Honestly, after two albums, I think you'll know.
posted by Superilla at 8:29 AM on March 26, 2022
I also would recommend American Band, which is a great album and a good gateway to what they're doing now; more directly political in particular.
Those are the two tentpoles for me; for a third, I'd probably send you back to The Dirty South or Southern Rock Opera if you're more into the Southern mystique; Brighter Than Creation's Dark is also a good one. Or a live album; they're a really great live band; an all-time best show. Honestly, after two albums, I think you'll know.
posted by Superilla at 8:29 AM on March 26, 2022
They're so good!
I agree that American Band is a good entry into 'later' DBT. For the Jason Isbell era, if forced to choose I'd pick Dirty South over Decoration Day, but both are excellent start to finish. Brighter than Creation's Dark is great mid-period DBT.
Eventually you'll get to Southern Rock Opera, their sort-of concept album about a southern rock band not unlike Skynyrd - while it's got some of their absolute best songs, there's also some filler.
Definitely go see them live - it's an experience!
posted by chbrooks at 11:05 AM on March 26, 2022
I agree that American Band is a good entry into 'later' DBT. For the Jason Isbell era, if forced to choose I'd pick Dirty South over Decoration Day, but both are excellent start to finish. Brighter than Creation's Dark is great mid-period DBT.
Eventually you'll get to Southern Rock Opera, their sort-of concept album about a southern rock band not unlike Skynyrd - while it's got some of their absolute best songs, there's also some filler.
Definitely go see them live - it's an experience!
posted by chbrooks at 11:05 AM on March 26, 2022
The Dirty South is my all-time fav for the DBT, but I started with spotify's This Is Drive-By Truckers playlist which was a nice overview to a bunch of albums, and then gave me a familiar touchpoint on most albums when I started diving deeper, a thing I always like!
posted by euphoria066 at 11:12 AM on March 26, 2022
posted by euphoria066 at 11:12 AM on March 26, 2022
Decoration Day was my gateway drug to DBT. And American Band is also my vote for later era.
posted by kimdog at 6:24 PM on March 26, 2022
posted by kimdog at 6:24 PM on March 26, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
If I had to round it out, I'd probably pick one of the Jason Isbell albums, maybe Decoration Day which is really highly regarded, and then either The Dirty South or Southern Rock Opera.
Another perfectly valid approach would be to load up the DBT "Essentials" playlists from your streaming service of choice, see what resonates, and then dive into full albums from there.
Thanks for reminding me to go listen to some DBT. I know what I'll have on today.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 8:12 AM on March 26, 2022 [1 favorite]