Drive-By Truckers - Decoration Day
Release Date: June 17, 2003
The Drive-By Truckers (DBT) first surfaced on the
media's musical map with Southern Rock Opera
(2000) — their creative concept indie release that
paid homage to Lynyrd Skynyrd, the godfathers of
southern rock.
So, it is not surprising that the DBT sound like a
cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Crazy Horse with a
slight nod given to their bluegrass brethren for good
measure. One thing is for sure; these five guys can
crunch out the rock with a three-guitar tight sound
that grabs you from the first listen.
On their fourth release, Decoration Day, DBT
come at you with the force of Florida's hurricane
season, guitars screaming in one song, and singing
softly in another. Song after song celebrates their
down-south roots. Movies, pop culture, and the news
were other inspirations for songs about death,
divorce, and deviance that explore the choices people
make and the ensuing repercussions.
One of the best tracks is "Outfit" – a father's advice
to his son that succinctly delivers this message of
staying true to one's roots: "Don't worry about losing
your accent; /a Southern man tells better jokes."
"My Sweet Annette" is a ballad that tells of love left
at the altar featuring the bluegrass beats of fiddle
and pedal steel, and high harmony by Clay Leverett.
Spooner Oldham — all-star session master of the keys —
tickles the ivories like few others in rock and roll;
he's played with everyone who is anyone in the genre
from Bob Dylan to Neil Young. On "When the Pin Hits
the Shell," the Muscle Shoals legend complements the
Trucker's sound and wows on the Wurlitzer electric
piano.
With crisp three-part harmony throughout the record,
"Marry Me" opens with a guitar riff that echoes the
Eagles "Already Gone" and also mimics the Rolling
Stones.
These 15 songs beg you to close all the windows in
your car, turn the dial on the stereo way up and let
this five-piece southern outfit take you for a rock
and roll ride you won't soon forget.
Decoration Day is out now on New West Records.
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