Drive-By Truckers Album: “Gangstabilly [Remastered]”

The recording and the band on this CD are not so well polished and the line-up is not the same as the current DBT, but this is an excellent piece of work. The pedal-steel player (no longer with the band) does a great job and provides a flavor missing from the band's most recent efforts. There is a sense of spontaneity in this live-in-the-studio performance. The songs are well crafted, provocative and entertaining. The entire package strikes me as very genuine. These guys represent a substantial segment of the modern South, without affectation or posing. The rough edges of the production work well with the content of the text and the timbre of the tunes. This is one very fine CD.

Gangstabilly is one of those rare albums that is haunting and at the same time a wild good time. The 'Truckers don't mince words while handling subjects like wifebeating, living with AIDS and hero worship with humanity and humor.

What can't be escaped from listening to this record is the fact that this is one hell of a great band. It's a shame but I don't think Nashville could ever handle these guys. But if they can't, you should. By this CD. Support this band becuase it's hard as hell to find music this worthwhile.

In my mind, I seperate Gangstabilly and Pizza Deliverence from everything that was to come after... A different line-up and a different attitude. This was the first disc, and probably the most raw. You can tell that it was recorded in someone's house by a bunch of talented but young musicians. If you like DBT, I would recommend it, for sure. But you have to keep it in context- a lower budget fledgling band just starting to get fired up.

GREAT HARMONIES, OUTSTANDING GUITAR AND MANDOLIN, AND SOME LYRICS TO BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES! CHECK OUT "THE LIVING BUBBA" AND "LATE FOR CHURCH" AS PRIME EXAMPLES OF THE FUTURE OF NEW MUSIC!

I recently acquired the Drive By Truckers album, "GangstaBilly"

not bad,

not bad at all but not as good as some of their other albums.