Drive-By Truckers Album: “Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008”

I must say that I am really impressed with this rarities album. This album is one or two songs from being a great "studio" album. What else excites me is that this oddities album takes me back to the time when the Truckers were making great records that made me feel like it was acceptable to be born and raised in the south. There are so many stereotypes that come along with being from the south but the Truckers wrote songs that made me feel like I was not the only one in my generation who found it difficult to be raised there. To me the last two albums were good but the lyrics seemed to lose their southern charm and they were written more for a wider audience. Lastly, it's great to hear a Jason Isbell song on a Drive by Truckers album. I have tried to like his solo albums but it's not the same as when he was with the Truckers when he too wrote songs about the southern way of life. This is album is absolutely worth getting.

How to review a bunch of scraps that compose a stronger meal than most? All I know is that after a few, DBT gets thrown on the stereo, and this collection is no exception. A cover of Petty? A cover of Zevon?...on the SAME disc? GOD. Says it all right there, I tell you what.

My upstairs neighbor is making a racket-it's NFL season after all. I sit here in my underwear on my 14th beer of the day with DBT. I'm a rich man.

The last time we'll ever hear Isbell/Patterson/Cooley on the same disc...and it's beautiful.

This is essential for any DBT fan. There is no reason for some verbose review of this album. One just needs to buy it. Everyone is different in their musical taste. Drop less than $10 and you'll be happy. Don't rely on some jackleg like me. Trust your ears and heart.

So, I have to admit, I bought Gangsterbilly because of a review I remembered reading in Maxim, and the cover is hilarious, and I had a $10 store credit, and I truly think that Drive by Truckers is a fantastic band. And even though sometimes rarities and b-sides albums are mediocre, there are some great moments. Big Horse and Little Pony is a pretty song, their cover of Mama Bake a Pie is worth the price alone, and a nice cover of Play it All Night Long, and the out take Great Car Dealer War were a cut above. I'm looking forward to their next album, but this will do in the interim.

This is a must-have for any fan of DBT. A collection of outtakes, covers and rarities from the best era of the band.