Drive-By Truckers Album: “Big To-Do”

Right out the gate, the boys nail em', bang bang bang bang bang, like hittin' cans off a fence with a .22...then, being all Democratic, the boys give Shonna a shot...and she misses the thing completely. The boys don't laugh, cuz she tries real hard. Patterson nails another one, hands the gun over to Cooley. He grazes it, can don't fall over. Cooley had one eye closed and is half drunk, so it's okay. Patterson takes another shot...swats it in no time-makes it look easy as a matter of fact. He goes out on the range on his own a lot, murdered a man named Oscar actually. Hell of a job he did on that guy. Mr. Hood may be a killer, but he is a gentleman, so he gives Shonna another turn, hands her a shotgun this time, thinking it'll help her hit one of those damn cans. The fence takes a beatin', but I'll be damned if that PBR can ain't still sittin' there. They've been there all day, drinkin' and shootin' and whatnot, so the boys are gettin' a little weary, feelin' the buzz. As the sun sets, the cans don't even matter anymore. The stars are out, the cooler is about empty. Cooley shoots the moon and hits it. Life is good even when it's bad, cuz no matter how bad you got it, somebody has got it worse. It's all gonna end someday anyway...

...so here's the soundtrack, as imperfect and beautiful as life itself.

Drink up, DBT is back.

Mr. Neff filled the third guitar slot well, why the bitch'n? Now we can also catch Isbell's tour.

The introduction of keyboards on this album adds another layer of maturity to the overall sound.

Another great DBT album, Great to see these musicians expanding and refining their sound. Unless they record a "show-tune covers" album, I will likely continue my DBT collection.

This is a **great** new Truckers album. While the last "proper" (non-live, non-compilation) album, Brighter Than Creation's Dark, may have been a bit long and missed some of the punch of earlier efforts, The Big To-Do brings back the three-guitar attack with a more focused, rockin' album. Highlights include Birthday Boy (Cooley), After the Scene Dies (Hood), Santa Fe (Hood), Get Downtown (Cooley), and Fourth Night of My Drinking (Hood).

The Truckers do not have a clunker in their entire catalog. And their "perfecta trifecta" of Southern Rock Opera - Decoration Day - The Dirty South is as good as it gets, regardless of genre, type, theme, decade, whatever. After some key personnel changes over the last few years, the band seems to have hit its stride again. And for a band that has the bar set as high as the Truckers do, that's really saying something. It's time to head on down to The Big To-Do!

I'm a big trucker band and wasn't that impressed with Brighter than creations dark (DBTs last album). This one is really good though...the guitars are finally back.It isn't as good as Southern Rock Opera or Dirty South but I'd say it's as good or better than both Decoration Day and Blessing and a curse.

BTW if you can get your hands on alabama @$$ whuppin its really raw dbt.

I pre-ordered the vinyl package through the DBT website and got my package on the 15th. I have been listening to it nonstop since then. If you haven't heard the Truckers, you really should give them a spin. They transcend many genres and always provide plenty of soul mixed with interesting lyrics. The trading off of songwriting and singing helps keep every album eclectic and fresh. I discovered the Drive-By Truckers' Decoration Day in a record store in 2003 right after the birth of my son. He's six now and I own all of DBT's albums and look forward to each new one. The Big To-Do is among their best and worthy of a listen by anyone who loves music.