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Album Details

• Artist: Drive-By Truckers
• Album: Decoration Day
• Label: New West
• Year of Release: 2003
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2004-01-28

Although it was on my wish list for a couple of years, the Drive-By Truckers' album Southern Rock Opera was never heard by this critic's ears. Sad, I know but that's the truth. So for me, Decoration Day is an introduction to the critically acclaimed Drive-By Truckers. I knew that this band was a bit of an anomaly with their Lynyrd Skynyrd influences, mixing rock and southern country but I don't think I was even prepared for the next hour. Decoration Day opens up with "The Deeper In" and it starts out with the twangiest accent ever singing "By the time you were born there were four other siblings / with your mama waiting, your daddy in jail", carrying on with "old enough to know better". I knew I was in for a mighty nice treat. It's been a long time since I have been treated to a fantastic americana album. Jay Farrar hasn't really been delivering the goods lately and I have pretty much written off Ryan Adams. The rock side of things kicks in right away too with "Sink Hole", a rollicking Texas beat to it that picks up your spirit. Not only are the songs catchy but the lyrics are well written and thought out rather than just standard fare. The songs are rock but with the southern feel to them. To top it off, there really isn't a filler song on the hour long album. I wish I heard this album before I compiled my 2003 top albums list. Drive-By Truckers would definitely be on it. Could this be the start of a new trend? I am heading down to pick up a copy of Southern Rock Opera right now.

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