Drive-By Truckers - American band

Drive-By Truckers
American Band
2016
Spotify

Drive-By Truckers have made an entire career out of seeming to not give a shit while really giving a shit. What I mean is that they so effortlessly are able to convey ideas and themes in their music that it often seems like they aren't even trying. Being cool is just natural on them and that is why American Band their 11th studio album feels so good. The Truckers have called this a protest record and when you hear the lyrics the intent is quite straightforward. Song writers Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley are in a word, blunt on this album throwing any kind of subtlety out the window. Where in the past this might hurt the songs it feels like just the thing we need. The politics are front and center throughout American Band and it is the first record since 1999 to not feature an album cover by Wes Freed. It feels off just like this entire fucking year has and it seems that the Truckers are more than aware of this. "Guns of Umpqua" has this really direct message yet also features this really sweet bell line towards the end and it just goes to show how wildly talented the Drive-By Truckers actually are. There may never have been a band that so perfectly fits the term "american band".

Hood is clearly the better vocalist though they do split time on this record. English Oceans the bands last record, was longer and in a lot of ways more self involved. There was a great deal of exploration on that record where here it is no bullshit straight to the point. While the writing may be blunt it still has some really poetic and interesting moments peppered in throughout. The Drive-By Truckers more than anything are songwriters at their heart. They also continue to prove to the world that The South is much more than guns, trucks and beers. Hood and Cooley's politics are very unexpected for two middle-aged white men, which makes their indictment of police brutality and gun violence all that more necessary. While the topics are heavy and the outlook bleak there is still this glimer of hope throughout the entire record reminding you that we just might be ok. Not seeing Wes Freed's artwork on the cover of a Truckers album is odd and uncomfortable but that really is the point; let's get uncomfortable so maybe we can start to figure this whole thing out. I think they are on to something.

8.3 out of 10