The Drive-By Truckers have been producing memorable albums for a few years now, but the arrival of ‘Brighter Than Creation’s Dark’ makes a real statement; it’s a massively varied Southern gothic country/folk/rock n roll masterpiece with 19 songs adding up to over 75 minutes of great songs.
Although the band continues its notorious 3-guitar approach, and there a couple of tracks that are very full on, this album has some of the most considered and quiet songs the band have ever recorded.
As you’d expect with a 19 song album, the writing credits are shared amongst the members (Patterson Hood contributes 9 songs to the album, Mike Cooley 7, and there are 3 from Shonna Tucker.
Stylistically the songs run from old-timey sounding alt-Country songs, to quiet folky tracks and right through to the layered guitar numbers – while the guitar approach may sound a little one dimensional, the songs are multi-faceted with a huge variety of instruments, notably some excellent banjo, and some great keyboards from the ever reliable Spooner Oldham.
The DBTs present songs with a real sense of place and with strong characters, their lyrics often revolve around characters, often misfits, drifters or criminals trying to survive in economically-depressed small towns of the South. There are some stunning songs amongst the 19 here, the highlights being ‘Bob’m ‘Self Destructive Zones’ and ‘Perfect Timing’
While ‘Brighter than Creation’s Dark’ may be a little too rock n roll for some, those with an open mind and a Catholic taste will find this to be a massively rewarding disc.
Track listing
1 Two Daughters And A Beautiful Wife
2 3 Dimes Down
3 The Righteous Path
4 I'm Sorry Huston
5 Perfect Timing
6 Daddy Needs A Drink
7 Self Destructive Zones
8 Bob
9 Home Field Advantage
10 The Opening Act
11 Lisa's Birthday
12 That Man I Shot
13 The Purgatory Line
14 The Home Front
15 Checkout Time In Vegas
16 You And Your Crystal Meth
17 Goode's Field Road
18 Ghost To Most
19 Monument Valley
