Southern Rock Opera

Мені сподобалось звучання, проте це було довго і трохи нудно. Можливо просто я була не надто в настрої

Listened to this twice today... first time for me and I thought it was great. Like intellectual southern rock. The spoken word songs are amazing. Some of the guitar riffs a bit basic. Production varies hugely between songs. But i really liked it and will check out more albums

Oh, this is good. Still working through it, it's ambitious and long. It is understandably quite derivative of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young, but the three guitar attack is right up my alley and the songwriting is great. Right up my alley at the moment as an alt-country loving middle-aged Dad rocker!

I have a lot of respect for this band and the journey behind making this record, but I find it a little bit confusing that Southern Rock Opera is considered better than the 4 albums that followed it. The songwriting here is quite raw and the concept never pops for me the way the stories and characters of later albums do. It was truly refreshing in 2001 to hear a band as versed in southern rock vernacular to address and pick apart Alabama’s troubled legacy, and it was stunning to hear a band that previously had been, arguably, a ‘joke’ band get serious and anthropological. But other than that, I think of this record more as the starting gun for the massive legacy of DBT, and not its pinnacle.

isso é tão estadunidense que dói. me poupe.

I know it’s not that good, but I found it fun! Favorite track: Women Without Whiskey

Liked Lynyrd Skynyrd and love the way these guys rock and thought they had something to say. Might be one of the discoveries on this project that will stick with me. Thought no way will I listen to something as long as this twice in one day but something drew me back to it. I added “72 (This Highway’s Mean) to the playlist. 5/5.

I really liked this one

Enjoyable guitar-work and it rocks, but long and scattered, hard to digest it all.

3.5 This was pretty fun

Bra. Jag var inte helt övertygad till en början, tänkte oj detta var ytterligare en sådan där evighetslång skiva. Visst, det är många låtar men det funkar. Historieberättande på hög nivå tycker jag, vilket gör den intressant. Speciellt låten Theee Great American Icons. Gillade Women Without Whiskey också. Kan ju säga att bandet Lynyrd Skynyrd nämns otaliga gånger genom albumet.Sista låten Angels and Fuselage är jättebra och ett fint avslut!

"Southern Rock Opera" is an enigma of an album. On one hand, I think how they portray the duality associated with being a southerner to be fascinating. The tracks "Ronnie and Neil" and "The Southern Thing" are the most interesting. I appreciate the story of it all. On the other hand, this album is over NINTY minutes long, offering little variety (especially on "Disc 2"), and constantly resting on the laurels of southern greats of the past (eg Lynyrd Skynyrd). By the end of the second disc I was so tuned out. Overall not garbage, and interesting perspectives, but would have been better to release a parred down version of disc 1 as the album. 2/5

A bit long

The Hamilton of the south. Much like the south, it has its moments, but mostly leaves me wanting more.

If you’re in the mood for redneck country music, this is a pretty good album. Not as good as Lynyrd Skynyrd for sure.

I like the concept here, but an hour and a half of singing about Lynyrd Skynyrd just doesn't hit for me.

I'd probably give it a 4 if it was a lot shorter.

Huge respect for the ambition, especially after reading how they funded it. 90 minutes on the deep south was a bit much for me to take in one listen, but I wouldn’t rule out going back and giving this another whirl at some point. 3 stars feels harsh, 4 stars feels high

I can understand its inclusion on the list while listening to it, but it doesn't necessarily do that much for me. I imagine not being American doesn't help.

Awesome for Sothern Rock. Yes, it goes on a little about Lynyrd Skynyrd. And Neil Young. Mostly Skynyrd. The music was great for southern rock, but if you don't like that, you're not gonna like this. I like this better than their other work. My Rating: 4/5

Drinking challenge: Take a shot every time they mention Lynyrd Skynyrd. Seriously, why are they so obsessed?

very long one puh, but it def. deserves to be on this list. liked the sound and always love it when there is a theme.

muy redneck

Long Road Album

It seems like they're trying real hard. And it's not bad per se. I think some of it's even smart. It sounds pretty generic tho. There's probably sthg more that I'd get if I gave it some more spins. It's not interesting enough to want more spins tho. Two stars

I don't think this needed to be a double album, midway through the second album MY voice started to hurt. I learned a lot about the history of Southern Rock as well as the state of Alabama, so I guess I'm smarter than I was before I listened. It was fine, nothing too special.... I don't know, I'm tired

Not for me

Bastante guapo y largo

What a cool fucking band, broad swings, and many directions twang Indy Southern rock they do it all

Alt country bliss

Like all double albums this one should have been condensed into a single album. I enjoyed the first one more than the second. I liked the music and lyrics, but it often seemed to verge on the parody side more often than not. I don’t know if that was their intention.

This was country rock but the rock side of things was a lot better than usual, I did unexpectedly enjoy a good chunk of this. Particularly liked the spoken singing style one which I was shocked wasn't the last track of the album, instead it was just halfway through side one. It wasn't good enough for a double album mind and while there weren't many songs that were too country z there were a good few that were just a bit bland. Loads better than expected, overall okay.

Rang hollow, although perhaps I was expecting Outlaw Country. A pleasant distraction, but nothing more. No depth.

What a strange album. I'm not sure how I feel about a southern rock opera, but I don't like concept albums as a rule anyway. It's too long and as much as I enjoy Lynyrd Skynyrd, I'm not sure I need them to be mentioned in nearly every track! Neil young gets a few mentions too. There were some bits that I thought were quite good though. Think my favourite was "three great Alabama icons". It's too long too 2.5

It’s a long one but it goes by pretty fast. Definitely will revisit.

They're clearly obsessed with Lynyrd Skynyrd ! The last song slaps tho

С претензией на говно

This sounds like a band lab-grown to soundtrack a rodeo parking lot. Even in the most ideal setting: a multi-day bender, drunk in a dive bar, hearing them live…I’d still fucking hate it.

I was having a hard time with this one, but it redeemed itself a little bit as it went on. Some songs rock, others have annoying talking or vocals that just don't gel with me. Is it too long? Yes, but I try not to let that color my reviews with my kneejerk reaction. Kelly Hogan's vocals were a welcome respite on Cassie's Brother

Pretty good, and an interesting story.

Does what it says on the tin. Sweeping southern gothic on an epic scale: love, death, sweat, guns, women, shitty politics, racism, and the Devil. Pretty damn righteous. Best: Ronnie and Neil Wallace Zip City Let There Be Rock Shut Up and Get On the Plane

Better than the actual Lynyrd Skynyrd album on the list, at least. Still didn’t need to be a double album, though.

Can’t say the reviews have got me particularly excited and 90 minutes is quite the commitment. Let’s see… “Hey AI, can you give me a country rock album from the Deep South, think bottles of bud, trucks and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Grade 1 instrument level. Thanks” Also, SIX years in the making?!? Kinda cute that it’s split into two acts for each CD. I guess it does what it’s meant to do, genre wise, but the end product just falls so short for me. I usually give 3.5 to things that don’t land for me but are done well for their genre. I don’t think this even meets the latter. 3* and being generous.

Listened to 2/3rds of it. Damn, should have listened sooner. Knew some of the main songs, but missed all the story telling.

It's really wonderfully written and performed. It's way too long, but there's some brilliance in here

Not really sure about this one. It just did nothing for me either way. It was so background and dull, and I wanted to like it. But I also didn't dislike it. I dunno, might need another few plays through, but it's so long that I can't be arsed with it.

Never could get into it. I should like it since it has all the elements of music I would like but just don’t think the songs are that good and the voice doesn’t do it for me

There ain't much to country living Sweat, piss, jizz and blood

Wide-ranging and powerful country.

Not sure why we needed a 90-minute album roleplaying a plane crash with reminding us that racism is bad

Classic sothern rock, good

I enjoyed this far more than I remembered. I had it on CD back in the day, but only a couple of tracks ever really stayed with me, so coming back to it felt a bit like rediscovering an old favourite you’d accidentally left on the shelf. The whole album has a real sense of scale and purpose, weaving together Southern history, rock mythology, and the band’s own wry storytelling. It’s tuneful, gutsy, and far more thoughtful than its rough‑and‑ready exterior might suggest. When “Let There Be Rock” kicked in, it genuinely gave me goosebumps—one of those perfect Drive‑By Truckers moments where raw nostalgia meets full-throttle energy. Absolutely worth the revisit.

For some reason, I love it. It's raw, melodic, authentic.

Fun listen, but countrys meh

It’s been a few weeks since I listened to this. I’m not a candidate for southern rock in general but I enjoyed this more contemporary band’s thoughtful and lyrical take, with just great band chemistry. I do look askance at the over abundance of lyrics trying to explain away Lynyrd Skynyrd and the South’s bad reputation in general. Still, the storytelling and music are strong. High 3

Southern Rock/Alt Country. Theres a lot of Steve Earle influence in here. Some tracks denote an interesting view in what it means to be southern and grapple with the history of racism and the association of southerners as racist. Notable tracks include Ronnie and Neil, 72, Dead Drunk and Naked, Zip City, Let There Be Rock, Women Without Whiskey, Plastic Flowers on the Highway, Life in the Factory, Angels and Fuselage.

Not for me today

Kind of exactly as expected. Very southern rock.

hey what the fuck?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RIIsLj6l9jQ Back in my day we used to do 1800 miles in a night listening to this. Thank you America (and of course Alabama) for this hick redneck music. Did this album really have to be an hour and a half? In all seriousness though, the actual message of the album is quite interesting. It's very political, and speaks to life in Alabama trying to fight stereotypes that every Alabaman is an ignorant raging racist. I guess that's probably why it's on this list. It was a hard listen, and far too long with

This was a pretty good album, I wasn't like totally blown away by it but it was good

Da ist genau das drin was draufsteht. Southern Rock. Ok, aber nicht stilprägend oder herausragend.

Years ago, a friend of mine from community college who has since passed away recommended this album to me. I listened to it and it didn't really resonate with me at the time. Listening to it today many years later I understand now why he loved it so much. Sometimes with music you just aren't ready for it at that particular point in your life but later on you get it. I really enjoyed this quite a bit. I hope wherever my buddy is he's got some good tunes.

Day 20 — Drive-By Truckers — Southern Rock Opera (2002) Listened: Mar 18–19, 2026 Genre: Southern Rock / Heartland Rock / Alternative Country Vibe: Fun, badass double album — scorching guitar riffs and solos carrying deeply literary lyrics about Southern identity, pride, contradiction and the mythology of Lynyrd Skynyrd Highlights: • Ronnie and Neil • 72 (This Highway’s Mean) • Dead, Drunk, and Naked • Guitar Man Upstairs • Birmingham • The Southern Thing • Let There Be Rock • Plastic Flowers On the Highway • Cassie’s Brother • Life In the Factory • Shut Up and Get On the Plane • Greenville to Baton Rouge • Angels and Fuselage Impression: Really fun badass double album. Had heard of Drive-By Truckers because of becoming a big Jason Isbell fan but this exceeded expectations. Great lyrics and the guitars rip throughout. A love letter to the South that doesn’t flinch from its contradictions. Rating: 4.5/5 Keep songs? Yes Revisit album? Probably regularly

If an album is 90 minutes long it is doomed to fail. Nothing can keep anyones attention for 90 minutes, certainly not forgettable song like these. The album cover is ugly as well.

4/10 The GREATEST artists ever struggled to make good double albums, so whatever possessed DBT to take it on was clearly a particularly mischievous imp. They don't have the songs or musical inspiration to fill a short single album, let alone 90 flippin minutes. And I like chugging Dad rock! Embarrassing.

You know that cool, drunk uncle of yours who plays guitar? Well, that's probably his high school band.

definitely worth more listening

Vokser alle sørstatsmenn opp med et generasjonelt Skynrd trauma? Anyways, dårlig produsert drittrock, langt som et vondt år og vokalisten kan ikke synge. Glad jeg ikke hørte det i helga, nå kan jeg i hvert fall late som om jeg fikk betalt for å høre på dette.

Liker egentlig Lynyrd Skynyrd, men syns det er cringe hver gang de nevnes her.

Plikt er det eneste jeg følte når jeg hørte dette albumet. Dette er skapt, og med en utrolig dårlig produksjon til tider.

It just drags on and on and on and on...

Accuracy of album title: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoyment of listening to 93 minutes of this nonsense: ⭐

I think this might take the prize for one of the most immersive albums on the list. I had to listen in two halves thanks to a lack of work-life balance but was immersed in their slacker country rock sound, telling stories of the 'duality of that southern thing' through the lens of Lynyrd Skynyrd. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, but feel it was more of an immersive experience than a collection of incredible songs. It is also very very long. Nevertheless, The Three Great Alabama Icons, and Angels and Fuselage are both outstanding.

Hell yeah brother lets fucking go. A double album with LEGS this is great, and it’s so heavily charged. 4.2/5.0 Best Song: Dead Drunk and Naked

I'll always love DBT. The meme at the moment is that it all music is sort of just Neil Young, but i think a lot of modern alt/country music is DBT (are who are just Neil Young), but i feel they still deserve a lot of praise. To me its a perfect album. It's a great story and i love that to DBT the entire history and culture of the south boils down to Lynard Skynard. Best Track: Zip City is one of the all time songs to me

Its good, like fine good. Not like anything to write home about. Quite tropy at times, but also very heartfelt and honest too. I love the instrumentations, enjoy thematic concepts, appreciate the story telling, and hate the vocals. This early oughts southern rock revival comes through as a little daft and uninspiring. But, it is in fact a sober look back on being raised in the south in the 1970s. Looked good in pictures but boy was it problematic. Also this was a bit ambitious, a double album. I land somewhere between 2 and 3 stars on this. But I gotta round up or down, and I'm rounding down.

Hybris! Det är min första tanke när jag lyssnar på denna skiva. Men vid den andra låten, Ronnie and Neil, tänker jag, "kanske de lyckas". Tycker det är en rätt bra låt. Men sen dröjer det läääänge innan jag känner så igen. Baton Rouge är bra. Finns ok element där emellan. Men satan vad slätstruket det är överlag. Bra röst. Men för trist. Pga hybris med att släppa en dubbel-rock opera-album blir betyget en tvåa!

Höga pretentioner och bitvis blir det lite töntigt och tröttsamt med all Lynard Skynard, men på det stora hela tycker jag ändå att det här var en bra skiva. Gillar det bluesrockiga och framförallt den ena sångaren med skrovliga rösten. Bästa låt: Ronnie and Niel

Fantastic storytelling across the entire album. Love the music but even more the ambitious themes and consistent story across the album

spoko country rock, ale kurde... tylko country rock

Album 74 Top 3 favorites off the album: Shut Up And Get On The Plane, Three Alabama Icons/Wallace, Guitar Man Upstairs I think the album title is funny, and I had to stop listening to this at work because I needed to actually tune into what the lyrics were. I'm going to cheat. I'm pairing two songs as one favorite because the commentary leading into them contributes a lot to the experience of the songs themselves. Case in point: Three Alabama Icons into Wallace. The variation in sound was good. Neutral leaning enjoying it for sure.

An interesting concept that musically falls short of its ambitions. I enjoy several moments on this album, particularly the moments of throat-shredding vocals and the monologue about George Wallace meeting Satan (himself a Southerner) in Hell, but I prefer the Truckers' tighter releases to this sprawling opera.

This was fine and few catchy tunes, but nothing great.

Interesting concept and some nuanced tongue in cheek lyrics. Liked the parts about Wallace - the Devil having a Wallace sticker on the back of his Cadillac got a chuckle. Just too long and too country for me. "I get 10 miles to the gallon. I ain't got no good intentions."

I enjoyed this one, thank you list! I was reminded a bit of Guy Forsythe (especially on Three Great Alabama Icons). I'll be keeping these guys on my rotation. Aaaalmost a 5...

Nothing wrong with it musically...just too much southern rock at one time.

3.5 Not my usual thing at all, way too long, but... I feel like this is the kind of album this list was made for. This is my 1,005th album and I can't really remember hearing anything similar to it, which is a good record. It's like the hillbilly version of Illinoise, but with a focus on Lynard Skynard instead of Chicago, and I'm all for it. The main detraction is there's no killer songs, the vast majority are pretty good, but not much more than that. Sure, they could have knocked an hour off, but then it might have made it a more generic country rock album. Cant say I'll be rushing back to it any time soon, but I'm glad it was on this list.

pretty good, very long

Reminded me of Queen someone

This is an interesting one. First redneck album on the list, but with apparently massive scope. Southern history, culture and traditions rolled into one double LP package. Despite all of that, this is quite boring and repetitive music, probably 2, 3 if I'm feeling generous. Rated 2.5 on RYM.

Solid and different

This is sort of a weird album. There are some interesting tracks. Then there's some songs that aren't really even songs. Three Great Alabama Icons was a dissertation loosely set to music about George Wallace. As a piece of art, this album is interesting and possibly has a message to tell. As a piece of music, it doesn't lend itself to repeat listens.

You'd be forgiven for not expecting much from Drive-By Truckers when this album was first released. Their sound is heavy-handed and abrasive, especially when Patterson Hood fills the lead vocal role, and their first two albums, Gangstabilly and Pizza Deliverance, included songs titled Buttholeville and The President's Penis Is Missing. So I could imagine the surprise when they followed these early entries up with a double album reflecting on the South's relationship with its racist past and the Lost Cause narrative, partially told through the lens of Lynyrd Skynyrd's career and demise. As would be expected for a rock opera where the hero follows Ronnie Van Zant's path, the sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd is inescapable throughout this album, while DBT inject their own menacing feel and subject matter. In keeping with the band's typical approach, there are plenty of rough edges that align with the tales of dead-end manufacturing jobs, addiction, and crime that run through the less political tracks. While there are a few musical detours that could have been cut (which double album doesn't have at least one?), the band's take on Southern rock provides an ideal backdrop for the album's exploration of the Southern character. As a concept album, this is an ambitious project that the band pulled off with a maturity of perspective that doesn't come through on their previous work. While the second half of the album retraces the rise and tragic fall of Skynyrd and Ronnie Van Zant in a series of increasingly hectic and funny tracks, a few songs on the first half pull most of the weight for the album as commentary. The most interesting of these is The Southern Thing, an aggressive rocker that attempts to answer the question of what Southern pride or heritage is all about. Taken on their own, lyrics like "It's a little about some rebels but it ain't about the past" could be taken to trade in Lost Cause mythology, resulting in the band not performing the song live anymore. But plenty of other songs on the album reckon with and denounce the racism embraced by those like George Wallace. What we're left with is the "Duality of the Southern Thing" - an overarching internal contradiction that explains how a man’s public critic can serve as his pallbearer, how 90% of black Alabamans voted for the man who embodied segregation, and ultimately, how you can recognize the troubled past and present of a place while also loving it. In more recent years, the more I have seen from politicians on a national scale, exploring and embracing these contradictions has become a prescient example that I may need to become more acquainted with.

boring ass watered down temu lynyrd skynyrd sans any form of talent

I wonder if these guys drew any inspiration from Skynyrd.

a band I like, an album I don't

I'm all for fusion but maybe opera and southern rock aren't good candidates.

I appreciate the ambitious nature, and it does really love the south. Maybe too much

I made it a couple songs in and then heard the line “the south will rise again”. No, no I don’t think it will. Fuck this shit. 0/10

This had me Dead, Drunk, and Naked out by Zip City.

This was so southern rock sounding that it almost didn’t feel serious. The length is horrid for nothing to stand out. Not interesting, southern rock is good but this just felt like hmm. Not unlistenable but I think I could’ve die without knowing this exists

Zone out a fair bit. Too long for what it's worth. Good to listen to it once and peek into the southern culture but that's it. Three great Alabama icons was the most interesting one.

meh, and long

Decent enough. Wouldn't play it again on my own accord though

It took me two days to get through it. It wasn’t awful, but nothing stood out as particularly memorable. Plastic Flowers in the Highway possibly came closest, but probably wouldn’t listen to that again. The whole record was just too long.

It was ok, I enjoyed some of it, but I did get bored by the end.

oooo driving a truck is so hard, my motorways are so manly

exhaust shaggers anonymous playlist

Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera (2001) On Day 70, Southern Rock Opera was 90 minutes of... absolutely nothing, as far as I'm concerned. Maybe it’s just because I’m African and the whole "Southern American" mythos doesn't resonate with me, but this was a total struggle. I couldn't find anything to cling to—no soul, no melody that stuck, just a long-winded project that felt completely irrelevant to my ears. It’s a 1/5, and I’m more than happy to leave this one behind.

Inconsistent and definitely too long. There were some decent songs but nothing that really stuck with me. There was stretch where they were really starting to dig into the "duality of the Southern Thing" that I thought might have promise, but then it ended up kind of just fizzling out and turning into more generic 00s alt rock country.

I liked this album. I just think it could have been half an hour shorter. Did we really need three songs in a row about George Wallace? Feels like they could have got the point across in one. The style is entertaining and fits within that 70’s southern rock theme. Favorite songs were Ronnie And Neil, Zip City, Let There Be Rock, and Plastic Flowers On The Highway.

Favorite track(s): an hour and a half of flavorless songwriting, derivative or outright bad vocals, and off-meter lyrics about how us Yankees don't understand Lynyrd Skynyrd or "the Southern Thing™". I couldn't wait long enough for the next exit off Highway 72.

Interesting. Would listen to again for sure.

Labeled well.

Gritty and rough, this is music that would definitely be pouring out of a yellow 1977 Firebird or a lifted mud-covered ford truck with a gun rack and a set of plastic truck nuts below bumper stickers faded past legibility.

Good

cooley songs were the only good ones, still a no for me

Rootin', rootin', rock and/or roll. There's probably some guy named Skeeter in the band.

Those dudes like Lynyrd Skynyrd a lot. Some redneck wanna-be rock, where some stuff is pretty cool, some - pretty random stuff made by bunch of drunk guys.

It's alright, but just because I really like rock. If one doesn't, then this album feels like it has nothing distinct to remember it by. For me, it's a default 3 just because I already enjoy the genre.

A few guys are making a rock opera about Lynyrd Skynyrd—that sounds like something between cool and kitschy... And that's exactly how it is; the album holds no surprises. How you rate the result depends heavily on your taste: if you like Southern blues rock, you'll enjoy Drive By Truckers, because they're a really tight band with a distinctive singer. If you're not into blues rock/alternative country, "Southern Rock Opera" will be a waste of your time. I like the blues rock sound but I'll only go with 3/5 for the total lack of originality.

terrible

Not as good as Newtopia Rising but decent enough background rock

Would have been a low 3, but 93 minutes of it can fuck off.

Serviceable

Honestly not very good, or memorable singer(s) - its kind of like a really good local band who loves southern rock, and puts all of their heart and energy into making a statement. I admire the ambition, they stated with a vision (apparently even before they were officially a band), and recorded other albums prior to finally completing this one. But jesus christ is it long. At a certain point it becomes an exercise in how many variations of the same chords you can write. Like they wrote a song, then decided to rewrite with different lyrics and a slightly different vocal, but kept both on the record. I just wasn’t blown away by it, there are some compelling moments buried in the 96 minute run time. I can respect the ambition and sure, I guess I’m glad I gave it a spin before I die.

This goes on a bit too long and never really grabs you by the short and curlys. I wouldn’t say it’s bad really, more just done better before and a bit bland.

To all of the Europeans not willing to spend 5 mins to google, listen and understand how complex and the DBT commentary is here, i got nothing for you. This record is not only a shining example of the powerful sounds of blues and southern rock + the muscle shoals history but tackles the complexity of southern history, music, vulture and politics with such careful regard and thought. I do not come from or live in the south, but someone who loves the sound of that slide guitar and appreciates when real political thought is expressed in music in a nuanced way, this record does it perfectly.

Right band, Wong album. Check out the dirty South or Decoration day.

actually a pretty good album, very surprised

A sort of country rock that I have never heard before. It's good and the lyrics are really good too. The music is honestly about what you would expect but the lyrics put them over the top for me, it's good stuff and I'm sure I will listen to it again.

I've never heard of this album or this band but I feel like I know what I'm getting into before it even starts. We'll see...90+ minutes seems like a big ask for an album with this cover. "Hey Lynyrd Skynyrd can we copy your homework?" "Yeah but change it a little so the teacher doesn't know." "Oh yeah. Totally." And then they go on to mention or reference Skynyrd in like every song. And Alabama. Honestly I guess the music isn't bad, it's what you'd expect for southern rock and is super derivative. But the lyrics and vocals sound like a parody. Songs about whiskey, trucks, good ol' boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd (of course) and more! Sometimes (usually) all in the same song. And good god why on earth does this album need to take up 90 minutes?!?! I think I might actually appreciate some of this if it was half the length but as it is, no it was a struggle before the first half was done. I was really close to turning this one off before it was done. I probably would have given this a generous 3 if it weren't so long. Knocking it down to 1.5/5

i liked it, and it's bluesy rock roots, but just too long. i think if they pared down the tracks, it would have been a killer album. sounded like the lead singer smoked twenty packs before the recording session.

I don't know what to make of this album. I REALLY like the guitars. I like the muddy production quality. The bass and drums are ok. Just the singing is atrocious, and almost impossible to get past. I do enjoy the southern nature of the lyrics, many references to the civil war which is unusual.

Enjoyed listening to new (for me) (non 70s) Southern Rock. Liked the Geo Wallace song. Some of it sounded like early stones

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this album. I actually found it whimsical at sometimes for example, the song, Wallace.

As soon as this popped up, I was excited to hear it. I like a lot of americana, alt-country and southern rock stuff. I like Jason Isbell and I know he was in this band for a short while - though it looks like this album was from before he was with them. And I already have 5 songs liked by them on Spotify - but none from this album. Thoughts while listening... Uh oh, this is not going well. I got through the whole Disc 1 and kept thinking that I'm not really liking any of this. Maybe the song "Birmingham" is sort of ok, sort of?? Onto Disc 2... First song "Let there be Rock", not good. "Plastic Flowers on the Highway" was ok. "Angels and Fuselage" is the best song on this - by far, with more interesting lyrics about the crash of a plane. It's from the perspective of someone on the plane (assuming this is the Skynyrd plane crash). The pace of the music lets the song breathe without the spastic sound of most of the songs. I just can't get into the fact that every song is about the state of Alabama or Lynyrd Skynyrd or both. If they want to glorify Skynyrd, at least write songs that are enjoyable to listen to - like Skynyrd. One of the songs is a spoken word history lesson of Alabama heavily focused on George Wallace. Ugh. Why did this have to be 2 discs? There just isn't enough good or interesting stuff on here. It has a feeling of a bunch of outtakes, or of a bad bar band rehearsing together. Unfortunately, I don't think I could even narrow it down to the 12 best songs for a 1 disc album & but it definitely shouldn't be a double album. The music is just very repetitive and has a generic southern sound that often sounds very sped up. Are they all seriously coked up or something?? And the multiple singers' voices aren't good. Artists like Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Black Crowes, Ryan Adams, Sturgill Simpson, Son Volt etc. all do this type of music SO MUCH better. I realize the Drive-By Truckers kicked Jason Isbell out because he was a troublesome drunk at the time - but Isbell writes thought provoking songs with good music - so good for him to get away from this. Upon relistening, I only liked 2 songs on Spotify (Plastic Flowers, Angels) which is pretty bad out of 20 songs. Liked songs on Spotify: 2/20 Rating: 1/5

Engaging & fun.

Never heard of this group before. Pretty decent album.

Not keen on Country music but I enjoyed this. Defo has elements of rock and some good guitaring.

Ye ha Rednecks rock

Absolutely abysmal. Had to turn it off after four songs. It would have been okay if he wasn’t singing

When listening to longer albums like this one, there are two criteria that I take into consideration in addition to the ones for all albums. One of them is about keeping the listener’s attention. This album has many different kinds of songs; some energetic, some more relaxed, some focusing on guitar solos, and so much more. Even the lyrics differed; some songs were more political, with racism being a key issue, while others talked about the less serious topics that many other southern music includes, especially country. The second additional criteria is the consistency of the songs’ quality. This album did this well, too; the many different kinds of songs that I mentioned above were all at least decent, and some were very good. Overall, I’ll always like softer rock, and I think this album fit that description. The album didn’t feel as long as it was (although it still felt long), and there was some good music.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this has a low overall rating, but I actually quite enjoyed it. I generally like more ambitious projects, and this tribute to Southern Rock was especially cool, since I’m a fan of the genre. While not so much of a song, the track about George Wallace was actual super interesting to listen to. Favorite Track: Ronnie and Neil

No way I’m listening to all that

I don't know if I can listen to this whole thing. I'll give it 3 stars.

Nails on a chalkboard. Why would I listen to this when I could just listen to Skynyrd?

love that one

2 out of 5. Surprisingly got a little better in the second half and the Alabama history lesson gave me something to think about.

"Proud of the glory, stare down the shame Duality of the southern thing" Some good ol' Southern Rock balancing a nuanced view of the history and culture it comes from. As a concept rock opera it lacks range. There are a few stand-out tracks. However, much of the album sounds similar and it could benefit from more variety. I don't dislike a single song but I doubt I'll be listening to the entire opera as a whole again.

Alright. A bit too long for my taste but liked the vocals and the story

2- Stars (4/15)

I found the Talkie parts about George Wallace and stuff interesting but I don’t really need a book report and it was at least twice as long as it needed to be competent playing though and not completely unpleasant.

Fun but kinda boring after a few songs.

This is one of those albums where I think that it's exactly what they hoped for. I think that this product is to them, and probably their fans, the best they could have done and achieved the vision they set out for. Unfortunately that vision was a crunk rock opera glazing Skynrd. Who cares, if your goal is to make the shiniest, stinkiest poop, it doesn't make your ass a genius.

There are 3 types of songs on this album 1) <bad thing about the south> BUT 2) Misadventures of doing something stupid in the south (ALABAMA) 3) You wouldn't understand because it's the south It really is the lyrical content that ruins this, otherwise it'd be a forgettable middling country rock album. Instead it's a really stereotypically poor country rock album. An hour and a half long one.

Didnt love this- it was an odd assortment of country songs. Too many cheesy and stereotypical, not enough bringining something new or fresh. Not sure if I am missing something, but not for me.

I fully appreciate that Lynyrd Skynyrd deserves their place in this challenge. I am far less convinced about a 94 minute rock opera from the early 2000s about Lynyrd Skynyrd and in the style of Lynyrd Skynyrd but not as good as Lynyrd Skynyrd. There's an audience for this and more power to them, but I really didn't feel like I needed to hear this one.

I couldn't wait to stop listening to this. I gave up halfway through. That seems like a good candidate for a 1 star.

I’m not sure what to think of this one. It seemed to shift between a parody of southern rock and southerners in general to a homage of Skynrd, to the point I didn’t know whether to laugh or take it seriously. Musically, there were some decent tracks, but the best way I can sum it up is that I’m glad I listened to it, but have no desire to listen to it again.

Love the guitar but hate the singer voice, You can clearly see the inspiration from Lynyrd Skynyrd, also as a European, the lyrics are so hard to understand, I'm pretty sure it's because of the accent but still ?? Could be featured in the "Cars" movie (the first one) or "Bolt" like in any Disney / Pixar movies that include a road trip.

I get it. Not all southeners. and racists aren't just in the south. Do I really need a double album that tells me this? It's too long and too much. I think we protest too much.

1.3

Tonight, as I had some urgent work to do I was listening to this album and it was the great as background music, because it's not distracting, it's very standard Southern rock/country rock, and pretty inoffensive music. Those 1.5 hours went by quickly and basically all the songs sounded pretty much the same. That being said, it's not the kind of music I would listen to with much pleasure, because it doesn't have much variety and I don't really feel the southern rock vibe either. I don't want to be harsh on this album, and I would give it 3 stars, but I'd rather round it down to 2, / 2+ as there were better 3-star albums on this list before that I enjoyed more.

Good enough to listen to twice.

3.5 I wasn’t excited to listen to a 90 minute double album by Drive-By Truckers that’s for sure, but ultimately, I enjoyed this. Now don’t get me wrong, it is seriously a 90 minute concept album about Lynyrd Skynyrd - like, every song is about them in some way - but I was surprised at the variety and musicianship. It’s one of those albums where I’m not sure I’m going to listen to it again, and, as a double album it still has a lot of the problems those usually do, but I enjoyed listening to it and see what they’re going for.

If it was half as long it’d be great. If every 2nd song didn’t sound the same it’d be great. But it’s neither of those things. I’d listen to Plastic Flowers on the Highway again, but that’s about it. Lucero is what this band is trying to be, but done far better.

Não conhecia. Foi uma boa surpresa.

The album had a cool sound but not one that I really enjoy.

Not the worst album on this list, but definitely will not be listening to again.

Surprisingly enjoyable! At first, the southern rock tone put me off a bit, admittedly without hearing or understanding the lyrics. Then the track Three Great Alabama Icons came on and it got me really looking at who the band is and what they had to say. Very interesting in their deliberate delivery and musical style. I relistened to the album then with a different perspective and it was definitely something different. Would listen again!

Not really my cup of tea. I stopped listening after the first disc because I didn’t feel the need to keep going. Some good guitar work and they are clearly talented, so it’s not entirely bad. Just not my style.

Rednecks singing non stop about Lynyrd Skynyrd and their youth. Kind of fun actually.

Thoroughly enjoyable, not sure if they were being satirical or serious but it has an interesting theatrical concept. Great guitars too

Extremely shocked at liking this, southern Rock band from the early 21st century that I'd never heard of is normally an automatic 2 but this record has brilliant theming, great music and especially great lyrics

Normally I ding long albums but this one was actually engaging and told a story.

Wow, Southern Rock Opera was horrible. Between the dreadfully stereotypical southern/country bullshit lyrics and insanely bland, untalented music, I'm surprised this album gets as much praise as it does. It's just one song after another about "such is the duality of the southern thang" and "Lynyrd Skynyrd this, Lynyrd Skynyrd that" and yet it somehow manages to be a full double album, clocking in at an hour and 33 minutes of this dreadful junk. The music is just a bunch of the most generic rock power chords and stiff, dry playing. This whole album sounds like it'd fit perfectly in some cruddy 2000's comedy about some looser band trying to make it big. Favorite Song: None

The best rock operas always do an incredible job at keeping me captivated and invested in the story. This one sort of manages that for the first few songs, but then it does get pretty boring pretty quickly. I get that the right wing butt rock sound is ironic, but when it's that constant for that long it does get hard to ignore the irony.

These guys are obviously really big fans of 70s southern rock music. They're just not very good at copying that music themselves. For all this went on for over 90 minutes, there was very little of interest to be found, no stand out solos or catchy tunes, just plodding and redundant songs. It's too dull to give any more than two stars I feel.

There's a fair few reasons to dislike this USA at the moment. I'll add this to the list.

Es ist ein kraftvolles Doppelalbum, das Southern Rock, Alternative Country und politisch‑kulturelle Reflexionen beeindruckend miteinander verbindet. Besonders stark ist die erzählerische Tiefe: Die Band verwebt persönliche Geschichten, Südstaaten‑Mythologie und die Legende von Lynyrd Skynyrd zu einem vielschichtigen Konzeptwerk A. Musikalisch überzeugt das Album mit rauer Energie, markanten Gitarren und einer spürbaren Leidenschaft.

Crap

Honestly? I’d have disliked it less if it ended at track 12.

No.

I was not feeling the album and then there was a lyric about the South rising again so I turned it off

Buen comienzo, muy potente, tremendo bajo. Este es el rock que me gusta, con power y no demasiado distorsionado

not for me!

Bullshit

When I'm in a Lynyrd Skynyrd mentioning competition and this is my opponent 🙁

I gave up on this, wasn’t interested in this lousy shit

Kinda nice

Standouts Ronnie and Neil Cassie's Brother Shut Up and Get on the Plane

The guitar/music is fun in places, but maybe still feels predictable. I've not connected at all to the vocals or lyrics and it is a very long album.

Makes me glad I didn’t grow up in the Deep South

Long and boring

It starts off pretty interesting, with the spoken word track and some nice songwriting on the opening few tracks, but the further down the considerable tracklist you get the more threadbare the writing becomes - simple power chords, basic drums, one dimensional bass playing. It lacks finesse, flavour, or frankly - surprise. What starts off as quite charming soon becomes tedious. The most certainly did not have enough fuel in the tank for a double album.

Yeah I surprisingly really enjoyed Drive-By Truckers, I hope we get more of them on the list because they definitely have a 4 in them, going high 3 for this one as it is a little long and doesn’t all land with me It’s not my genre but they have real mastery over it. I like the characters, I like the guitar playing, and I think they’ve done something pretty solid conceptually here too. High 3.

56/1089 2.4889* Definitely not my kind of music. Southern Rock is a genre unto itself and this album follows the script precisely. I could see some of these tunes being included in the movie Roadhouse (or similar) during the lead up to fight scene or during a fight scene itself. Could also be heard while the protagonist overlooks "his" bar and grins, knowing that peace is kept and the customers are safe and happy. I enjoyed a few songs and listened to the album twice so it grew on me a bit. Still, not something I'd go back to but something I would recommend to someone who is onto country and/or western. Hits...dead, drink and naked, let there be rock

This did not need to be so long.

Rock ballads, but too country. 3/5

Wow, super weird! Definitely not what I would expect from a band in this genre. I wouldn't say that I loved it, but I have big respect for its uniqueness.

Really enjoyed

Like the cover art, this is a legible, sincere passion project, far more skilled than I could ever be, and yet, for the real world, not actually good. Great respect for their dedication to doing their (not very good) thing, from the relentless SOUTHern pedantry, to the crowd-sourcing, to the completely stupid 90'+4' length. Chase your dreams, ignore the haters.

whaaaaaa! wasn't expecting this to be on here! my uncle put me on them a bit ago. great album. edit: this was a great throwback. funnily enough, it's the same album the aforementioned uncle told me to listen to when he introduced me!

Nawww

Having two discs is crazy!

DNF. This is like a wish version of Skynard and I really dislike Skynard. They are trying to take this Southern Rock and make a liberal lean to it.. Cool but it's just not my jam.. I'm liberal leaning too.

This album is really good. Better than Skynyrd. The length is really what's keeping me from giving it 4 stars. I had a moment of "why is this even on the list," but it is a very very good example of modern southern rock. Not my favorite genre, but there are certainly things to appreciate.

A for effort, B for content.

dnf... not the type of country i enjoy... spoken word stuff was ok

Liked it a lot. Didn't know the band, but I like very much their style, their music. That southern rock, the voice and guitars. And most of the songs sound great. Probably deserves another listen. But I would rate it no doubt at least a 4.

This is way better than the reviews suggest score (currently 2.82) suggests, but then I do love rootsy, swampy, blues rock. Yes, it’s way too long and over indulgent, and there are too many times that it sounds like Mary Jane’s Last dance but fuck it, that’s a great tune and this is a good album.

Digging it. Like their vibe, like their sound, like their songs.

Nada de nada

Although not a great album, some of the music wasn’t too bad

Not for me

Hidden gem

Not my vibe

As an album: 4/5; as an opera: 5/5. It sounded quite run-of-the-mill when it started and I thought that would get boring quite quickly. Most of the albums on this list which have described themselves as a 'rock opera' have fallen foul of that (with the exception of 'Pink Floyd - The Wall'; NB: 'The Who - Tommy'). But actually, the narrative was really captivating. I loved hearing these guys stand up for the south, but also tell the story of it's ugly history (for example, on 'Wallace').

What in the fake bon jovi is this

This Southern Rock Opera album has such an interesting concept, but I fear Drive-By Truckers were too ambitious with their too long double album. The two sides of the album are disjointed, even though they tried to connect them. The album title is accurate, at the very least. And I enjoyed both concepts (contradictory Southern culture and mentality, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's story) enough. This album's genre is southern rock, in the vein of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but not as swampy so it sounds only inspired instead of a carbon copy. The choice to use spoken word to be understandable in "The Three Great Alabama Icons" was smart, and its execution forced the song's meaning upon the listener. The lyrics were funny (the "Free Bird" joke in the first track) or biting ("To the fucking rich man all poor people look the same" from "The Southern Thing"), but were rather plain without any nuance. "Dead, Drunk and Naked" (and the meaning behind it) amused me, but there was a point that Patterson Hood's vocals broke and it was cringe. The second half of the album serves as a nice memory to Lynyrd Skynyrd, and also to deceased bandmate Chris Quillen in "Plastic Flowers on the Highway." Drive-By Truckers created a concept album with significance and purpose. I think the album would have been stronger as two separate albums, or at least with sticking in one direction. The first half was stronger when the Drive-By Truckers had more to say. Still, Southern Rock Opera was catchy and I'll enjoy any album that denounces racism. 3.5

I wouldn't say I loved this, but I appreciated it as a concept. Though the story is told through the eyes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, it really is a fairly apt depiction of the average life in the south -- at least from my United States southern-adjacent point of view. I don't agree with nor condone American South sentimentality, but I do understand that for a lot of the people living it, things are muddled or ingrained without them even realizing it, and this album does a good job of painting that perspective. Fortunately, the album also speaks on leaving the bubble of the South and seeing the rest of the country's perspective. Really, I appreciated this more as a concept than I did the actual music.

not my thing

Not quite my thing. Too much guitar grunge

the first two songs were pretty good but the rest hell nah

OK.

um sure!

not as bad as expected but still not good

This is an overlong ode to Lynyrd Skynyrd. I'm not sure why its on this list. While it has some decent tracks and a fair amount of diversity, it seems to all be made in the vein of 70s and 80s southern rock and country. What makes this unique?

This album seems a like cool unique idea, I love the album cover which helps set the mood; gives off great vibes. The lyrics seem quite thought-out. I'm not sure how much sarcasm is supposed to be on here, it seems at times it's mocking southern culture whilst other times it seems to be supportive of being from a southern background. Maybe it just hates the bad of the south, and wants only good whilst acknowledging some bad things definitely have happened. I saw it was 90 minutes long, It feel quicker than that - Act I at least - it did start to drag during Act II, especially the second half. Highlight Song/s: "72 (This Highway's Mean)", "Guitar Man Upstairs", "Three Great Alabama Icons" and "Life in the Factory"

I liked this more than I thought I would, but not all the (multiple) vocalists were equally to my taste, and it went on far too long; distilled down to a single 45-minute album, this might have got a four.

Definitely a band I respect. I think as I grow older and wiser, I find this kind of music hits harder. It could be the old man drawls. The americana of it. Just also the fact that these guys really do feel like a working band. As a full album, it can blur between just fine and then some actual rockers but I've enjoyed so many random singles over the years from these guys that this is pretty solid.

Cool, rockier than I expected

I liked it! True rock and roll and i love their accent. Its so funny :)

As stated in the title it is southern rock, heavy on the country aspect with some rock-a-billy sprinkled in. There are some really good songs and some, spoken word numbers, that I just couldn't get into. I thought the second album really picked up and maintained its momentum. As a whole it feels bloated, remove about half the songs and this would have been a killer album.

An absolute failure and probably an inspiration for hacky, pandering country acts of the 2000s

I can’t believe I’m listening to an hour and a half of this. I’ve been ready to turn it off since the first song. So much talk of Alabama. Are they trying to make non-Southerners like it? They’ve gone about it in the wrong way. Or, more likely, they’re telling white boys like themselves that it’s ok to like Alabama even if they don’t like football, the legacy of George Wallace, or the racist appeal of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Oh and besides, everyone is racist everywhere so no biggie.

boring

Honestly fucked with this way more than I thought I would. WAYYYYY too American though, please tone it down…

Wasn't a big fan of this one unfortunately

Nope. Just nope.

an interesting POV from a southerner. especially about Wallace. never really considered the later chunk of his live regretting and redeeming himself for his earlier more public claim to fame. 2/5

It’s funny cuz it sounds like literal truck drivers would sing and listen to. I’m no truck driver so this wasn’t my thing. Sounds like country rock? Dead, drunk and naked song is hilarious. What is this lyrics. The album feels incoherent but I feel like the songs have a theme…they get tedious after listening to them after 1/3 of the song. Idk feels repetitive and I feel like I’m over it and ready for the next song. Also these songs are avg 5 minutes long! No wonder I am getting bored. 🥱 also just boring lyrics. Nah not a big fan. 1/5

A 90 minute album is a tough sell. A 90 minute rock opera about Lynyrd Skynyrd and life in the south is even tougher. There are a few decent songs here but most aren’t that good. The best ones are the spoken poem/songs and not where the lead singer is trying to sing. Maybe this would be better if I grew up in the south or like Lynyrd Skynyrd, but neither of those are true and this album isn’t really good enough to cross cultural boundaries

First time intentionally listening to country rock/ alt country. I appreciate the guitar lines and digestible melodies, but not sure if I like the genre overall

this is good stuff. I can see getting into them. 4/5

Surprisingly quite decent imo. Had some actually catchy riffs and really fun songs. Drags a bit, obviously. Not exactly something for me, but I can respect it. 3.5

I can see why people hate this. I think it’s very ok, but it is overlong. Wouldn’t put this one back on.

There's something about Drive-By Truckers that has the foundations of a great band, but lacks that certain something to be a memorable Alt-Country group. Vocals aren't especially memorable, and there's no great break-out guitar solos and thrashing over the course of 2 disks. The writing is great here though -- showcasing some gifted storytelling. I dunno...I didn't hate it, but I'll probably never come back to this.

Good but not great, A few good tunes

As someone who as ill advisedly released a double album i feel qualified to say there are very few records that should be double albums. Very, very few. And this isn't one. My favourite thing about this band is Jason Isbell - and he hadn't joined them yet. 90+ mins for an album is usually a slog and this is no exception.

Good start. I love me a talk song. I’d slot this along the realms of Dinosaur Jr, 54.40 and Wilco. Splash some country in there and you’re good to go. Oh and the Flaming Lips. The vocals are a little weak at times. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Fortunately it doesn’t affect my rating of this album. And it’s so so close to a 5 star. So close. I tried. I really did. Choice cut: Days of Graduation

Interesting story but musically not for me

I could write a page or two on this album. It’s genius. I’ve seen them play it straight through and seen them play the songs separately may many times. I understand if the music isn’t for you, but I feel like a lot of the negative reviews, especially from the UK, don’t even understand the concept of this album, that it’s a “rock opera” if you will, telling the story of the 1970’s south through the lens of a Skynyrd fan and weaving their story into the fabric of the time. It’s not a celebration of George Wallace and those times, but more of an apology / history lesson, from a Birds Eye view. 4.5

Listened Before? N Man, this thing started out so strong! The entirety of Disc 1 was really getting me. I like the mixture of humor, history, and country-rock. That being said.... this is WAY too long (as many others have said). Disc 2 should have been a different album, or never released. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Ronnie And Neil

Southern Rock / Alternative Country concept album about growing up in the Southern United States. Obvious comparison is with the band's heroes Lynyrd Skynyrd, but they're not as good.

Good old southern rock.

I liked it but way too long

Bodacious dude at times. Other times they really want to be Lou Reed, Tom Petty, the Stones and even Tom Waits at the opening. This is, though, monotonous, long, and does not justify inclusion in a greatest albums list.

Honnêtement, je l'ai pas finit. J'ai écouté quatre titres, mais ça m'a pas donné envie de continuer.

After a few listens, I'm still not quite sure what this is. Is it a concept album? Is it a soundtrack to a film or play? Is it an educational experience? Is it a bit of self indulgence on the part of the Drive-By Truckers? I haven't a problem that they were moved to write an album about Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Wallace and the duality of the Southern US states. Ronnie and Neil kicks the album off well, with a properly beefed up guitar riff, but I lost interest pretty quickly after that. I'm just not sure why I needed to know about this. I'm glad you're not all racist, but I sort of guessed that anyway, just like I don't think you all sit on your porch and play Duelling Banjos. Not bad, but I won't be listening to it again. A low 2

Nothing interesting here

Tough to see the appeal. Music is simple but scattered. Execution is sloppy. Lyrics are lame and vocals worse

This feels like something I should like on paper—a Southern rock opera would be in my wheelhouse. But it’s so damn long and they’re so obsessed with Skynyrd. I get that’s the entire idea but I do not want to hear someone make a movie-length album about a totally different band.

Pre-Jason Isbell days, and I think it's their best album. I got to see them play this album in its entirety last summer at Mercury Ballroom, awesome night! Great show!

Kinda basic

8 - GOOD

way too country. can't do it. saved: n/a.

I've yet to get a double album on this list that hasn't bored me at some point. They're all get too tedious because they're unnecessarily long. This one is nothing different There were some good bits of this one, with my favourite song being Ronnie and Neil, being so good it gave me such foolishly high aspirations for the rest of the album. I hate the vocals, and the exaggerated glazing of Lynyrd Skynyrd is so annoying. The music itself wasn't anything special, which is criminal for a 90 minute long album.

I just want it to be over, this is so so bad

I thought this was going to be walrus shit. It was not. It was levels above walrus shit and listenable. His voice isn't great tho.

Theoretically there's some sort of postmodern narrative about the American South in the middle of all the Lynyrd Skynyrd cosplay on this record, but because the band doesn't do anything transformative with the source material (i.e. Southern Rock), all this amounts to is a second-hand version of music that ain't particularly interesting to start out with. Just because they slapped some ironic lyrics on top of it doesn't make it any more compelling to listen to.

6/10 - honestly not bad, my 23m ill son feel asleep to this happily so gets a small bump

This took a little getting used to but I kinda dug it. An interesting story ran through the album

I thought we'd gotten past the rock opera concept album.

Going with a 3 here. I like the music, but do we need a 90 minutes about Lynyrd Skynyrd and the politics of the south in the 70's?

Bad. Real bad.

love the guitar tone. too long for a genre that i admittedly dislike.

Do you think this is what he actually sounds like? Or is this a bit?

This just didn’t work for me at all

Too long and too country

It's not awful, but it's not great. Found it listenable, but forgettable.

like more than a few dudes in athens, this is rambling, pretentious, pretty progressive, and a little too concerned with projecting a preconceived idea of "southernness." a pack of dudes I'd be happy to have rolling around my town being the local color, but i wouldn't want to hang out with too much, and somehow I'm always busy every night they have a gig

Meh. Done many times before.

Not my thing but I can tell it’s really well done

This album is not bad at all... nor good at all. It's (just) nice. I'm not going to lie, I liked it, but not at the extent to love it. I've enjoyed some songs, other felt really insipid and forced. This album has fun music on it sometimes but it also tries to be deep in some sense I don't understand. Some songs are so long and uninteresting that I wonder why it has to be a double disc album if they could have chosen some nice tracks and make something more interesting. But, instead, the album is so long that, at some point, you've listened to all it has to offer (and there are still another ten songs more that don't add nothing new).

I love Drive-by Truckers so it was nice to see them crop up here. Wrong album though! This was the record that got them some attention, the concept double album that gave the critics lots to write about, but I’ve never really clicked with it. It’s lumpy southern rock by a great band one album away from really hitting their stride with Decoration Day, followed by The Dirty South - both records towering head and shoulders above this one. There’s still a lot to love here but there’s too much of it and the quality is inconsistent. A great band though, and some of the best live shows I’ve ever seen.

I feel like I have never quite "got" Drive-by Truckers. They have some (many) brilliant tunes. They are, of course, very much of their place. I struggle with an album of this mighty length. They feel like a theme tune to some of my favourite novels by JR Lonsdale (yes I know that's more Texas but...) but I am afraid it has some weaker moments. I think with a bit more careful choice and it would be a more complete, and better, album. But it is still pretty impressive album. Perhaps I should have seen them live?

Not my jam

Really quite good

It’s a little frustrating that Drive-By Truckers weren’t a bigger deal in the Country demographic. They were too clever for the dumb-dumbs chugging Toby Keith’s dribble I suppose. Patterson Hood and Jason Isbell have yarn for days and some damn great music to accompany it. Women Without Whiskey is one of the greatest Country tunes ever written and I will spit on anyone’s shoe who happens to get upset with that claim. This is a bunch of great stories with some sick guitar and it rips. 4 stars

Quite fun blues but not something I’d listen to again

In the lineage of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blue Öyster Cult, Drive-By Truckers left me somewhat underwhelmed, though not without a few welcome surprises. Modern southern rock rarely speaks to me. It often feels over-produced, compressed to the point of flatness, and stripped of the grit that once made the genre compelling. Most contemporary southern rock records would, for me, struggle to rise above one or two stars. Southern Rock Opera managed to avoid some of those pitfalls. There was a touch of rawness here, a less suffocated sound, which caught me off guard in a positive way. The songwriting is still fairly straightforward and simple, but at least it breathes a little. Overall, it lands at a solid two stars.

Another double album. Another meh experience. They’re good, sure, but hardly anyone is great for two whole discs.

When you sing like Lemmy and think you're the next Lynard Skynard that sounds like Pantera and you create a rock opera that you think is Tommy. It is not. 2/5

I really didn't want to listen to white trash music, especially not 1.5 hours of it. The singing is mediocre, it's giving local dive bar. Not worthy of this list. DNF, no ragrets.

6.5/10

3.5

alabama