Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Look at that owl. He’s cool. Think about truckin’. That’s cool. This picture would probably live in my mind as the embodiment of mysterious coolness when I was like 6. It occurs to me like a forgotten memory of a picture book that I can’t quite place. And hey it came out when I was about that age. Go figure. Alert. I have HORRIBLE news for you, my loyal reader. This album is NINETY THREE MINUTES LONG. Ugh. Fire up that rig, hoss. We got a long haul in front of us. Days of Graduation - They graduate in the south? I kid. I think all of America sucks. I don’t discriminate based on region. Uhh what are we doing? Oh yeah. This is going to be like nu-metal country isn’t it? This is interesting so far actually. The harrowing car accident recollection narrated by Dale Gribble. Fun start. Ronnie and Neil - Ehh I hate these lyrics and this sounds like Kid Rock. That’s NOT good. Neil Young wasn’t talking about every person in a region. It’s so weird how people get so granular. “Man, they probably shouldn’t have killed people at a church because they were black. It’s also weird that this only happens in this one area with any frequency” “HEY THAT WASNT EVERYBODY, MY MEEMAW DOESNT HATE BLACK PEOPLE.” Shuuuut up. It’s a valid criticism of your society. If you’re taking it personally, maybe you need to do some introspection. I mean these guys sound like they’re generally on the right side of things here, but that’s when the kid rock criticism can take this song the rest of the way to the dumpster. 72 (This Highway’s Mean) - Listen to “Tombstone Every Mile” by Dick Curless for a real highway song. This is lame Garth Brooks music. Potentially penned by Cur Dickless. Oh my god this is horrible. Dead, Drunk and Naked - Well two outta three ain’t bad. Oh hey Brian Adams! Didn’t know you were featured on this. Another miasmic stinker from the depths of the horse manure drop off. Guitar Man Upstairs - This is arguably the most annoying moment so far. This “outlaw” “punk” stuff grates on me. This just feels so inauthentic. Birmingham - Why do they rotate vocalists? This guy SUCKS. “Stood them Yankees down.” You are aware that the Yankees were attempting to abolish SLAVERY, right? Like why do we still glorify the civil war as a point of local pride? I love being from Canada but I don’t celebrate that fact by recalling the extinction of the Beothuk people. That’s what all these people on the internet can’t understand. You can be proud of being from a place and acknowledge that it has some horrific, shameful events in its past. More than one thing can be true. Only one thing is true about this song though. It sucks. The Southern Thing - I mean they’re trying. Literally what I just spoke about. I still think it’s reductionist to be like “hey I didn’t own slaves, so I’m a good one.” Nobody is saying you’re bad for being from Alabama. If they are, they’re just as stupid. People criticize the American south in general for its segregation, slavery and lynching. The governments down there continue to perpetuate a lot of this. I’m sure there are people who are great. It’s societal. By the way, “hate’s the only thing my truck would wanna drag,” is just such a dumb line that somehow trivializes lynching. Maybe these guys have grown, but don’t spend ten tracks talking about how Alabama is great and you’re not racist. I didn’t assume you were. Ugh. I don’t know man. Three Great Alabama Icons - More Dale Gribble narration. I prefer these segments to the songs. Although this is MORE desperate “look at me I’m NOT RACIST.” It does turn cool as it sets up Satan torturing an old racist politician in hell. Wallace - Pearl Jam cover band sings about hell being populated by an Alabama politician. Fun idea. Abysmal song. Zip City - A lot of words here. Finally a change of theme. Weird “your brother is gay” line, but hey. Oh and his love interest is 15. At least he says he’s 17 in the song. Whatever. The lyrics are a swing and a miss for me and the music? Glad you asked. It’s abhorrent. Moved - This sounds like a song from one of the bands that inevitably crop up in mockumentary series like “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation.” Some douche character always has a horrible band that sounds exactly like this. That is a trope right? Oh. The rival band in School of Rock. That’s a definite comparison. Let There be Rock - This is literally that Kid Rock Sweet Home Alabama song that is just the worst song ever. I mean this song is better than that, but root canal surgery is better than that song. Road Cases - What is this? Why are you including a song about road cases on an album that is an hour and a half long? I ask so many questions that will never receive answers. Although I’m sure if I did ask, the response would be “hey I love rock and roll and here’s the thing, nobody in my family was racist, ok? I grew up in a liberal house and I LOVE Neil Young and also I don’t support killing people because of their race and neither do my friends.” WOW it was like talking to them directly. This song was infuriatingly pointless. Women Without Whiskey - Country Mad Libs that you find half-filled in a thrift store. Plastic Flowers on the Highway - Another boring instrumental, but for whatever reason the car accident songs are quite impactful. The lyrics were quite good here. Cassie’s Brother - I can’t describe how much I hate this song. From the lame white guy funk to the repeated refrain of “OoOOoO that boy is a funky” to the horrible feature from nameless female singer C. A true lowlight. Life in the Factory - It was the summer of ‘89. Shut Up and Get On the Plane - No. throw me out with the road cases. If I have to listen to any more of you dopes I’m going to eject myself. Greenville to Baton Rouge - This album is making me road trips, roads, road cases, and a whole myriad of other rhyming word association items that I can’t be bothered to formulate. Use your imagination for a change. Angels and Fuselage - I knew it. I knew this would be like 10 minutes. Always with these bands. The meaningful closer. I grew up in some heady times, but I wasn’t like the other kids, I had a brain, I had a vision. The south is broken and beautiful just like me and you. How close am I? Everything good about this album lives on the cover and is frozen in time as a monument to what could’ve been. This does not speak to me other than to say “Not all cops,” or whatever the message is behind defending the American south in the face of legitimate accusations. I don’t need to further explain any of my feelings on dealing with national criticism. I’m tired of writing about it. I hated this. Not country enough to be country, not punk enough to be punk, not good enough to be listenable. Never again shall I suffer the injustice that is the “Southern Rock Opera.” 0 HIGHLIGHTS: Remembering I’m not from the USA.
Alright music stretched incredibly thin. Love Three Great Alabama Icons, though it's less a song than a narrative.
#Rally Review - Day 2## Butt rock, but the kind you wipe your ass with. Jamie: i would rather listen to barbie on repeat
When you open with an obnoxious track it sets low expectations When you meander from there into mostly forgettable rock, I'm not gonna be offended but don't expect a great review When you keep referencing other music you're gonna start making me want to listen to something else When you make it 90 minutes long I eventually can't stomach this shit any longer and move on
BORING ass BUTT ROCK. hit SKIP old man this shit SUCKS!!!
Every time I heard a little twinkle of like a good riff or something coming in and thinking the album was gonna pick up a bit it would immediately come crashing down as soon as the lead singer finished his bowl of hot gravel and started belting on about some bullshit. Boring dogshit.
Genuinely beautiful, heartfelt and Sentimental. I did not expect this. My stoner mate who has probably abused every girlfriend he ever had and had to move back home after fucking up his life for the 3rd time recommended this album to me once. I didn't take it seriously, I thought he had moved onto crack instead of bongs. To be fair he has pretty good music taste. I hope he's doing alright, in the caravan in his parents backyard, smoking cones. He's a piece of shit but was a good mate in high school. That's kinda the feeling this album evokes. Its emotional and has similar vocals to Sun Kil Moon, a certain Southern melancholy. Sun Kil Moon is way sadder tho. This album has bargaining and feels like an early Modest mouse in that sense. But the south instead of the mid west. Throw about a dozen other influences into this thing and you might get close to this Epic. Especially Lyrnard Skyrnard who hangs over this album like a dark nostalgic cloud. Kinda like booting up the PS2 as an adult and remembering how you used to play it with your older brother who took his own life. Sweet, nostalgic and deeply Melancholic. Im not being melodramatic, that is actually what happened to my stoner mate who recommended me this album. I understand why he loved it. I think I love it too. Just not yet. I'll be back, just like Benji by Sun Kil Moon keeps pulling me back. I've listened to this album countless times since we got it. And im only scratching the surface of enjoyment for a great many of the tracks on this thing. 9/10
The album art here looks like the kind of stuff Napoleon Dynamite would draw in class if he grew up in West Texas instead of Idaho. Very much a kitchen sink concept of 'the south'. Fortunately I'm not American, and I imagine that I am unable to interface with this album in the intended way as a result. Therefore, I can only make an assessment of the musicality here. It is a rock album, that's for sure. Three Great Alabama Icons makes me think maybe the content of this album would have been better delivered in the medium of a coffee table book or an artsy doco. But it's an album, so here we are for an hour and a half. Frankly, I enjoyed this song a lot more than other stuff on here as it was an interesting story. This was mostly forgettable, maybe I would be kinder if I gave it more relistens but frankly a lot of this was competently-performed noise. A few standout tracks from a lot of white noise coupled with a long runtime does not make for a particularly enjoyable listen. Highlights: Dead, Drunk and Naked, Three Great Alabama Icons, Angels And Fuselage
okay, why not, I guess a bit lengthy.
Fuck it I kinda liked it
Something tells me these guys are from the Southern US. My sharp perception also senses some subtle Skynyrd influences.
Southern fried shit.
What a ride. Funny, sad, made me roll my eyes, made me nostalgic all at the same time. Three Great Alabama Icons was arresting in a way I haven’t experienced in so long. Will definitely listen again
I really don't know if I love or hate this album. Its interesting to have a song informing you about music in the south. Then followed by a song about the devil punishing a racist governor.
wow ok
This is really fun, wish I had some ol boys to go to the drive in on Saturday night to listen to this with..
"Southern Rock Opera" is the third studio album by American rock band Drive-by Truckers. Southern rock and alternative country are the Wiki-listed genres. That works. It's a double album that "imagines every topic through the context of everyday Sothern band Lynyrd Skynyrd" and "subject matters from politics to race to stadium rock." The band is Mike Cooley (guitar, vocals), Earl Hicks (bass), Patterson Hood (guitar, vocals), Rob Malone (guitar, vocals) and Brad Morgan (drums). The album was very well-received critically. "Days of Graduation" opens the album slowly with Patterson Hood talking with a Southern accent about high school graduation. Turned-downed guitars. There's a car accident and "Free bird" is still playing on the radio when the police arrive. Well, it's a long song. The next song "Ronnie and Neil" tells the story of the actual friendship between Neil Young and Ronnie Van Zant and that the feud between them was just in song. Southern duality is a major theme throughout this album. A big Neil Young-esque open. A driving song and Hood with his raspy vocals. Mike Cooley takes over lead vocals in "Zip City." Now this is Southern rock. A three guitar- layered assault. He's driving somewhere but he's got nowhere to go. A great, great song. They keep the heavy rock going in the second part on "Let There Be Rock." The song starts out slow and then explodes. Hood never saw the original Lynyrd Skynyrd but he saw AC/DC with Bon Scott. They slow it down in "Women Without Whiskey." An alcoholic anthem as Cooley singing about making a choice between a girl or liquor and, of course, the liquor wins. The album closes with "Angels and Fuselage." Another Neil Young start with slow, guitar strikes. Stark, haunting and powerful as Hood sings about being on the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane that's about to crash and he's scared shitless. Vocal harmonies and an epic guitar solo at the end. I love it when you're surprised in the positive way with an album. This album rips from start to finish. Great, layered guitars. Absolutely compelling lyrics covering politics, race, death, alcoholism, teenage alienation and multiple times examples of the Southern duality. The concept of the teenager loving music in the sports-crazed South in part I and the musician in a Lynyrd Skynyrd -style band in part II works. A big albums that succeeds. Come for the triple-guitar Southern rock assault and be compelled to stay by the lyrics and storytelling.
Nice.
Totalt ointressant
Jævleg langt
Like a lynard skynard tribute band playing lynard skynard rejected songs badly
Angels & fuselage and the three great alabama icons are stand out tracks.
Eugh. This isn’t good. It’s admirable, in a way, I think I like a lot of the ideas just not the execution. Hoo boy the execution. It really sounds like an amalgamation of every southern rock group without any of the edges. It’s also 90 fucking minutes long.
The torment is unending
אלבום מצוין. שירי רוק דרומיים מבוצעים באופן ממש טוב אולי האלבום קצת ארוך מדי - הייתי מסתדר עם אלבום של שעה ומעיף כמה שירים אבל סהכ האלבום ממש טוב ואין בו שירים לא טובים. שיר מועדף - The southern thing
I liked a lot of the tracks, but the same amount of tracks is forgetful. 2.5/5
Not my favorite style of music.
Super ambitious concept album with a clear peak around the end of act one ('The Three Great Alabama Icons' and 'Wallace'). Drive-By Truckers are an interesting group due to the contrast between the somewhat classic southern country rock sound and their politically charged lyrics. It works quite well, just not for the full 1.5 hours on Souther Rock Opera.
HUGE album by Drive-By Truckers. Dealing with both harsh political subjects, adolescence, idolization and life in the South it’s a monumental album that I’m surprised they manage to not lose track of along the way. The obvious highlight of Act One is the goosebump-inducing “Three Great Alabama Icons” (the “Fire Coming Out Of the Monkey’s Head” of southern rock) while the album’s closing track beautifully ends Act Two. Southern Rock Opera is dangerously long, but it’s worth the runtime.
2000. Pretty interesting to listen to a Country Opera type album. Definitely had a lot to say about the story of Lynard Skynyrd.
Wanted to like it because of the idea behind it and the fact that I like Southern rock, but this is over 90 minutes of music which sounds almost exactly the same and there's a lack of energy and groove there as well, loses points for being too long would have been a 3 if it was a single album
Whoa I'd heard of Drive-By Truckers only in passing for years but never, ever heard a single thing of theirs. At least not knowingly. So when this came up, I had no idea what to expect. But with the words "Rock Opera" involved, I was definitely intrigued. Some of my favorite albums (American Idiot, Tommy, Quadrophenia) are Rock Operas, so I was definitely interested to see a Southern Rock take on one. And I was not at all disappointed. This is a masterpiece. What an intriguing approach to an album - explore the roots and identities of Southern Rock through the tragic loss of members of the genre's biggest and most well-known band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Deconstruct the myth, explore the implications of the culture, and seek to understand the heroes behind those legends better. I couldn't have asked for much more, honestly. I didn't even know I wanted this but here it is. But that's the lyrical content. What's the music like? It's amazing. It embodies the 70's Southern Rock vibes and arrangements, while still remaining grounded in it's more modern production and the goal of the album. It never ventures into parody or trying too hard to be something it isn't. The band clearly knows the genre inside and out, probably having grown up worshiping the figures they're singing about. This is an album that could only have been written by people who did just that. It's a work of passion, a work created by people who clearly have this genre and these stories running through the veins as easily as blood does. I love this album, and I appreciate the band for being so dedicated and passionate about it to put this into the world. Also, the idea of a song where the Devil tells everyone in hell that George Wallace is coming is so delightfully diabolical and such a great takedown of an awful man that I can't help but love them for recording it. If there's ever something you're that passionate about, something you know like the back of your hand with your eyes closed, please channel that into something meaningful. Write a personal essay, write a song, record a podcast, produce some kind of art to express yourself. The world is better when people are able to do that. It brings fresh, meaningful ideas to the world and helps educate others in perspectives they never would have otherwise accessed. That is what they did here, and it shows. Five stars. Standout Tracks: Days of Graduation, Ronnie and Neil, Guitar Man Upstairs, Three Great Alabama Icons, Wallace, Let There Be Rock, Plastic Flowers on the Highway, Life in the Factory, Shut Up and Get on the Plane, Greenville to Baton Rouge, Angels and Fuselage
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🦉🛑🛣️ Production: 💩😐👎 Music: 🥃🚗💥 Rating: 🍺/5
Pretty good Southern rock, if you like that kind of thing.
This album is a lot more self-reflective and critical of the culture and traditions it comes from than people are giving it credit for. They’re legit southern rockers with a deep connection to the history (I think Patterson’s dad was an engineer at Mussel Shoals studio?) but they don’t ignore the shameful parts of the history.
Czemu ta płyta jest taka długa? I czemu jest na tej liście? Przecież ten zespół śpiewa w kółko o zespołach dużo lepszych od siebie. To jest jakaś słaba kopia prawdziwych, starych rockowych bandów. Wymęczyła mnie niemozebnie. 4/10 i nie pozdrawiam.
It was fine. Didn’t hold my attention though.
This album has absolutely no business being on this list or being 90 minutes long. That's 90 minutes of mostly mid tempo blues rock with lazy vocals and very little deviation from what has long been considered extremely standard and basic rock 'n' roll. It gets a 1 because even though it's "listenable", it's duller than all get out and has absolutely nothing new, fresh or interesting to offer. And it's 90 fucking minutes long! TL;DR this record is loooooong and booooooring.
Nice southern rock. I would have given it 3,5 if possible but it is defiinitely nearer to 4 than 3.
I didn't mind this. The length however almost dropped it down to a 3 stars. Too long. But again I didn't mind it. I kind of liked it.
Hard to beat Drive By!
Not good
I liked this album. Enjoyed the idea of a concentric theme. A few of the songs were really good, and I liked the informative thread that ran through it. I feel like the storytelling theme fell short at points but for an intro to southern rock It was good. 3.5
Great album
It was interesting
didn't feel like a rock opera. It was too long. Not sure I liked it that much, but it was not horrible either.
Interesting but odd
meh
There was some nice guitar tones and interesting note choices, and a few good tunes buried in there but really... I have so many questions about this record. Why is it a double album? Why is it on this list? Why listen to people sing about Skynyrd when you could just listen to them? If you want the balls to the wall punk stuff, go for Social Distortion. If you want the alt country thing, go for Hank Williams 3. If you want to listen to this flabby, indulgent, generic labyrinth, go fuck yourself.
"Cause He knows that blood red carpet at the Salem Church of Christ / Ain't gonna ever see no wedding between me and you." ("Zip City") The most interesting parts of this album were the Dale Gribble soundalike's spoken word tracks, but there are only 2 of those in the overlong 90-minute runtime. The music is alright at times but never great, and the length is definitely unjustified. I think the fact that this is from 2001 is a knock against its inclusion - it doesn't feel really noteworthy, influential, or representative for 2001. I think I'd be more forgiving/understanding if it was from 10+ years earlier.
Looking back, the only moments that stood out from this album were memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Not sure what to expect. I put this on my queue on Spotify and it was quite a jump from One Direction to... this. It's good until theres any lyrics. And it's far far far too long. Okay as it goes on I'm hating it less but the first song I didn't like at all. I don't want to finish it as I'm short on time and want to listen to music I like since I gave this a good shot. From what I've heard, I think it's a 2.5. Since I can't give half, I'm going to round down to 2/5 overall
Never heard of them before this. Will definitely explore more but Imliked what I heard.
Some thought-provoking questions, but not really fun or enjoyable. It's like an awkward apology for 'Sweet Home Alabama', which is itself an awkward apology. These guys seem like talented writers - maybe not talented songwriters, but talented... idk, polemicists I guess. So, why bother with this verbose, plodding double album? Why are Southerners so determined to defend the South? In theory this is good, and I think the 4 and 5 star reviews on this site make some fair points. But I think a Ronnie Van Zandt concept album just isn’t for me.
As someone with no familiarity with Skynyrd, I liked this. Musically, it reminded me of the albums I enjoy from, say, Cracker or Fastball. But there were some twists of weirdness throughout, too, that I felt elevated what could otherwise have been a somewhat generic Southern rock album. I loved the last track. I only had time to listen through once, but I'd definitely revisit this album someday.
I tried to like this and enjoy the story. the narrative click much for me and the instrumentation faded into the background
Never heard this. Found myself intrigued by what they were saying. Redneck rap?
You know this album had me thinking about it a good bit after I was done. Not because it's the best thing, quite far, but it had mw considering this genre and part of the country in a different light. We are all subject to the media around us and how it ultimately warps our perceptions. And I'm certainly no southern boy, so, especially in today's political climate, I don't have a particularly high opinion of the south. But maybe I should try to avoid the pitfall that Drive-By Truckers accuse Neil Young of falling into by judging the south soley on their reputation. Not that it's not significant, but it's also not the whole story. So I'll judge this album instead. 3/5, music is derivative and far lesser than their Skynyrd icons, but a bonus point for making me type all this. Best song is Ronnie and Neil.
It's not as bad as I feared but the voice is a huge no-no.
Thought i was going to absolutely hate this, turns out it wasn’t so bad! Some okay songs - nice tones. Sounds like a band that would play a Nashville bar - accomplished Southern Rock musicians that you can zone in and out on whilst you eat wings and drink beer and watch sports highlights on mute on the screens. Bit of mix of slow/fast but all very similar sounding tbh - not sure a track in particular stands out really. 2.5 stars rounded down to 2 due to its length. Had to break it into two over the day and skip some tracks just to reach the end. Not ruling out revisiting this one though.
You know what I actually kinda enjoyed this one There were parts I didn't like - the talking over the music and ramblings. Also the album length. But I really enjoyed the guitar! Instrumentally a very nice album 4 ⭐️
Country rock is fun and upbeat. Most songs sounded the same though, not much variety.
Nowhere near as bad as the reviews suggest.
Lynyrd Skynyrd = good George Wallace = bad
Mieleen tulee sellainen southern American aksentilla laulava Motörhead. Ihan kivaahan tämä, elämänkerronnallista kamaa
So bad. So very, very bad. I was expecting awful country and what I got instead was even worse southern rock. And I like southern rock. But if you’re going to put that on a list like that, how about we stick to something with an Allman or a Van Zant in the lineup. Or something along those lines. This makes me feel like I’m at a bar in a small town where some local band plays on Friday nights and the crowd is mostly their friends, drunk middle aged rednecks all. Sometimes, often, Dan from the corner drugstore sings off-key and there’s probably a reason the drummer is still the store manager at the Piggy Wiggley. They’re having fun pretending to be rock stars though, and as long as there’s a pitcher of Coors Light on the table, their friends don’t seem to care. The week is over and there’s a sitter for the kids, so it’s a chance to let loose. But how dare they press this crap onto vinyl and hoist it on the rest of society. Even the cover art looks like it was the bass player’s son’s 10th grade art project. I’m not sure I can hate this enough. I realized after writing the above that Spotify did not play the whole album. After about five or six songs it stopped and went back to the first song, as it sometimes does when it gets to the end of an album. I consider this an act of mercy, as the entirety of this - a double album, for crying out loud! - would have only been more awfulness. I will not go back and finish, but receive Spotify’s mercy.
Solid album. Southern rock without all tropes. Great story telling where the we the perspective is often "the other side".
I didn't hate it, but it's not my kinda thing, mostly
Siis ihan hiton kovaa southern rockia :D Tosi hyvin kirjoitettuja kappaleita ja soittokin on ihan top tier. Ja nimi maistuu myös rahtarille :D Tosi paljon kovia kappaleita, melkein vaikea valita parhaat. Mutta Parhaat: The Southern Thing, Zip City, Women Without Whiskey, Plastic Flowers On The Highway
A passionate love letter to a genre of music I cannot stand.
5/10
I started with low expectations and was rewarded with a mediocre attempt at southern rock. It has no right being 90mins
JFC... this is like a christian stumbling upon a new translation of the dead sea scrolls. I'm a fan of Lynard Skynard, how do I not know about this album?
They are probably good at what they do, but southern rock is not my thing, so I didn’t enjoy much of this album. Guitar Man Upstairs and Shut Up and Get on The Plane, the two more boogie-ish tracks, are décent and prevent the lowest score
While I’m enjoying the storytelling, I have realized I’m not as big of a rock fan as I thought.
i knew within 1 minute this is not for me. next
Interesting and mostly good but way too long you damn truckers. A love letter to alabama and the south will all its flaws
Not a fan.
I don't get this.
there is far better southern rock your should listen to over this album
Album 751 of 1089 Drive-By Truckers - Southern Rock Opera (2001) Rating : 4 / 5 A modern take on Southern Folklore with themes of Southern identity, race, and 1970s rock culture, all while paying homage to the legendary band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Great storytelling and musicianship. Fun album, though lengthy.
a koncepció egészen izgalmas, de a zene már kevésbé sajnos.
Decent listen.
I don't think I would go out of my way to listen to this, but if it was on, I wouldn't change it. It felt like a live-jam session.
I'm just not a fan of a lot of Southern rock. This just bores me.
not my favorite country rock, i feel this would be a fun concert with the song intros but don’t love it as much for everyday listening
The whole thing is cool. Hard to put it in words but wish I was drinking on a warm porch
Big fan of DBT's greazy southern rock. They aspire to greatness but come up just a hair short
I'm finally free!!!!!! Stop doing double albums, everybody. I mean it.
The album is too long. In my opinion, virtually no albums should be over 90 minutes. The first half of the album was great, and date I say a Southern USA history lesson with allusions to Lynyrd Skynyrd? Unfortunately, the second half wasn't Rock, or an Opera; it was Country. Favorite Track: "Three Great Alabama Icons".
Listenable.
Vocals not a vibe
Kitschigen Rock? Nix verpasst.
this makes the whole project a joke. haha
Didn't make it all the way through, the lyrics bothered me so much. The music was boring and broke no new ground, but my biggest problem was their tired takes on The South. I had to listen to Southern Culture On The Skids to clean my mind after.
Another total unknown for me from this collection, and an interesting one at that. Although I'm not sure I'd have personally chosen to make a (far too) long album played through the lens of Lynyrd Skynyrd, they clearly thought that would be a fun project, and largely succeeded in keeping the theme and a fairly distinctive result (although they could have probably omitted the 2nd CD/vinyl without too much of a loss). I think my favorites were "Ronnie and Neil", "The Southern thing", and "Zip city", and also the final track "Angels and fuselage" for some unexplainable reason. I was struck by how several songs reminded me of Robert Earl Keen's music ("Days of graduation" and "Three great Alabama icons" in particular, both reminiscent of narrations in "Farm Fresh Onions"), an artist I wish was included in the collection, but I can see why the "1001 Albums" mentioned comparisons to Neil Young, given the almost-live-sounding production and prominent guitar playing. Whatever you think of this at-times rough-sounding album, you have to give some credit for the fact that they recorded the album over several nights in a studio above a uniform factory at the end of a blazing Birmingham summer, plus that they had a GoFundMe approach to funding the album long before that even existed. A shame that they had a pretty brief stint as a band.
I admire the ambition and the sound is pretty good, but the lyrics just miss the mark, staying in the cliche but not doing much with it. I kept thinking of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Up Against the Wall" and how much better that is.... but, naturally, we're not getting him on this project.
Like the most boring music ever performed by a cover band. And it goes for hours. Good musos but bland songs.
Sort of undecided about this album. It sounds like something I’d like, a bit of Lynyrd Skynyrd, a bit of Tom Petty, but there’s something about it that doesn’t quite convince me. It’s just a bit lackluster, if I’m being honest. I did vibe with it to an extent and I don’t think it’s a bad album, but just for my personal preference I have to rate it lower.
I usually listen while working so I'm not paying full attention but after the 17th reference to Lynyrd Skynyrd I'm like WTF is this? So I hit that Wikipedia button and ok it makes sense. I read a little more about the band and I get it, I appreciate it. Still maybe more interesting to read about than actually listen to.
Drive By Trucking means you sound like every other southern rock band combined. Their Southern Rock Opera is a short form of everyone's work on one record spanning 20 tracks unless you listen to the even longer version of this record. I heard a track from these southern rockers who evoke Skynrd nearly at a constant. Album is more of an annoyance than anything else, its shit.
This album is such a perfect distillation of a time and place. I don't think it's possible to infuse more angsty misplaced pride and confused disenfranchisement into an hour and a half. Pitch perfect and painfully honest sentiment crafted from a bunch of crash out southern assholes. I hate how much I love it and love how true it rings.
уважаю за омажи и размышления, но сама такое слушать не готова
Nice.
I made it 4 songs in before I bailed. Shitty lyrics, boring music, and a lead singer who sounds like he can't actually sing.
Masterpiece
90 goddamn minutes of the same song.
hmh nyt tulloo paljon meediumi mid albumeja. voisi olla vähemmän sitä rokkia tässä ja enemmän oopperaa heh.. tarvitsee jonkinlaista nostalgista paikallista tuntemusta todelliseen nauttimiseen, näin tyhjiössä ei paljoa saa irti mitään syvämielistä tunnevirtausta.. eli lyhyesti sanottuna, long story short: geneeristä paskaa heh.. kiinnostavaa lyriikkaa osittain. rekkaukot.. menkää suihkuun vaan rekkapoitsut saa ilmatteex käyttää suihkua meikälläisen kodissa mutta yksi sääntö: kikkelit heiluu sitten ihan olohuoneessa myös.. no clothes allowed for truck boys.. kiliheilunta (PAKOLLINEN!!!) three great alabama icons
Love these guys, great music
Mediocre southern rock. Fun though.
Mediocre at best
There is no reason as to why this is as good as it is, with as poor singing as it has. I can totally see where the Jason Isbell/ Drive By Truckers crossover and influences hit eachother. Really like this, despite the fact that no one is good at singing. Best Song: Zip City Rating: 6.5/10 Stars: 3/5
Some interesting tracks but is it really that good?
This was hyped to me as comparable to Lynyrd Skynyrd and other great Southern Rock bands. It definitely did not meet that expectation.
There’s a four-star album in here, if it wasn’t a double album.
Easy one! Great Album Love the foil/counterfoil songwriting duo of Hood and Cooley. Great stories and awesome one liners abound in this album. Zip City, Southern Thing, and Angels and Fuselage are killers. I read some of the criticisms of this album as “Southern Rock” and Skynrd comparisons. DBT was pretty transparent about where they were coming from. It’s also the great thing about this band….every album is different in style and approach. Early stuff was lots of storytelling and more about the South which evolved into modern commentary about the same kind of things happening in the world. Great Album Great Band. Highly recommend seeing them if you ever get the chance.
This type of straight ahead Bluesy rock usually wouldn't sustain my attention for over an hour and a half, but the strength of the lyrics combined with the central concept makes this project go from pretty good to great. Also helps that the second half is significantly better than the first.
I enjoyed this album, but it's something I'd only want to listen to once. It really is a 'rock opera' in the sense that they have written a story and then they've shoehorned the words into multiple vaguely similar tunes (possibly in one recording/jamming session?). I'm glad I had the lyric sheet in front of me. I saw the word 'Educational' used in another review. And yeah to a Brit it was in some ways. There's 2 sides to every story though, but thanks for sharing your side. Like any Opera or Broadway Musical, now I've seen/heard it, then I've no desire to see it a second time.
Vapid, unpleasant, and way too long
4/5
I was waiting for this one to piss me off - never really did, in the end.
I like it, but it's too long to hold my attention. I do wonder if the drive by truckers realise that it's hard to make a point when you keep talking and talking and talking.
Any time I see a double album I weep a little for the time I’ll never get back. Brevity in an album is an art form within itself. This isn’t music that travels well. Dull, repetitive and closed lyrics about the south mean nothing to me.
The entire band once slept with Len’s 13th wife, Lena when we were touring together. Len wasn’t best pleased. He always called them something else after that. The Drive By……..too rude to mention on here. 3.5
Cool, clever, and, even though I typically don’t care for country, surprisingly listenable!
Drive-By Truckers is one of those groups that I've heard at least one song before, but not a band I usually sought out. They're a southern alternative country rock band founded by Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley that quickly established themselves over a couple of years to the point where through word of mouth and fan support, they raised enough funds to independently release this album. Southern Rock Opera is very much what it says on the tin, telling the story of the fictitious group Betamax Guillotine as they establish themselves in the 1970s Southern rock scene around the same time as the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd did. They were able to weave as much of the imagery and events as they could, from Ronnie Van Zant and Neil Young's friendship on the track bearing their names to the stereotypical associations of the state of Alabama with the song "Sweet Home Alabama", college football, and casual racism on "The Three Great Alabama Icons", to the plane crash that killed Ronnie, Steve Gaines, and his sister Cassie as cataloged from "Shut Up and Get on the Plane" through "Angels and Fuselage". There's a lot of detail explored from the fictional band's account as they try and carve out their path that could also be viewed as somewhat autobiographical from the actual band, such as "Guitar Man Upstairs" from when Cooley would get called by the cops over playing his guitar, Patterson's teenage years partying and listening to arena rock on "Let There Be Rock", and "72 (Highway's Mean)" about the US state highway that runs through their neighborhood and the rough lifestyle around it. It's all sold with the kind of conviction that took some getting used to from Patterson's fried vocals and Cooley's crooning that sounded reminiscent of Johnny Cash, but it eventually clicked for me. Alright, so I just praised the hell out of the storytelling, and the musicianship is certainly there as the band played well. What's stopping me from outright calling this album excellent? Well, there's a matter of the run time; Southern Rock Opera is over 90 minutes long, and much like an actual opera an intermission was needed for me. While there isn't a bad song to be found, there are tracks that run together lyrically with the shared themes of partying, drinking, and playing rock music. While some details surrounding the Alabama roots are explored and some insight and catharsis are found in the chronology of the state's people and iconography, I'm not sure it was enough to satisfy the full runtime. Also not helping matters is keeping Lynyrd Skynyrd within the periphery of the fictional band's focus, especially in Act II taking the time to explore Skynyrd's claim to fame on "Life in the Factory" and the heartfelt tribute to Steve and Cassie Gaines on "Cassie's Brother". The choice for such a narrative invites comparisons to a more established act, especially considering the original Ronnie Van Zant run of Skynyrd. Do the Drive-By Truckers sound as good as Lynyrd Skynyrd? Well no, but that misses the point. This story was meant to be about another band that certainly felt inspired by Skynyrd but was looking to chart their path. It took me some time to realize that, but I understand where such expectations can come from. I can come around at the end and say that Southern Rock Opera is a good outing, one that certainly was more ambitious than what would be initially perceived. If anything, I appreciate what Drive-By Truckers brought to the table here as a storytelling adventure. I'll leave y'all with one last factoid that should be worth celebrating about this album. During the touring for Southern Rock Opera, the band would welcome a young Jason Isbell as their third guitarist. Isbell would continue to work with Drive-By Truckers for the next six years before venturing out and taking claim as a renowned singer-songwriter on his own and with the 400 Unit. That is something I'm truly grateful for.
I’m going to click the button. I have doubts I’ll make it through this album. Song 1: Hold on, this is pretty good! Not anything like what I thought it was going to b… The rest of the songs: yeah…no. This is a weird album. It’s not country, but the lead singer has a VERY pronounced southern accent, and it’s hard for me to get around that. It’s also too goddamned long. There are a couple really interesting songs but overall, I don’t like it at all.
Garbage.
This almost had me, but i ended up hating it. I do not like rock opera and this was overblown in the extreme. My interest was piqued by the spoken word stuff about wallace. But it sounded like Mouserat without the fun or the irony.
The album title says it all Southern Rock. Eh.
Spoken word vibe with southern twang
Did there need to be a rock opera about Lynyrd Skynyrd and the effects they've had on the American south? I don't know. Does it work? Not as effectively as it could have. I don't know that these guys have the talent to do what needed to be done to make this album something special. It was fun. Too long. Educational, which is not something I often say about an album. I liked it, but it was a little messy and could have used a tad more editing before release. 4/5
Ah. That was...not my thing.
Really enjoy it.
That's two alternative country albums in a row now. This is very much an ode to the Southern United States (notably the state of Alabama) if that wasn't already obvious by the album title. Whether you asked for it or not, get ready for a history lesson on southern US culture. Primarily centered around Lynrd Skynrd too, because why not? Probably longer than it needed to be, but who am I to talk as someone who's lived in the northern US all of their life? The band's perspective on certain Alabamian figures and events was sort of interesting at least. More interesting than the album itself is probably the fact it was primarily crowd-funded prior to being distributed. Not really something that occurred too often in this business back then
There are parts that I enjoyed. I think the music is pretty good and some of the lyrical content is intriguing. Album is too long and they reference Skynyrd a few too many times. 2.5/5 Probably won't listen again
I feel a little bad going with 2 stars here because it’s not really unpleasant and is trying to do some interesting things; I also don’t want to have a knee-jerk negative reaction to the southern US theme or style, which itself wasn’t awful. That said, paraphrasing another reviewer: if you’re going to have an album this long, there should be at least a few standout tracks, and I didn’t find that to be the case here. (Weirdly, the one I probably found most interesting wasn’t even really a song at all - the spoken word “Three Great Alabama Icons” at least caught my attention.)
This has to be a parody album
Good so far raspy accented muricans . Didn't listen to all of it but eas perfectly fine music :) nice guitars
Wish I could give this 3.5 haha - I actually really enjoyed the vibes on it, didn't listen to lyrics well enough or know enough about Lynrd Skynrd to fully "get it" but love the southern rock/ swamp rock stuff
Didn't love it.
I read the name of this album and was intrigued. then i looked at the length and was less excited. but once it started going i was totally invested. i can’t say i paid much attention to the story but the songs worked for themselves. the more spoken word parts were super cool and the classic southern rock songs ranged from pretty good to genuinely great! not sure i would put every song as 5 stars but the work as a whole definitely is
Thoughtful lyricism over fun albeit generic sounding rock. I'm always happy to listen to an album that feels like it's telling a narrative.
Yeah this was kinda cool I guess
Meh. Way too long. I remember these folks being around 20 or so years ago, and they seemed to be popular with some critics, but it didn’t catch on with me for whatever reason. Skynyrd-lite? Black Crowes sans hooks? A British person’s idea of what the American south is like?
Really not sure what they were going for here. Yes, the south has a complicated and unfortunate history, but like Skynyrd? I don’t know. DBT can play, I bet they sound great live, but I don’t think I need to hear anymore.
If you listed all 600 albums we had left and ask me to rank by my excitement to listen to them, this probably would’ve been in the bottom 50. Listening to all 90 minutes of this was a big ask. Usually these huge albums take me all morning to listen to, but an unrelated change in the household morning routine allowed me to get half of it listened to before I got to work. I am not sure what to make of some of the messages in this. Genuinely. Musically, it was pretty good overall. A 2 feels like a safe rating. I liked it, I thought it was really long. I don’t think shortening it would’ve given it a higher rating. Also, Lynyrd Skynrd might be one of my least favorite bands? And they didn’t change my mind.
#515. Viewed as satire, this comes off a bit amusing, but unfortunately I don't think that was the point. It'd just truly mediocre music coupled with middle school poetry competion quality lyrics and Lynyrd Skynyrd references. 2/5: bad
I had high hopes for this, but it turned out really dull. I didn't get it at all.
Definitely something. They went for it for sure. It exists.
If you’re into Southern/Country Rock, you’ll probably love this. For the rest of us, this wasn’t bad. In fact, I expected to hate this, but I didn’t. At 94 minutes, it’s probably too long for the average punter, but on the whole I did enjoy it and I think it’s worth your time.
Really good. I didn’t finish listening as it’s fucking long but the storytelling is dope. Mainly the first one on the first song
Nope. I’m English and can’t see the appeal or artistry in this kind of thing.
Southern rock, with some stories thrown in. Good fun
Mielisairsn juttu jota oon tehny viimeaikoina kuunnella tämä paska 20 biisiä.... Mitä vittua.... Itsehillintää niin pirusti lykkyä tykö ouluun kun tämä paska...
not terrible, but guitar sounds is a little grating 2/5
3 stars. Not something I would listen to again but, while not the greatest vocals, lyrics, or choice of material to write about, I do appreciate the attempt to make this album. At least they are capable musicians. It would have been very difficult to listen to this album if they weren't.
This was alright. Fun to hear their interpretations of the Young Skinnard dispute and hear a southerner talk down on racism. Musically it has its moments too but lead singer voice isn’t most flattering all though it does fit the vibe. Solid 3.5 goin down.
sprawling, wonderful, deeply rooted in classic rock
Still yet to be convinced of a double album’s length, but if this was edited down a fair bit it would be great!
Not for me
2/12/25. Always been a fan of the Truckers, love the storytelling. Engaging that you don’t realize the length!
I really do not like this and find some of the southern lyrics to be crude and stupid. But I do find it interesting that this album was financed by fans using promissory notes.
Hillbilly nonsense.
It’s not horrible. But I’m exhausted two songs in. I get where this is going, but I don’t want to go any further.
5 tracks in, nothing has stuck, nothing was bad. 10 tracks in, nothing has stuck, nothing was bad. The stuff about George Wallace was interesting however. 15 tracks in, nothing has stuck, nothing was bad. 20 tracks in, nothing has stuck, nothing was bad.
While this is before his tenure, I have been a big Jason Isbell fan for years and naturally have enjoyed Drive-By Truckers for quite some time. This album is just fantastic! I do think Decoration Day and The Dirty South are better albums, but Isbell certainly plays a factor in that for me. If you look at it as concept album as it was intended it adds another layer of great. But if you don't know that part it is still fantastic!
Unexpectedly amazing! Great mix of rock, soul, country and a real juxtaposition of sound and voice
I’m not listening to 94 mins of that
Oh man, this was unexpectedly excellent. Despite being long af, which I usually dislike, as soon as I'd finished listening, this got a second spin.
Some heavy rock songs, very cliche ‘fuck-you’ guitar chords, very feel good depending on the mood you’re in. 6/10.
Country. Rock country, but still country.
Really interesting story behind the album and the content of the album. Plan to revisit!
Too long. The instrumentation is fine; not great. I'm not a fan of the spoken word and the singer isn't very engaging in general.
Southern Rock Opera ist ein Album, das sowohl musikalisch als auch inhaltlich beeindruckt. Es verlangt Aufmerksamkeit und lädt zu wiederholtem Hören ein, um die vielen Nuancen zu entdecken. Trotz des düsteren Tons bleibt am Ende ein Gefühl von Authentizität und Leidenschaft für die Musik und ihre Ursprünge. Empfehlung: Ein Muss für Fans des Southern Rock und für alle, die tiefgründige Konzeptalben schätzen.
This is great, list needs more of this
bruh this is so long and boring
3/10 - Boring southern rock. He shouted out lynyrd skynyrd way too much
About an hour longer than it needed to be
Really goated. Very emotional sometimes. Love each song.
the three great alabama icons is a *monumental* track. that, and the sheer scope and ambition, earn this a 4
You don't expect an album like this to be as inspiring as it is. The music is ok, but the special part is the words and storytelling. Rarely do you listen to a band who actually has something to say, but just says it instead of coding it in cryptic poetry. Such an interesting album that I'll go back to for inspiration.
Southern Rock Opera feels like a love letter to Southern rock culture, wrapped in heavy critique. It starts intriguingly, with thoughtful commentary on identity and racism, but quickly loses its spark. The concept is compelling, yet the 90-minute runtime turns into a test of patience as the songs blend together, leaving little that truly stands out. Musically, it’s polished but lacks grit. Tracks like The Southern Thing and Angels and Fuselage offer glimpses of brilliance, but much of it feels like a parody—campy vocals and overdone tropes that wear thin. A standout moment for me was when a female voice took over briefly, elevating the energy and coolness of the album, but it was fleeting. I wanted to connect with this, but it felt more like an academic project than a visceral experience. For all its ambition, it left me checked out, longing for something deeper and less self-aware. Highlights: Birmingham, Angels and Fuselage.
Alabama! Generic but it’s pretty good, so can’t really complain all that much. It’s got the right amount of edge to work. Problem is, it starts to get “samey”. Condense it into a single and this one is a hell of a lot better.
I’m glad I got a chance to listen to this album. I started out a skeptic, and the vocals were really not very approachable for me. Turns out that by the next album, Jason Isabel would be singing. I probably would’ve liked this better if he was on it, to be honest. For much of the album, I tolerated them and awaited the next beautiful guitar solo. By the time I got through the last track, I realized that the album had grown on me. Although I didn’t fully understand the concept behind it, which included Skynyrd and a lot of southern pride, it was framed in a way that attempted to build bridges without being overly apologetic. An interesting take for sure.
Came into this one brand new and didn’t think Southern Rock was my thing, have to say, I’m a convert - to most of this. I’ll file this along with other ‘when I want to get things done’ playlists.
One and a half hour of just solid southern rock. Not a single remarkable track or piece except the bad vocals. Positive: it don´t sucks! But so dull that I don´t even want to rate it down just because of it´s lenght. 1,5
1 star. 1 good song.
Not my style
weird but good all in all
This album reminds me of an old Saturday Night Live sketch. Every song seems to be about Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alabama, Neil Young or a combination of the three. I'm not into Southern rock like this that borders on country, especially 1.5 hours of it.
Enjoyed it and like a lot of stuff in this genre, but probably requires a bit more of a sit down and listen than a "have it playing while you're at work. Four stars because I automatically support any attempt at reviving the rock opera format with gusto.
One of America's great bands
First album from this project that I didn’t finish. I hit the 30 minute mark of this ludicrously 90+ minute record and I was hating every second of it. So I stopped. Try hard country. 0/5
Standard guitar rock, I won't be coming back.
This was not a good album. Each song was barely distinguisable from the previous or following. Vocals were both monotonous and uninspired. Melodies got lost by annoying performances. Don't bother with this one.
5/10 Hey I recognize this. I'm sure I've heard it before. Wait what was that about George Wallace facing the Yankees down? Fuck these guys. 1-9-2025
I don’t care about America that much
Like the history lesson songs the best
I enjoyed this - favourite song was Ronnie and Neil, but will come back to it I think
I expected this to suck. It didn’t. In fact, it was a revelation. I learned a lot about a place that has always sounded utterly horrible, but perhaps there is a possible more nuanced view available. Songs were great, everything was great. I’m fucking shocked. Five stars for me.
I was delighted to listen to this. Three Great Alabama Icons was so beautifully told, and the album as a whole generated good feelings
piss off, 2 discs??? couldn’t make it through a single song, let alone an /hour and a half/
The album cover is Halloween-y looking. Sounds like a solid southern rock band. i thought disc one was better than disc two. They seem obsessed with Alabama even though they are from Georgia.
The title "Southern Rock Opera" is like nightmare fuel for me. Add in "Truckers" and "1.5hr runtime" and I've really formed some rock-bottom expectations. And those expectations... were met. The subject matter is respectable; the lyrics are engaging, but I just can't handle the presentation. They did a good job with the Lynyrd Skynyrding, but Lynyrd Skynyrding is like my anti-pizza (even when it's good, it's bad).
Not all of it works, but most of it does. And "Three Great Alabama Icons" should be considered mandatory listening for every American. 4/5
Sprawling rock opera indeed, a Betamax Guillotine Alabama odyssey. The scene traverses the realms of the region's turmoil with racist politics, eminent esteem for Lynyrd Skynyrd (and how elusive they were to see in concert), figuratively attending AA sessions with the Truckers, and then at its core exhorting to best stay out the way of a southern thing. Public Enemy would urge to abide that it's also a black thing.
Eh.... I did kinda like a couple songs on here, but certainly not enough to justify the runtime on this album. Also, pretty sure if you made this into a drinking game where you took a shot every time Skynyrd was mentioned you'd be black out drunk by the end of "Let There Be Rock". I would be anyway. I haven't had any Skynyrd yet, and don't know anything beyond "Sweet Home Alabama" (off the top of my head), but I can't help but suspect the Drive-By Truckers didn't add anything new or interesting to the conversation that Skynyrd didn't already. Not fully sure why this album is on here over some others I can think of but maybe I'm missing something. Not a 1 star since I at least liked some of the songs/vibe, but definitely don't find it to be essential listening.
Was ok, wouldn’t listen to it again though
It reminded me of something but I don't know of what.
This could have been a forgettable three star album if it was 40 min long. Instead it loses 1 star for being 90 minutes long for no reason and 1 star for the racism apologia. Why are they so obsessed with Lynyrd Skynyrd?
Enjoyable enough. Really well produced as well
Njaa.. nothing special really
It's okay. Wouldn't seek it out to listen again. Not a fan of southern rock country
do i fucking look like i have time to listen to an hour and a half long album on christmas eve ;-;
5.5/10
2.5
I admire the scope of this record. Unfortunately I got overexcited accidentally listening to The Dirty South first which has Danko/Manuel on and is absolutely gorgeous. I first came across this band because of the really great album Decoration Day. Both of those LPs I really love. I couldn't muster the same feelings for this double LP. Like I said, great scope but rock and opera are two words that when placed together scare me
I have never heard of this band. It feels like dad rock. Honestly wasn't sure about this at first, but then I remembered that it's called "Southern Rock Opera" so when I looked at it through the rock opera lens it made more sense.
Decent is all I can say good artist average album
A good ole southern rockin' good time!
Yeeeeeeee hawt damn I didn't want to finish this
Something that is right up my alley, but didn't grab me right away. Could be better with subsequent listens, but overall I think it was a little too bloated. 3.5/5
It could be good, but I was tired of the voice and the style on the second song and they gave me another hour of it.
Honestly, I didn't hate this and it had its moments. The second side of disc 1 is especially good. It's just too long... too fucking long.
Great album.
Interessant
I would have given this a much lower score, but I think that monologue about George Wallace will stick with me the rest of my life
Good dinner music. Would have made a good live set.
pretty good album, though a bit lengthy. lynyrd skynyrd meets zz top by way of neil young. rockin’ good time from start to finish.
Tooooooooooooooo looooooooooooonnngggg
Just don't like this kind of music. I grew up in Alabama so want to like this one but its a pretty good representation of the music I was surrounded in and do not like. If I did like this kind of thing, I think they would be one of my favorites. Cool cover art and deeper lyrics than their contemporaries at least. This just kinda makes me embarrassed to be from Alabama. A double album of bland southern dad rock. Good Old Boys remains my favorite Southern album by a pretty far margin Rating: 2.0
Ew
It's okay, it references Lynyrd Skynyrd too much for my taste to tell the coherent story it wants to tell but it does have some creative highlights and is fascinatingly ambitious. The Dirty South is a far better album in my opinion. I would prefer for the band to not use the gd slur in a few of their songs and I find this disappointing.
Probably good but not my thing.
Another day and another more modern (comparatively) album. This is also the second day this week I have listened to a double album. I really like the Drive-By Truckers and I am not surprised this is the album that was chosen for this book. It is their opus. It is also not my favorite Drive-By Truckers album. I am not sure if this one is in my top 5 DBT albums, though this is their first actually really good album. I'm from the American South, so many of DBT's songs speak to me in some way but for some reason this one has not quite as much. I listen to the next three albums, Decoration Day, The Dirty South and A Blessing and a Curse more than I do this one. Perhaps it is the inclusion of Jason Isbell's writing that I enjoy most. I like my own personal version of Brighter Than Creation's Dark (cutting five songs) better than this one as well. Depending on my mood, I may even take their later political albums more than this one. Saying all that, this is a good album and it has a very clear vision of what is trying to be accomplished since it is a concept record. There is a high bar to reach with this band and their music, as much of it is very good. I would have put The Dirty South in this book over Southern Rock Opera and probably even put A Blessing and a Curse in over this one as well.
People are really hating it! well, its not good but it has its moments. as many albums on the list, it could benefit from being half an hour shorter but truth is, I didn't hate it
Meh. A couple good songs but not my thing.
Garbage
Pleasantly surprised with this one. I was expecting the usual good 'ol boys nonsense, but this is a pretty dark album and all the better for it.
So, some kind of self-conscious Kid Rock rock, is that what this is? That I needed to hear before I die? Those paint-by-numbers songs? A 90 minute tractate full of them, channeling #120's ★☆☆☆☆ Lynyrd Skynyrd? And they're serious about that? I... can't even. The "Duality of the southern thing"? I live over an ocean away from these guys' identity or whatever crisis thereof, idgaf. Whiney shits. I hate this.
Even at an hour and a half long, this didn't feel like it was TOO long an album to get through. It really does feel epic. The problem is, about half the songs are good and the other half are ehhh. Three Great Alabama Icons is incredible though.
I like a few of their other albums better but this one is pretty good
Enjoyed this more than I expected, but it is a bit too long. Found the first disc more engaging than the second, especially the 3 song run from "Birmingham" to "Three Great Alabama Icons". They have me wondering if I should give Skynyrd another chance. I definitely prefer a modern take on this type of southern rock though (like Wednesday, Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, etc.)
What a strange experience. But hey, I got a history lesson
The Duality of the Southern thing. If this were a soundtrack to a movie I'd like it better. The south has got something to say...
Intolerably long and boring, featuring one guy that can't sing, and another that's even worse. Droning on about the South, Skynyrd, and George Wallace is not even remotely interesting to to anyone that doesn't make being Southern the cornerstone of their self identity and major personality trait. It's bland, it's derivative, and all things considered I'd much rather be listening to Skynyrd.
Very standard (alt-?)country rock that goes on forever. A few standout tracks, but also a whole bunch of nothing, especially during the second half. Took me a while to realize that the Scottish guy was named William Wallace and that they're singing about a completely different Wallace. That should give you a good idea of how well I was following the American political commentary on this one.
3.49
If you're going to make a 90 minute album you better damn well be sure it's over 2/3s bangers. This was so fucking BORING. And 90 minutes? Yeah the south blah blah blah.... get a more interesting topic and chop half of it off and maybe you'll have a passable album. 1.5/5
Now then - I’d vaguely heard of Drive-By Truckers before, but now that I think about it I might be confusing them with Ice Road Truckers (that show that seems to alternate with Storage Wars on some daytime TV channel I never watch) Drive-By Truckers are in fact a Southern rock band, as indicated by the album title, and this is… a 94-minute concept album about the frontman’s troubled relationship with Alabama where he grew up and the American South in general, and their perception by other states and non-Americans, told from a variety of perspectives but somehow always referencing Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s ambitious, baffling, and surprisingly quite good. Musically my closest reference point is Modest Mouse, with slightly angular guitars over grooves that mainly serve as a backdrop to the detailed storytelling lyrics - there isn’t much in way of hooks or choruses other than a couple of pastiche songs. The vocals are almost grungy with a clear southern twang, and sometimes remind me of Kurt Cobain specifically in the Meat Puppets covers during the MTV Unplugged set. Lyrically it covers a lot of ground, from race relations and politics to the state’s strange musical legacy (citing its most famous musical exports as the celebratory Sweet Home Alabama - by a band from Florida - and the critical Alabama and Southern Man by Neil Young - a Canadian). Speaking of strange musical legacies, I find it odd that these guys were formed in Athens, Georgia - the same place as R.E.M, the B-52s and Neutral Milk Hotel. What a bizarrely varied musical footprint for a city with a smaller population than Slough. Anyway - it’s a very complex album if sometimes a bit too on the nose, with lots of repeated ideas. There’s a great spoken word track The Three Great Alabama Icons, that singles out three cultural signifiers most non-Alabama-natives associate with the state - college football, Lynyrd Skynyrd (again) and racism. The song gives some history about the former state governor George Wallace who, despite a relatively progressive history as a judge, ran for Governor in the 60s as a staunch segregationist after realising that would get him the votes, and effectively held that position for over 20 years before back-pedalling on his racist politics. One of the key themes of the album is really laid out in this song, where the singer states that Wallace and his politics always felt dated and didn’t represent the people he grew up with - but upon leaving the state, he was surprised to see just how closely other Americans associated Alabama with segregationist politics and, while racism is an institutionalised worldwide problem, ‘it’s always a little more convenient to play it with a Southern accent’. It’s a great track, but then finishes quite clunking by introducing the following track, told from the perspective of the devil welcoming Wallace to hell. It retreads a lot of the same beats from the more insightful Icons and just feels very repetitive - as do a few of the songs on the second half and, oh yeah, the constant Lynyrd Skynyrd references. In short, I enjoyed certain aspects of this very much, but didn’t really care for other bits. It’s a 3, but a 3 I have had far more to think and say about than a lot of other albums on this list
This sounds like I was invited to a friend-of-a-friend's birthday get together at a shitty townie bar with some random shitty band playing. I can't tell if they're a joke band or serious. And this is 1.5 hours long? I don't think I'll make it through one hour of this. Yikes.
I really wasn’t expecting this to work, but I was pleasantly surprised! Even if you don’t much care for Lynyrd Skynyrd, this is a multilayered look at just what it means to be Southern—both the good and the bad.
Its far too long. But damn is it fun southern rock
Rock operas never work and this one is no exception. Musically, this fine if not all that interesting. And it goes on way too long in a samey Southern-fried vein. Both vocalists are sub-par and the one is occasionally painful to hear. The Southern navel-gazing is a bit much, too; as a Southerner one has got awfully tired of it. As for the storyline ... well, it's not exactly Faulkner or Flannery O'Connor, now is it? The real shame is that there at least a dozen (and maybe several) of more deserving choices for the southern rock sub-section of this list.
I think I'm not the kind of person for this album, I don't totally get the entire concept of the album but still found the lyrics and some of the songs pretty compelling. I guess I feel mostly positive about it but I wouldn't comeback to it really
I got through the first 6 songs. Not convinced that another 14 songs are going to change my opinion. Musically I don't hate it (and don't love it, either), but vocally and lyrically it's really not my thing.
Even though I know this is a crowd funded concept album about the experience of living in the Deep South, it still confuses the heck out of me when they start singing about living in Birmingham. Anyhoo, this takes as its starting point the tragic story of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the plane crash in 1977 that killed half the band, as well as the pilots. It’s a wildly ambitious project, but they just about pull it off, tackling some touchy subjects. Bostintastic!
It's not objectively bad but it's a) way too long b) of no clear significance justifying its presence in this list. If you want to listen to this kind of southern rock, you're probably way better with good old stuff from the seventies.
Gave it a try, but was lost by song 5, had to pull the plug.
I'd heard some DBTs before, specifically remembering "My Sweet Annette" which I really like as a standalone song. I cant say that about anything on this record. I'll give it 2 but it's in dangerous territory...
This is quite the ambitious project and they nailed the sound they were going for. It just dragged on a little too long for me. I was pretty bored and over it by track 8 and admittedly just kind of skipped through the rest of the album so I could move on to some better music to get me through election day.
I listen to a lot of Drive-By-Truckers, but typically the mid albums with Jason Isbell. So I admittedly, hadn't ever given this one a go. It's super ambitious and really well written. I love the concept nature of this record and the fact that its extremely self reflective about coming of age and the place where they grew up. Its definitely on the long side, and I think they could have shortened it a bit. But I love the outlaw country nature of the songwriting and carrying that tradition.
This was really flat and dull.
Tomorrow is Election Day in the US (I'm Belgian, so I'm just an observer). So this was a good way to 'dive' in the vibe. After listening to it, I can conclude that I rather watch the Biden-Trump debate from earlier this year for 24 hours straight than listening to this abomination. 0.4 (I can't give 0 stars, so it's a 1).
Good southern/country rock album, pretty long though
I've been into this band for a while, but never heard this album. It's great but not as incredible as The Unraveling (2020). I expect if this list is updated, this album would be on it. The same great songwriting and musicianship, and more justified indignant rage/passion that still manages to look to the future. The Unraveling would get 5 stars!
The songs and narrative are reasonably amusing southern fried rockabilly. The main issue for me is the album length, which makes it feel like a bit of a slog to get through. The cover artwork is pretty awesome.
Interesting song seened mainly around the theme of being working class in Alabama but not being a bigot. Some fun lyrics about sniffing glue and the music was so so country rock. The thing that got on the wick is that Lynard skinner was mentioned in pretty much everysong. Still more enjoyable than i was expecting.
Didn't hate this, it was ok in the background.
I actually enjoyed this, which is noteworthy only because as I usually dislike Country Music. It dragged on far too long though, which means it's still a 3 star album for me.
I semi-enjoyed it, in that it's interesting a concept album/story-ish... but jeez do they have a raging hard-on for Lynyrd Skynyrd!
Not the biggest fan of double albums so made sure to listen to each side with a break in-between. Really good record, first time listening to this band, no bad songs on the record. Solid southern rock
oh give me a break already
Look, I like southern rock as much as the next person, but NINETY-FOUR MINUTES?!?!?! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, and why would the creators of this list do this to us?
If lyrics are more important than music to your appreciation for recordings, you might love the Drive By Truckers. When I want to celebrate poetry, or essays, I read books. When I listen to recordings, I want to be moved by music. There are moments of interesting southern rock here; but next to these guys' idols it's always a little pale, a little quaint. And the vocals - like Neil Young who they seem to adore - are just painful. I've wanted to like them for decades. But I just don't.
So what did we learn from this? That Southerners work hard, drive hard, drink hard, and have complex feelings about racism and the views of southern America’s past. Oh, and a concept album about Lynyrd Skynyrd can actually produce more interesting results than one would think.
Some interesting lyrics, but country rock.
Even though the singer's voice/style goes well with the music, I don't like it. Just not my type of singing. Some decent lyrics sprinkled throughout.
4/5. This almost felt like listening to a fantasy novel, a place of sin and debauchery with epic heroes who were lost long ago. Since then, we are waiting for our heroes to return to save us. It's specific enough to be generally relatable, similar to Bruce Springsteen. It's a tour through the south and although country music is not necessarily my thing, it's similar to listening to bigger epic albums from other countries in a different language. I may not be familiar with Spanish or French but if an album is enjoyable, it's enjoyable. It helps I understand this one because the lyrics are the highlight. It's not a perfect album for sure, some just okay country songs here and there but as an album all the way through, it is a good front to back. It's funny reading the reviews who can't listen to it because it's country and that's beneath you. Kind of proves what the album is talking about. Eh, c'est la vie. Best Song: The Southern Thing, Cassie's Brother, Angels And Fuselage
Unless you care about Alabama or skyward this album is a complete waste of time
3.5. Nice guitar tones, not really into country but definitely interesting and diverse enough to be a fun listen. Kinda loses some of its coherency midway through though.
3.5 Double implements of being more country than Southern Rock, overall enjoyable.
Meget større fan af første halvdel end anden halvdel. Ret god, positiv overraskelse! Synes sangeren lød en lille smule som Lemmy engang i mellem
Problemet med de andre Drive-By Truckers plader jeg har hørt har altid været længden, men synes faktisk det giver mening her. For en gangs skyld er det lidt en del af charmen at det er for langt. Jeg kunne ikke lade være med at følge lidt med i plottet, hvilket er første gang jeg kan sige det om en "rock opera" på den her liste, og blev ret fanget af det. Synes også musikken var virkelig fed, sådan "subvervise-country-rock-men-alligevel-ikke" og spillet virkelig godt. Thumbs up, fik lyst til at høre Lynyrd Skynyrd men ironisk nok tror jeg at den her plade er meget mere mig end noget Lynyrd Skynyrd nogensinde udgav.
It's fun to do concept albums.. Lynyrd Skynyrd was mentioned a few times... There's no song I can recall from the double album, which I want to put on again, but I enjoyed it as a whole.
Not bad.
Some nice tracks are here, and I can appreciate what they’re doing here. It’s just too lengthy and sounds the same. It’s ok.
OK, this is far too long, a pastiche of a terrible genre, simultaneously weird and boring and generally unlovable. And yet, I finished Three Great Men and immediately played it again, because the story telling (of a song that's basically spoken word) is absolutely extraordinary. They should just have released that and ditched all the other nonsense.
Muuuurica
I don't know what to make of that. At times it sounded like a bootleg version of the Eagles, just with shittier songs. At other times it sounded like a counterfeit Bryan Adams, but with shittier songs - and his songs are shitty enough as it is, so make of that what you will will. I made it all the way through, so it gets 2 stars, but I just can't bring myself to give it 3 stars. More than once I checked to see how long was left - and that, to me, is not a good sign. I'm sticking with 2 stars.
Trip and a half.
Surprisingly fun
Absolutely rips
There’s a lot of meat here. Nothing jumped out as amazing, but I enjoyed my whole way through this album and the vibe could match a lot of situations. You could kill 2 great hours of aux at a chill campfire hangout with this album, true 4 star.
someone needs to sit Dimery down and explain that a double album isn't inherently essential.
I liked it!! I need to relisten to it though
There has to be a better way to tell a story than a Rock Opera. has some interesting sound here and there but the storytelling nature and 2 frickin discs makes for a sour experience. How do you make southern rock so boring?
Huh? Why in the hell is this album on here? It’s boring, poorly recorded and way way way too long. It IS a good example of a rock opera though. In that it does tell a story but none of the songs are good. But there sure are a lot of them!
Sometimes interesting