Reviews (page 6 of 8)
I don't know what I was expecting. The album title explains exactly what you're in for and they deliver beautifully. A history lesson intertwined with many (MANY) mentions of Lynyrd Skynryd, all set to a country-rock backdrop. I actually really enjoyed this one.
Hèhè, eindelijk eens een keer goede muziek! Je wilt deze lijst toch luisteren voor je eigen lol, maar het begon de laatste tijd op corvee te lijken met al die bagger. Gelukkig hebben we hier moddervette bluesrock uit het zuiden van de VS, een soort spirituele opvolger van Lynyrd Skynyrd. De thematiek maakte dat ik wel een aantal teksten even actief heb meegeluisterd (hoe fout zijn deze gasten, hebben ze een confederatievlag op het tuinpad wapperen?), maar zo te horen hebben ze het hart op de juiste plek en mogen we ongestoord en met een schoon geweten genieten van anderhalf uur lang zuidelijke rock. Ik hoor eigenlijk geen nootje verkeerd en om de balans met de lage cijfers van de laatste tijd weer een beetje recht te trekken volle punten voor deze gasten.
Deze truckers pakken alles wat op pop-rock lijkt op. Elk nummer zou voorbij kunnen komen op de radio. Eigenlijk is het totaal dan ook knapper dan de individuele nummers. Ook omdat er binnen het genre vrij veel variatie is. Ondanks 0 likes van mij voor de nummers op Spotify, daarom toch een 4e ster.
Saaie huismerk Sheryl Crow, met een vleugje van Dik Hout, die de veters nog niet mogen strikken van hun muzikale helden (?) Lynyrd Skynyrd. Of althans, helden, ze maken er soms een soort van parodie van. En aangezien ik een fan ben van de eerste albums van Lynyrd Skynyrd (zeg maar voor die vliegtuigcrash), heb ik met deze gasten wel een beetje moeite. Voor southern rock geef ik op een slechte dag al vrij makkelijk 5 sterren weg, maar deze gasten weten het toch vakkundig in het belachelijke te trekken, zodat ik af en toe geneigd ben de botte schaaf te hanteren. En ik schaaf er dan op een goede dag ook weer makkelijk 2 of 3 sterren vanaf. Aan de andere kant is dit prima zo'n album wat je op de achtergrond tijdens het werk af kan spelen en waar weinig mensen zich echt aan zullen storen. En er zitten dan ook wel weer genoeg gitaren in. Zolang die gitaren een beetje lekker te keer gaan, dan is het 3+, als het wat rustiger wordt, wordt het ongeloofwaardig en gaat het naar een 3-. Dus hou ik het maar bij een gemiddelde 3.
It's mid. Just some plain country rock with a sprinkle of the era's alt-rock vibes. I prefer Steve Earle, Uncle Tupelo/early Wilco, and the Old 97s of which the Drive-by Truckers seem to be the more generic mix of.
awesome rock cd!
This is an album worthy of being on this list. Like it or hate it. Don't like country? It still makes sense that it's here. It's coherent. It's interesting. The concept is easy to understand. Some songs are better than others of course but it all still works, and very well I might add.
Not bad music. But too many references I don't get.
Southern rock from Bama riffs that slap. Tom Petty vibes
Does what it says on the tin. It's Southern Rock. Exactly what you would expect nothing more, nothing less. A perfectly palatable record if a trifle long. Wouldn't buy it, wouldn't want to listen to the whole thing again. But if the odd track was to surface somewhere I'd probably not turn it off. Leave it as a 3 again.
Great album. Love a bit of blues rock and this is so well done. They’ve got something to say and I wasn’t offended by it either! Some brilliant guitar work. More please!
On first impressions I was thinking this is yet another typical lyrical American myopic vision which is focused on a small part of their large country. The other impression I had was this sounds like traditional 'Southern' rock done in the style of Lynard Skynard. By the end, my first impressions were correct. My only question is - why? Musically it's very competent, but not anything I'll ever want to listen to again. 2 stars
Lynyrd Skynyrd was an influential band, but a two disc album centered around their mythology just isn't as appealing as one would think.
Well, its been awhile, but I got an album that surprised this already converted red neck, honky tonk music lover. Do you think these guys love their Alabama heritage and Lynyrd Skynryd? Some times it's easy to lose yourself in the music but this album is full of some deep lyrical content. I do have some stuff downloaded by these guys, but I may have to give then their own spot on my Spotify account after diving into their musical history. I enjoyed so many songs off this album. I loved all the historical references and of course all the songs paying homage to Skynyrd and Ronnie Van Zant. Ronnie was killed in a plane crash back, in October 1977, after the plane ran out of gas. How the hell does that happen? In Let There Be Rock, he refers to Randy Rhoads, who also died in a plane crash when his pilot was being a dumbass. Angels and Fuselage, what a way to end the album. Gogdamn. And speaking of Let There Be Rock, saw the title, immediately thought of one of the greatest rock n roll singers of all time and got goosebumps when I heard his name! Bon Scott. Rock n Roll legend. But there is so much good with this album, I didn't even care it was a double album. This is the kind of album and music that I love to put on and spend the day on the back porch just vibing out. Grab my girl, put several beers on ice, fire up the bowl and just forget the bullshit in the world. The sound of some great music can cure a lot of things in this guy's world. I enjoyed this very much. I can't quite get to that magical 5, but this was real close for this listener. 4.5 Them Dirty Roses. Another great band from Alabama. Maybe I need to head down South next summer and see both!
3.5 I really didn’t come into this thinking it would be the kind of thing I’d like, but hearing my dad blast Them Dirty Roses over the past year or so must have rubbed off on me to some capacity because I actually quite enjoyed this album - there’s a lot of really catchy, rocking music here. At first, I did think it was weird how much of this is just kind of about Lynyrd Skynyrd, and in some ways, I still do (why would you focus your self-described “magnum opus” on another band?), but the arching narrative about the group starting growing on me across my listens. Granted, said narrative is pretty loosely tied together, but it is structured in ways that I thought were done well. In particular, I like how it kicks off with a sort of prologue about two high school kids found dead in a car crash and how Free Bird was still blasting by the time the ambulances arrived, leading into a story actually about the band - and Neil Young. I actually had no idea Ronnie and Neil had a friendship and mutual admiration despite their infamous callouts of each other, so I found the song just as informative as it is well-told and fun. After that, I sort of get lost in the plot, but the series of tracks that end the album - describing the fateful night of Skynyrd’s plane crash - is a great conclusion and send-off to the band this album inspired. Though, at the same time, I also think this could have maybe benefitted from a sort of epilogue track to bookend the opener and also just to not end on the note of the band’s death, but whatever, it still mostly works for me as-is. However, there are definitely some quirks to this album that stuck out to me. I genuinely do think the band’s intentions here are mostly grounded, and I don’t remember the exact context behind each of these mentions, so take this with a grain of salt, but there’s definitely a “south will rise again” quip or two and some confederate flag imagery. The biggest thing for me though was, besides just name-dropping Lynyrd Skynyrd like 125 times (despite I guess having never seen them), George Wallace was mentioned a weirdly frequent number of times - most of those on tracks titled, “Three Great Alabama Icons” and simply, “Wallace”. Look, I know they call the guy out for his racist actions on the songs and even mentions that the dude’s in Hell now, but I still can’t help but feel there’s a small hint of admiration in there. And yes, I’m also aware the dude did some good in his last few years of office by renouncing his past racist views and actually putting black Americans in government positions, but calling him a “great” just doesn’t sit right with me, especially over someone like, say, MLK. Totally realizing I’m overanalyzing the track though and will move on from the topic… though since the song mentions Bear Bryant, I also gotta throw an “F Bama” out there. Tbh, I’m not old enough to know much about Bear, but Lord knows I root against the Roll Tide any time I see them on my TV - unless they’re playing the University of Michigan. F them first and foremost always. Anyway, want to circle back to the positives - I really think just about every track here is enjoyable musically, though the first half as a whole in particular is far and away the best. While not bad, there’s a bit of fluff in the middle/back half that definitely could have been cut to help with the pacing, and honestly, I think my score here would have been even higher if they did. Though, I’ve gotta say, buried in that slump of the middle, the opening to Side 2 provided my favorite moment across my whole listen. There are a lot of great bands the guys give a shoutout to on Let There Be Rock, but I couldn’t help but smile when I realized what the song was building up to with the title. It was at the very mention of Bon Scott that I knew the album would go from good to great for my Dad, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t have nearly the same effect on me as well. A couple questionable themes aside, I think this is really solid Southern rock - pare this down just a bit, and you may quite possibly have my favorite album of the genre. Either way, I gotta imagine this would be a fun show to see live.
I just can't get behind music apologizing for George Wallace saying, "you just don't understand him"
Musically, this album is a fantastic rendition of southern rock with twanging guitars, gravelly vocals, and rebellious spirit. Conceptually, this album is re-litigating southern pride. These rockers who grew up in the racist south say "it's complicated" and "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater". They turn the mirror on the high-horse northerners. Unfortunately, it isn't up to some white rockers to decide the legacy of George Wallace and the Confederate flag. There is a nugget of truth in here though: I love America despite it being a fucked up place. Rebellious free spirit IS cool.
Meg
KKona Лучшая песня - Plastic Flowers on the Highway.
Why
Sounds like Lynyrd Skynyrd, clearly designed to do so, with fake-out introductions to some of the songs. Extremely self-indulgent / uncompromising, at more than 90 minutes these guys clearly had something to say and didn't care much if anyone wanted to listen. Aside from the length, it was unobjectionable but there is no way I am listening to any of this ever again.
Well the beginning of the album certainly sets a tone.
I'm sorry but I'm two songs in and I ain't finishing this shit
Sept, 17, 2024 Oh my god it's 1.5 hrs... I really like the album cover I think. I have the lyrics open to try and appreciate what they are saying in the songs bc I'm usually not a lyric person. Some of the songs have interesting lyrics kinda and then you're hit with a wtf line. Something something South rises up again??? Rises up again to do what exactly?? Do I even need to ask?? But then you're hit with The Southern Thing and I'm confused again (bc I'm probably not paying enough attention). I'm so bored and not even on Disc 2....... "...the devil is also a southerner" Okay I definitely feel like this is some sort of country punk with how wildly progressive these songs seem to be. I see a lot of other reviews complaining about how much they mention Lynyrd Skynyrd but like that's the point of the album. In the end just too long for me but I also get it. 3/5
Uh, interesting. I liked some aspects... other, less so; their voices, for example, are not all that great sometimes.
This is southern soulful goodness. Some tracks sound more amateur (like 72) while others are accomplished hard rock with Alabama DNA (Guitar Man Upstairs, The Southern Thing). Fully enjoyable and I'd love to have seen them live! Also, A+ for their spot-on roasting of George Wallace.
Woof. No notes, just.....what an exhausting experience. 1 song added to 1001 Experience Playlist and it wasn't even close to considering a second.
another groundbreaking record
I think this album presents me more often because it is difficult believe that this would be more likely
Wow. I don’t know if I like it, but I am damn impressed by it. Can’t believe more don’t talk about this one. Don’t know if I’m gonna listen again but I’m so glad I did.
I feel as if I were to enjoy this album too much, I would become the physical embodiment of what white trash truly is. But in all honesty, if you've heard 3 songs on this album, you've heard all 90+ minutes of it. I can't tell if they're being truly honest, or comically ironic, but this album is a strange wife-beater wearing, Natty Light-induced love letter to Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Wallace, and the state of Alabama.
Middle of the road southern rock. Nothing much to it
This might have been my most... unexpectedly awesome album thus far. This thing is phenomenal. Great tracks, all the way through. It tells a really good story, and the music is top notch. Really fun listen, and one I think I'll add to my regular listening rotation.
Southern rock opera describes it quite nicely. Sounds like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the like. Can run in the background quite nicely.
I know the band by name only. Dark first song, wow, quite the story and what an intro to the album. Can't say I love his voice across the first few songs, rough with no warmth (think Lemmy Kilmister). It switches to a softer delivery later and I believe "72", which is textbook new country, is sung by someone else altogether. Regardless this album is overall boring, not groundbreaking, no real hooks to want you to revisit and relisten, it plods along like a late 90's album. "Zip City" was the only tune I'd give a second listen if I was required to. A poor man's Seven Mary Three is what comes to mind. C- in my book! Definitely not Top 1001 worthy.
Saw these guys in concert a few years ago opening for Tedeschi Trucks Band... they did nothing for me then. Vanilla southern rock. After listening to this album in full... still nothing. In no way does release deserve to be 90+ minutes long, it's incredibly same-y throughout. DBT essentially dedicated an entire release to outlining the story of Lynyrd Skynyrd. I understand that Skynyrd == southern rock, but my god, the idea of a band writing, recording, and releasing a double-side album about a wholly separate band (no matter the genre) feels kind of sad. Skip this and go re-listen to '(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)'
I appreciate what it's doing. But it's very long and the music isn't super interesting. There's moments I like, some I didn't. A Desmond
If I was in a bar a few beers deep I could enjoy this. But if you are going to do any album that so closely sticks to one genre, ie southern rock, you can't afford to do such a long album. It gets stale. 2*
somehow I feel fatter after listening to this album
This one just isn't for me, it seems rather redneck white trash in my opinion. I remember everybody talking about it when it came out. I didn't like it then either. At least I gave it a full run through today.
Had no idea what to expect from this one, but I ended up enjoying it well enough. It's like a mix of Skynard (who gets referenced more than their fair share) and Tom Petty with some extra social commentary thrown in for fun. It's not the best southern rock I've heard, but it's far from the worst. I just wish it wasn't 90 minutes long.
I don’t get Lynyrd Skynyrd. I don’t get this. There were glimmers of something occasionally but then it would descend back in to samey stuff. And so long. I don’t care about the story. I did go and read up about George Wallace though. What a piece of work he was
3.5/5. I like the ambition.
I bought this album in high school. Loved it then. Still like it, just not as much.
Did not finish.
Lucky for them, I've been on a bit of an alt-country bend recently, so this came at the right time. Unlucky for them, I've been on a bit of an alt-country bend recently, and heard much better. Listen to Sixteen Horsepower if you want that good shit.
This is really good. It's tough to rate it highly, though, since the most interesting parts just make me want to listen to exile on main street, or AC/DC, or ZZ top.
I enjoyed this pretty much the entire time, nice listen. Torn between 3 and 4
Standout Track- Let There Be Rock
Very good Southern rock. But they have better.
I'm not familiar with Drive-By Truckers' music, and I don't think I've ever heard of this album. What really strikes me as odd is that I don't think I've ever heard any of my friends ever mention being fans of DBT. Living in Texas my whole life, and going to college in a small town in-state, I've known plenty of country music fans, but I really don't think I've ever heard anyone talk about these guys before. I'm really picky about my country music, and with a run-time of 90 minutes, I'm not so sure about this album, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Well, this album certainly wasn't to my liking, and the fact that it ate up an hour and a half of my day certainly didn't help. I guess I'll start with the things that I thought this album did well. I appreciate the vision behind this project, even though on paper, it's not really my kind of jam. It's a hell of an interesting concept, and it's even more interesting when you consider that this album was released in late September of 2001. I assume that current events may have played a part in this album's inability to find a wider audience. Still, even in the ten years leading up to 9/11, I can't think of any other country albums that were doing something similar to this. There are some pretty bold criticisms about the history and culture of the south on this album, and just as many questions about how to reconcile with something that's permeated your own personal past. The second half of the album is a lot more fun, especially musically, with some catchy songs like "Life In The Factory," "Shut Up And Get On The Plane," and "Greenville To Baton Rouge." Thematically, the second half of the album was much better than the first, as the band looks towards their present and future, and how their past plays a role. When it comes to the things that I didn't like about this album... well, there are many. Musically, it's pretty boring. I typically don't think of country music as being particularly great musically, but for something a little bit more country-rock, I'd expect something a little bit more unique. The guitar playing is competent, and even though there's plenty of it to go around, the riffs aren't memorable, and they're not doing anything new or profound. For an album that leans towards country music, I'd expect much better vocals than what was on this album. This album really lacks anything noteworthy when it comes to its sound, and that's a bummer, because the band clearly has some talent. The songwriting is fine, but first half of the album feels like someone took a Lynyrd Skynyrd biography, a term paper for AP American History, and a road trip memoir, and stapled some pages from each one together, in an attempt to create a single work. The multiple tones of each of those elements just didn't land with me. I think this album would have been much better if some of the fat could have been trimmed off, and if it wasn't trying to pull the listener in so many directions at once. I just couldn't get into this album, and it's definitely not something I'd return to.
I’m tempted just to give this five stars because of all the snarky comments about how it “sounds like Lynyrd Skynyrd“ but I’m going 4
Something I would never have discovered on my own, but I am glad I did. And while it is lacking the musical interest of the musicals, rock operas and prog rock epics that I love, the storytelling brings something fresh to the classic southern rock aesthetic.
This was pretty fire!
Southern Rock by the B team
nah
No idea what was going on here
**Southern Rock Opera** by Drive-By Truckers is a double album released in 2001 that stands as a complex, nuanced exploration of Southern identity, rock history, and personal mythologies. The album is ambitious, both in its narrative scope and in its blending of Southern rock, alt-country, and punk influences. Here's an in-depth review of the album, analyzing its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while also weighing its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics and Themes At the heart of *Southern Rock Opera* is its intricate narrative structure, which weaves together personal stories, cultural commentary, and an exploration of Southern rock mythology. The album is divided into two parts: the first focuses on the mythic rise and fall of a fictional Southern rock band, drawing heavily from the real-life history of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The second part dives deeper into the personal and collective struggles associated with Southern identity. #### 1. **Southern Identity and Mythology**: The album’s lyrics are steeped in a deep understanding of Southern culture, grappling with the region's complex heritage of pride, guilt, and rebellion. Songs like “Ronnie and Neil” and “The Southern Thing” address the tension between celebrating Southern pride and acknowledging the darker aspects of Southern history, particularly its associations with racism and the Civil War. The lyrics critically examine the South's cultural and historical contradictions without shying away from uncomfortable truths. “Ronnie and Neil” juxtaposes Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young, referencing their famous exchange through music (“Sweet Home Alabama” and “Southern Man”). The song explores the idea of duality, a recurring theme, where the pride in one's roots coexists with the recognition of the region’s flaws. **The Southern Thing** directly addresses this dichotomy, with lyrics like “Ain’t about no hatred better raise a glass” reflecting the complexities of Southern identity, refusing to be pigeonholed into a singular narrative. This song, like many others on the album, challenges the listener to confront these contradictions head-on. #### 2. **Rock Mythology and Tragedy**: The album uses the rise and fall of the fictional band Betamax Guillotine as a metaphor for the real-life trajectory of Lynyrd Skynyrd, particularly their tragic plane crash in 1977. “Angels and Fuselage,” the album’s closing track, is a haunting depiction of the crash, merging rock mythology with raw human emotion. The lyrics are visceral and evocative, capturing the terror and resignation of the moment with lines like “I've always heard that virtue ought to be its own reward” before the inevitable fall. This theme of tragedy is central to the album, highlighting how the rock and roll lifestyle often leads to self-destruction. Songs like “Dead, Drunk, and Naked” and “Let There Be Rock” explore the hedonistic, reckless abandon of the Southern rock scene, offering a gritty, unfiltered view of the excesses and their consequences. #### 3. **Personal and Collective Struggles**: Beyond the Southern rock narrative, the album delves into personal and collective struggles, particularly in relation to the South's turbulent history. “72 (This Highway's Mean)” reflects on the difficulty of life on the road, both literally and metaphorically, while “Zip City” tells a story of youthful disillusionment and frustration, set against the backdrop of a small Southern town. The lyrics are often poetic and laden with imagery, yet grounded in a raw, conversational style that makes the stories relatable. This mix of the grandiose and the intimate gives the album a rich, multi-layered texture that invites repeated listens and deeper contemplation. ### Music and Production Musically, *Southern Rock Opera* is a robust fusion of Southern rock, alt-country, and punk, reflecting the diverse influences that Drive-By Truckers bring to the table. The album's sound is gritty and raw, with a live, unpolished feel that adds to its authenticity. #### 1. **Southern Rock and Alt-Country Influences**: The album’s sound pays homage to the Southern rock giants of the 1970s, particularly Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose influence is palpable throughout. Songs like “Let There Be Rock” and “Ronnie and Neil” feature driving guitars, anthemic choruses, and a raw energy that captures the spirit of Southern rock. At the same time, the album incorporates elements of alt-country, evident in the more introspective tracks like “Shut Up and Get on the Plane” and “Plastic Flowers on the Highway.” These songs feature twangy guitars, slower tempos, and a more subdued, melancholic tone that balances the high-octane rockers. #### 2. **Punk and DIY Aesthetic**: The punk influence on *Southern Rock Opera* is less about the sound and more about the attitude and approach. The album was recorded with a DIY ethos, reflecting the band’s punk background and their commitment to maintaining creative control. This is evident in the album’s rough edges and raw production, which eschews the slickness of mainstream rock in favor of a more authentic, unfiltered sound. The production is intentionally lo-fi, with a garage rock aesthetic that matches the album's thematic focus on raw, unvarnished truth. This approach can be polarizing – some listeners may appreciate the authenticity and immediacy, while others might find the sound too rough or unpolished. #### 3. **Songwriting and Composition**: The songwriting on *Southern Rock Opera* is one of its greatest strengths, with each track serving a specific purpose in the overall narrative. The album’s structure is carefully crafted, with recurring motifs and themes that tie the songs together. Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley, the band’s primary songwriters, have a knack for storytelling, blending personal experiences with broader cultural commentary. The songs are often narrative-driven, with a cinematic quality that makes the album feel like a rock opera in the truest sense. Musically, the album is diverse, with each song exploring different facets of Southern rock and alt-country. The guitars are central to the sound, with layered riffs and solos that capture the essence of the genre. The rhythm section is solid and driving, providing a strong foundation for the album’s more expansive moments. ### Influence and Legacy *Southern Rock Opera* has had a significant impact on both the Southern rock genre and the broader alt-country scene. Its success helped to revitalize interest in Southern rock at a time when the genre was largely seen as a relic of the past. The album’s critical acclaim also helped to establish Drive-By Truckers as one of the leading bands in the alt-country movement. #### 1. **Revitalization of Southern Rock**: By drawing on the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd and other Southern rock bands, while also incorporating contemporary influences, *Southern Rock Opera* helped to bridge the gap between the old and the new. The album’s success demonstrated that Southern rock still had a place in the modern music landscape, and that it could be reinterpreted and recontextualized for a new generation. This revitalization was not just musical but also cultural. The album’s exploration of Southern identity resonated with listeners who were grappling with their own connections to the South, whether through heritage, geography, or cultural affinity. In this way, the album has contributed to ongoing conversations about Southern identity and its place in American culture. #### 2. **Impact on Alt-Country and Indie Rock**: Within the alt-country and indie rock scenes, *Southern Rock Opera* has been highly influential. Its blend of rock, country, and punk, along with its narrative-driven songwriting, has inspired countless bands and artists who seek to explore similar themes and sounds. The album’s success also paved the way for other bands to take risks with ambitious, concept-driven projects. Moreover, *Southern Rock Opera* has become a touchstone for discussions about the intersection of music and regional identity, with its nuanced exploration of the South serving as a model for other artists looking to engage with similar themes. The album's influence can be seen in the work of artists like Jason Isbell, who was briefly a member of Drive-By Truckers, and Sturgill Simpson, both of whom have continued to explore Southern identity in their music. ### Pros and Cons #### **Pros**: 1. **Complex and Nuanced Themes**: The album’s exploration of Southern identity, rock mythology, and personal struggles is deep and thought-provoking, offering listeners a rich narrative experience that goes beyond simple storytelling. 2. **Strong Songwriting**: The lyrics are poetic yet grounded, with vivid imagery and relatable characters. The album’s structure and recurring motifs add to its depth and cohesiveness. 3. **Authentic Sound**: The album’s raw, unpolished production and its blend of Southern rock, alt-country, and punk influences give it a distinctive, authentic sound that sets it apart from more mainstream offerings. 4. **Cultural and Musical Impact**: *Southern Rock Opera* has had a lasting influence on both Southern rock and alt-country, helping to revitalize interest in the genres and inspiring a new generation of artists. #### **Cons**: 1. **Length and Density**: At over 90 minutes long, *Southern Rock Opera* can be a challenging listen, particularly for those not already invested in the themes or the genre. Its density may require multiple listens to fully appreciate. 2. **Rough Production**: While the raw production adds to the album’s authenticity, it may also be a drawback for some listeners who prefer a more polished sound. The lo-fi aesthetic can make certain tracks feel cluttered or uneven. 3. **Niche Appeal**: The album’s focus on Southern rock history and Southern identity may not resonate with all listeners, particularly those unfamiliar with the cultural references or uninterested in the genre’s themes. 4. **Occasional Pacing Issues**: The album’s pacing can be uneven, with some tracks feeling overly long or less essential to the overall narrative. This can make the album feel somewhat sprawling and unwieldy at times. ### Conclusion *Southern Rock Opera* by Drive-By Truckers is a landmark album that combines ambitious storytelling with a deep exploration of Southern identity and rock mythology. Its strengths lie in its complex themes, strong songwriting, and authentic sound, which together create a powerful and evocative listening experience. However, its length, rough production, and niche appeal may limit its accessibility for some listeners. Ultimately, *Southern Rock Opera* stands as a bold and innovative work that challenges both its genre and its audience. It remains a significant album in the canon of Southern rock and alt-country, not only for its musical contributions but also for its cultural commentary. Its legacy continues to resonate, influencing both the music world and broader discussions about Southern identity and heritage.
Do you think they’re fans of Lynrd Skynrd? I actually really like the commentary on the culture of the south and heavy criticism on racism, definitely wasn’t expecting that. Not usually a fan of songs like it but Three Great Alabama Icons is a good example of that commentary Otherwise I feel a bit checked out and idk what’s happening in the story lol Interesting how the second a woman starts singing (Cassie’s Brother) the entire vibe becomes 10x cooler. Hmm🤔
It’s a Southern thing.
I think the actual concept of the album is really good, I haven't seen anything like it before, with that being said however, if you take away the concept part, you're left with far too much plain blueish music. There's definitely some highlights, but not near enough to justify it's length.
I’m a sucker for southern rock and good storytelling. The killer guitar solos don’t hurt either. I’m definitely coming back to this one.
Wow some southern rock that is rooted in some substantial soil. Guitar Man Upstairs is a good track on side A. Wow, Three Great Alabama Icons is coming right at me. A really self aware southern rock album. Though it is really doing a lot of work to try and like rescue(?), be in homage to(?) Skynard. Which is annoying because it feels like you can't approach this by itself on its own merits. has to be a must listen to fans of the genre, and a great perspective piece. but not for me.
Nicht meine Richtung
I’ve always known the name Drive-By Truckers, but never listened to them until now. I have to admit, I really enjoyed this album. It’s got that Southern and heartland rock vibe with strong country influences. The raw, gritty production quality really brings out the garage pub and bar sound of the band. It’s a bit of a long album, but overall, I found it really enjoyable. I’m definitely open to exploring more of their music moving forward.
Good enough that I could listen to the whole thing. 3.5
If one has to listen to an alt country rock band, one could do worse. Good pedigree.
2.4/5 listened 2x. long album and a few good tracks, but not interested to come back to it.
God I hate this album. 90 fucking minutes of a bunch of hicks singing about Alabama and Skynyrd. What the hell
Slightly long album. But I can kinda see my self listening to this again. Its not my usual listen but I like it
Although the quality is not very good, it was quite fun.
Incredibly generic
Admittedly this album has a high cringe factor. But for some reason I could also really enjoy it for what it is. Was not bored for the whole 90 minutes.
Decent at times but they had no business making it this long
I’ve tried many times to get into this band cause they’re on a lot of lists but it’s just not my thing. It’s an interesting concept I guess, but a double album? I gave it more of a try this time than I have in the past but still.. not hitting me. 2 points for them committing to the concept though.
So, I had a coworker tell me I had to listen to this album a few months ago. He said it was a life changing album. I listened. I'm just not getting the same feeling. This is actually my least favorite type of music. These guys are good at storytelling while jamming, but it isn't any story to which I can relate, nor is it the type of music I like. I can recognize their talents, and there are people this is for, but it ain't me, babe. If these guys were playing in city market in downtown Savannah, I would probably stop and listen for a couple minutes, then move along. I guess Birmingham is my favorite, because I lived there. Three Great Alabama Icons was a neat story. I enjoyed it. I will say, this album seemed to get better as it went on, but still not my jam.
"Days of Gradutaion" kicks off Southern Rock Opera like a haunting Tommy The Cat: a spoken prose poetically telling a story of a guy trying to get the girl. But generally the album is laid-back rock with a Southern lean at times; with different vocals, many of these tunes could pass as Tom Petty. Though there are occassional groovy riffs and an extra measure or two ("The Southern Thing"), Southern Rock Opera is mostly standard chord progressions with some good soloing. I can't tell if there is more than one singer but there IS more than one singing style; the vocals are showcased in "Moved," which sounds just like a dude in his garage playing and singing for himself without minding the people outside jogging or walking their dogs. For some, this raw approach may be comforting but for me it hits a little too close to open mic at the local bar, pouring your heart out to a crowd that is--ironically--unmoved and couldn't care less. "Three Great Alabama Icons" serves as a great intro into "Wallace" and clearly establishes that they do not subscribe to the racist mentality associated with the Deep South. (I couldn't help but think that the narrative was delivered in a style similar to Nada Surf's "Popular.") It shouldn't be a revolutionary statement for country or southern rock but it is, and it claims there is more to the Southern lifestyle than just its racist roots. I like that they put that sentiment out there and dissuade assholes from coming to their shows. Overall, middle of the road rock whose only ambition is the album length. They take no chances. I can enjoy this at a festival while in line to get beer and find a spot to await the next band's performance. As typical I'm knocking off a star for being on the list, but I'm adding another for incoroporating the storytelling direction of songs, and for bravely telling their crowd they don't want bigots. Very punk of them. Net gain/loss: 0
Well, even though I'm Southern, I guess, and even though I grew up listening to a lot of music courtesy of my musician father, I never really listened to Southern Rock, and I don't have a very strong Southern identity, at least compared to some other Southerners I have seen, so I'm probably not the target audience for this. I didn't mind it too much, though. The music was pretty straightforward "bar rock," but the lyrical concept was kind of intriguing, all of these Southern Gothic vignettes intertwined with...Lynyrd Skynyrd lore?! Speaking of Skynyrd, I was never much into them, so it might have helped me enjoy this album if I was. However, after listening to this entire album and paying attention to the lyrics, I feel like I learned a lot about the band, whether I was curious to know or not. But I thought it was interesting how the overarching theme used Skynyrd as a device to contemplate, even wrestle with Southern identity. Can you like Skynyrd, can you be Southern, without being a racist asshole? I get the feeling that the band needs the answer to be yes, and they (like many younger Southerners) are trying to forge a way forward in the shadow of all of these horrific historical events while holding on to the good things about being Southern, letting the rest stay in the past.
This was ok. I started playing bass guitar in bands when I was about 13 or 14 years old. Playing many shows in the south, I remember playing alongside bands that sounded like these guys. To me it's music without much complication or technicality. I've never played music after drinking alcohol because I was always too scared to make mistakes because of being buzzed. I felt like I always tried to challenge myself to make things interesting and just do the type of bass playing that could sit in the background. This music though sounds like it could be played after drinking moderate amounts of whiskey. Again, nothing too demanding. Southern rock is not really my thing, although I do have a lot of respect for the Allman Brothers, I can take the genre in small doses. This project is kind of highlighting to me certain types of music that don't really pull me in.
can only describe this as johnny depp music pluspunkt für antirassismus?
Bearable at the end lol
This gives me some real mixed feelings. I didn't find it 'fun' to listen to, but it was insightful into a culture that I'm perhaps a little too harsh on. I think I liked it, and I would want to read the lyrics for some of songs here again, like 'Three Great Alabama Icons', but I don't want to listen to it another time.
Not the best. But not the worst. Some decent music and good playing.
Cross the gothic edges of Nick Cave, mix in the storytelling of Bruce Springsteen and George Thoroughgood's southern humour and put it behind some chicken wire in a truck stop. It doesn't get much more "out there" or unexpected than this. I thought it was satire at first but it was too well produced to dismiss. I really got into this interesting damaged music. Intelligent, surprising and varied southern stories with some gothic touches and humour. Then some history.
I found Lynyrd Skynyrd’s second album, Second Helping, pretty early on & was a fan right up until the 1977 plane crash ended the career of the original band. So when I realised what this album was about, I became pretty engaged with the way these southern boys were going to tell that story & I think they do a pretty good job. I read all of the lyrics as I was listening. In Ronnie & Neil, they look at the relationship between the band & Neil Young, who had effectively castigated southern attitudes in Southern Man(1970),which the band name-checked in Sweet Home Alabama. But they also pretty much recite the band’s history, in songs like Guitar Man Upstairs & Life In The Factory ( mentioning how they opened for the Stones & the Who). And they also look at Alabama’s history in four consecutive tunes - Birmingham (re Governor George Wallace); The Southern Thing (takes us from the Civil War & Robert E. Lee to Martin Luther King); Three Great Alabama Icons (George Wallace, Ronnie Van Zandt & Bear Bryant - apparently one of America’s most famous football coaches), a seven-minute spoken word piece; and Wallace ( a pretty funny song about Wallace’s reception in hell). I There are probably too many songs that relate to the plane crash, although I do like Shut Up & Get On The Plane - “Living in fear’s just another way of dying before your time” is a line I definitely identify with. Other standouts for me are Let There Be Rock, in which they list the bands they saw live without ever seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd - Blue Oyster Cult, Molly Hatchet, 38 Special, Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, who also died in a plane crash, & AC/DC - which ends with the line : “ With Bon Scott singing, let there be rock!”; Zip City - a touching tale of bogan young love; & Plastic Flowers On The Highway - a sad but universal tale that is all too common. I’m so glad to have been introduced to this album.
Well, "southern rock" and "rock opera" are both red flags for me, so I went into this with some trepidation. Neither are my thing. But this album lacked the macho posturing and barely concealed racism that tends to blight the former and the ridiculous plotting and clever clogs pretention that ruins the latter. It is straight forward rock. I really dig the ragged and unpolished production. They can craft a tune, they can play rock, and there is enough grit in it to feel real and heart-felt. Points against: it is still a bit bloated, a sin that affects all double albums. There are songs that could definitely been trimmed, and it can geta bit repetitious. I wish they had the intestinal fortitude to whittle it down to the strongest material (maybe at the cost of the narrative cohesion), and it would have made a really strong single album. And the cover art is frankly ugly. And did we really need another ode to the burdens of the road? It's well crafted, but I have heard most of this before (although my favourite song was Road Case, a fresh take on touring life).
Southern Rock Opera is a somewhat silly yet really interesting record about the South, more importantly, the misunderstood and mysterious “duality of the South”—it’s a record in praise of both Lynyrd Skynyrd AND Neil Young, a record that reviles racism yet can sing the strange praises of a controversial and complicated man like George Wallace. Nevertheless, a lot of the songs seem lazy and un-memorable.
Headache-Stuff
Skynyrd meets Vutthole Surfers (with a little Black Crowes). I should like it, but I don't.
A lot of this album was just generic country rock to me, with a heavy lean in name dropping bands they liked. Then the tracks about the Alabama Icons made me sit up and listen. I thought they were really passionate and informative. Then it was back to generic country rock. At least it’s pre 9/11, so it’s not infused with misguided patriotism.
I like large parts of this and it didn't feel too long for a double album. That's enough for a 4.
Worst album ever.
Hillbilly rock. Ok, music if you’re into that. No real hits.
Some decent southern rock, so-so vocals and a flat out no for the tribute to racist panderer George Wallace
Perhaps went on a little too long but I won't hold that against it. Brilliant album in the main. Loved it.
Interesting album. Didn't mind it and liked the story but very long
6/10, сомнительно но оукээээй
I was ready to dismiss this album as an unwelcome defense of a South with the old references to Neil Young and for Northerners to stay out of Southern business. And maybe they just wanted to put a barrier for only the interested or committed to reach track eight “Three Great Americans,” which was a genuine education for me. I had no idea that Sweet Home Alabama was a character’s perspective, that Young loved the track, the deeper story of George Wallace, or the story of the singers themselves. And it brought me to a real appreciation of their histories, the storytelling and the artistry that went into this and the rest of the album. But why the hell would you stick this track so deep into the album? It clarifies everything? Almost seems like a “you don’t get to understand me till you see me at my worst,” which is shitty behavior whether that’s a Southern thing or not. Just throw it at the first couple of tracks and teach someone something. Damn. Otherwise, a great, epic album.
I have a lot to say about this album. It’s the album that I’ve been most excited to see included on this list so far, as I think it’s under appreciated despite its acclaim among those that have listened to it. If you want to categorize it as such, I think it’s the best “southern rock” album ever made. I think Drive-By Truckers are one of the best and probably the most criminally under-listened to and underrated American rock bands of all time. Most of all, I think this album is the most effective work of art I’ve ever seen at articulating the human culture in the southern United States. I grew up (and still live) in the south and at some point I recognized, but couldn’t quite put my finger on, a contrast between what were described as southern values and the actions and behaviors I witnessed and read about in southern history. I was raised in a very conservative home in a very politically and culturally conservative region, and I grew up thinking that the “Bible belt” was the kindest and most hospitable place on earth. Over time, I also witnessed occasional implicit (sometimes explicit) racism and even more frequent homophobia and general intolerance of people that were slightly off from southern norms. I didn’t know how to describe it until I heard Patterson Hood’s words “the duality of the southern thing”. That’s nail meets head into some deep deep shit. Southern Rock Opera loosely follows the career of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but I think it’s more effective to listen to it as allegory for living in the south. There’s beauty, ugliness, kindness, cruelty, love, hate, wealth, poverty, triumph and tragedy all woven into the southern thing and represented in this album. It does another important thing: it walks through some of the history of why the south has a reputation for racism while acknowledging an overlooked attribute of the southern thing: not everyone is racist! The Three Great Icons of Alabama is the core of Southern Rock Opera to me, and it tells a story of the social dangers of politician pandering and how they may sell their soul for votes at the expense of the reputation of their people. This is something that has always bothered me in the United States: the south is not the only place where racism (and homophobia, etc.) exists! This doesn’t excuse Jim Crowe and other systemic issues that were more prevalent in the south and perpetuated by politicians by Wallace, but it highlights that at an individual level racism was not siloed on the south: it’s rampant throughout our nation. Racial issues aren’t the only topic here. This album is full of great stories. Mike Cooley (one of the two criminally underrated songwriters in this band) crushes it on Zip City, a small town tale of a horny teenager weighing prostitution against his girlfriend’s chastity and southern Christian father. Cooley also presents Whisky Without Women, with lyrics that poignantly present the alcoholic’s dilemma: “You know the bottle ain't to blame and I ain't trying to It don't make you do a thing it just lets you.” The other brilliant songwriter in the band, Patterson Hood, puts together most of the story of the southern thing: Ronnie and Neil, Let There Be Rock, Plastic Flowers on the Highway, Greenville to Baton Rouge, and the heart wrenching finale Angels and Fuselage string together the Lynyrd Skynrd story in a brilliant way that’s bigger that the band it focuses on. The last song is about the plane crash that killed most of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, which has these haunting words about those last seconds: “I’m scared shitless, of what’s coming next and I’m scared shitless, these angels I see in the trees are waiting for me.” Anyway: this album also ROCKS. Hood and Cooley shred throughout the record with a dueling guitar attack that sounds like 12 guitars at times. The songs are incredibly written too: each song is great as its own story but each also fits into the larger concept presented on the album, an essential element of an album masterpiece. It’s absolutely insane that the band hired a 22 year old Jason Isbell, one of rock’s great current talents and one of the best songwriters in recorded music history, to go on tour to support this album. If you haven’t heard the music of the Drive-By Truckers, listen to their albums Decoration Day, The Dirty South, and American Band as soon as possible, then listen to all their other albums because they’re all good to great. Listen to all of Jason Isbell’s music too if you haven’t yet.
Listenable throughout with lots of fun references to Southern culture, but nothing stands out musically in 90+ minutes. Mediocre southern rock.
Rough, but some nice tracks on the record
Got about halfway through. Couldn’t vibe
A bit of a slog to say the least, and really not even very operatic.
It sounds like it wants to be grungy southern rock, but it is too produced and musically and lyrically banal to be exceptional in either of those genres.
Nope. 🙂↔️
I was interested to listen to this album. I really like the song. “Gravity’s Gone” by Drive-By Truckers and had always meant to listen to more. I definitely think they are a good band, and I think they have some good songs here, I like the entire package, but I wasn’t necessarily blown away.
Preeeeeety long
Interesting album, a bit more country than I gravitate towards, but it’s not bad. I found myself listening to “Three Great Alabama Icons” twice trying to decipher the message. I feel like I give most albums 3 stars, but here I am again with a 3 star review.
So many good songs, so many great lines. An interesting attempt at trying to explain their "duality of the southern thing" - worth reading more from Patterson about the album and his life in the south. He's far more thoughtful about it than anyone else I've run across. I can't really be objective here - this is another album I've heard way too many times. For probably a full year I'd blast "Greenville To Baton Rouge" every Friday evening as I was leaving a shitty job. And this could be 5 stars for "Zip City" alone. I wish that song had been around when I was in high school. But, the whole album is incredible - well worth your time! I get 10 miles to the gallon, I ain't got no good intentions…
Pretty good, I much prefer the DBT with Jason Isbell, just my personal preference. I think he joined right after this album (and actually toured with them performing this) -- Decoration Day is at top 20 song for me..
Canciones favoritas: -Guitar Man Upstairs -Birmingham -The Southern Thing -Moved (es distinta al resto, me gusta el efecto de la guitarra, tranqui) -Greenville to Baton Rouge -Angels And Fuselage (por fin una armónica aaaaaaaaa) La primera canción (Days of graduation) me dio meras vibras de Fire Coming out of the Monkeys Head. Siento que con la segunda canción ya escuché todo el álbum :/ (espero que no sea así) pura música de camionero gringo (LA ULTIMA CANCION SE LLAMA ANGELES Y FUSELAJE O SEA...) 🫠🤢. No creo que lo vaya a escuchar completo, (no soy xenofobica pero) aparte 4 de los 5 miembros son de alabama jajajsjsjjs, definitivamente no lo voy a escuchar completo xd y apaaarte está re largo wtf... A ver, voy en la mitad y ya estoy saltando las canciones porque todas suenan igual (papaparara papaparara me aburriiiii), la guitarra está bacanita. No pude escucharlo completo de verdad, no es para nada mi género. Chau
This was kinda cool actually lol. I liked the music and the sound of the production but the vocals were too much for me honestly. Obviously campy on purpose but sometimes it was a lil beyond the pale for me
Well this is a weird one. First few songs in an I think I've got what's going on. It's a southern rock band doing a concept album, a spawling, overlong bunch of songs that sound good while they're on but are pretty much forgettable - and I'm thinking of how they could learn from Alice Cooper's School's Out - a really tight, creative and varied rock opera. But then Southern Rock Opera kind of gets under my skin, and when it eventually ends I start it again. It's really nice having it doing it's grungy, funky thing. The lyrics take turns being smart/funny/demented. Excited I've found a new band to get into I look them up on Wiki and see this is an early album . So I dive into some of their other stuff, but it seems like they get more and more country. I liked this lo-fi, grungy Lynard Skynard vibe. I wish there was a version of Southern Rock Opera with better songs. I won't put any of these in a playlist, but I'll probably put it on again soon. Like I said - weird.
Not for me
Good album. Southern rock-infused grunge. The album is lyrically interesting as well. I live in a northern state and the album challenges a number of the stereotypes we “northerners” hold against the south. Also, saw a review that gave this album 1 star and just said “I’m from Europe” bahahaha.
This is the kind of country album that would be mentioned in a pre-9/11 indie film, championed by the leading man (played by Ethan Hawke or Matt Dillon) while he’s driving, yapping about the poetic depth of the lyrics to the Manic Pixie Dream Girl (played by Heather Graham), who’s dressed like Stevie Nicks, not paying attention to a word he said, using the glove box to paint her toenails, and the scene is meant to add to the general theme of the film that Gen X’s apathy to American patriotism contradicts the fact that they are a generation emblematic of America itself. And I, in turn, would’ve seen this movie and ran out to buy this album, loving it before I even pressed play, and loving more as I actually listened to it. For a Northern chick, maybe I’m more of a country gal than I thought, and I’m totally okay with this newfound revelation!
Reminds me of the time a skinhead walked into my shop - full gear, bovver boots and bomber jacket, and I thought uh-oh, then I saw a badge at his lapel saying, skinheads against racism. That made me relax, but imagine picking a look that needed a disclaimer. It's like a southern rock parody of System of a Down. Rock for a bit, then read out screeds of political history. The South will rise again! But, but, not in a racist way, you understand. Anyway, this next song is about a racist politician - which we're against, by the way, just to be clear. Yeehaw. In conclusion, Skynyrd, Alabama, and Skynyrd again. Thanks for coming to our TED talk y'all
bless their hearts
Having found myself enjoying the opening track I was hopeful but it soon started to feel a drag. There is a decent album to be had if half the tracks had been dropped. The skynard worship was also starting to piss me off after about 20 minutes
Phenomenal album
This blows.
way too good way better than expected
Sorry, this is just too damn long.
This one surprised me with how much I enjoyed it.
very enjoyable.
They made a long album and they can play, but I'm not at all feeling it.
Sloppy rock
This album has character. Really great listen. Never heard of them before. So glad I listened. Standouts: The Three Great Alabama Icons, Days of Graduation, Moved, 4/5
First song has all the southern rock tropes, all of them. Second, same. Third, same. I'm not going to give this 90 minutes of my day. Gawd, takes me back to the days of my cover band in the 80s. We'd be playing Dire Straits or Doobie Brothers or something 70 ish and about the 3rd set some damn drunk in the back would start calling for Sweet Home Alabama. Yea, we could play it but it was kinda the Freebird for drunk men who liked to fight. Then there were the drunk women who would scream "WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" at the top of their lungs about the same time. And I could barely breathe for all the smoking. Memories I had forgotten. The band was so much fun. This stuff, not so much. Such boring stuff is made for endless cases of cheap beer. 2 stars.
Great.
Rock clássico que desenvolve bem até acabar o primeiro disco.
I went into it open minded but I couldn't listen to it. I just hate this sound in my ears.
No
Kind of a budget rate Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynryd mash up. Definitely emulating the southern rock style, but trying to be more modern/contemporary. It was ok, not really my thing. I'd rather listen to actual Allman Brothers
Didn’t like it
Southern rock is generally not my favorite, but with that said this is definitely a highlight of the genre. It contains interesting lyrics as well, touching on some political themes throughout.
a southern rock/alt-country kinda album about the duality of the South (esp Alabama) that provides some interesting descriptions and tales of Southern culture - generally through the context of Lynyrd Skynyrd… The lyrics/vocals and the guitars are what stand out to me, with a raw sound that’s both serious and fun, and often powerful. The 94 minute runtime is a lot to take it, but this is an interesting record to share the perspective of the good and bad of the South. Disc 1 is solid but drags at the end (should have ended with Three Great Alabama Icons) Disc 2 is the opposite - starts a little boring but the later songs bring the heat.
The music for this album is pretty cool. The focus on the South is a bit hard for me to grab onto as a concept, which makes the song Three Great Alabama Icons a bit of a slog, since I don't give a shit about any of those people. Having so many songs about Lynard Skynard (or however you spell it) doesn't really work in their favor. This being a double album also really makes you feel the length as you listen to it. Overall, it's fun Southern rock, but I was hoping for a more focused album, or at least a differently focused album 3/5
Very boring.
A lot of my favourite albums/movies/tv shows are ones that feel disctintive to a time and place and culture. In addition to being just a flat out awesome rock album, the album transports you to the late 90s/early 00s rural south. I feel like I’m drinking a beer in a field somewhere with a bunch of dudes with Skynard sleeveless shirts. It helps when you have Cooley and Hood writing all the songs too.
4.1 I thought for sure this was going to be 5 for me. I think DBT are one of the better bands in the 00's and 10's. But it is the same with most other double albums, some of the material sounds similar and gets repetitive. I like the concept and like the album a great deal, but not a 5. jason-schweizer gave it a 1, that's absurd, he should have to justify that rating
Helppoa rockia. Levynä olisi merkittävästi parempi jos karsisi 50% biiseistä pois joutavana täytteenä. Nyt jäi kolmas tähti saamatta.
Yllättävä uutuus. Tosin pituus söi pisteitä. Sopivan mittaisena olis ollut lähellä nelosta
Molto carine, del genere che piace a me. Dopo un po' tutte uguali.
Never heard of the band before today. I miss yesterday
Really good sound, didn’t find myself getting tired of listening to it.
The title says it all. And it’s not a good thing. 2 stars
Solid. Of a theme. But lame. That being said, fun. Classic Dad rock. I can see myself jamming out to this in a dirty bar if the band was playing live after a few too many beers. No hate.
Never heard of this combo but as ever willing to give it a listen. Haven’t listened much to US southern rock and bits I have heard not really my scene. As always gave it a listen and in fairness the album started well and pricked my interest. However as I got deeper into the album it all became a bit the same with the music and vocals beginning to grind. Reminded me a lot of Neil Young and Tom Petty but not has talented. References to Lynard Skynyrd meant nothing to me. Nothing here to see. 2/5 30/4/24
Intriguing double album that at one point had me looking up info on George Wallace.
southern rock just isn’t my cup of tea. this album runs for far too long imo. interesting concept tho
The song The Great Alabama Icons is a five star song. It’s hard to keep that level up for a whole two disc album. These guys come pretty close. I didn’t know this album before and am very glad to know about it now. I’ll come back to it for sure.
The biggest sin this album commits it's overstating it's welcome. I really think that if they had trimmed at least 1/3 of it, it would be a much tighter and quality album. The songwriting is compelling for the most parts with some interesting ones such as the opening track, zip city and three Alabama icons among others. Unfortunately most of the album is just forgettable tho I will admit this is not rrally my thing, I can see how someone who appreciates southern rock, culture and this type of storytelling will definitely enjoy this more. Deserves to be in this list nonetheless.
Ziemlich langweilige Songs mit ziemlich abgedroschenen Soli. Nix besonderes.
Terrible voice. Idc about Alabama.
fuck you
Idc
Me: doesn’t feel like listening to the Dead album yesterday, too long Generator: Ok, here’s a much longer album for you today. Me: Ok Both impressive and slightly disappointing. Impressive in the focus on the South being more nuanced & bittersweet than I expected; disappointing in the racist politicians, drunk driving, & fiery plane crashes all kinda get the same musical treatment, so even after a more uplifting song like “Let There Be Rock” I still kinda felt mired down. It does have a strong finish, at least, considering it’s like a 22 minute-long “Detroit Rock City” but about Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crash. Those final 4 songs arguably have the finest guitar work of the record as well. In several of the songs there are background vocals, either noise picked up by the mic or ghost vocals from a different take; either way it’s kinda creepy to listen to with headphones. Finally, I have copy/pasted my favourite lines from the album: “To the fuckin’ rich man, all the people look the same” “Ain’t no use thinking about it / You’ll just drive yourself insane” HL: “Dead, Drunk and Naked”, “The Southern Thing”, “Wallace”, “Moved”, “Life in the Factory”, “Greenville to Baton Rouge” April 24, 2024
Great album Standout songs: Ronnie and Neil Dead, drunk, and naked Plastic Flowers on the Highway Angels and Fuselage
Jeez an hour and a half though?
Interesting listen. Enjoyed the album but most likely wont be a relisten
I gotta be honest this looks and sounds awful. I don’t think I have any interest in it at all. There are so many other good southern rock albums to listen to. This is just not it.
Southern Rock Opera is double-disc, concept album from Drive-By Truckers. They imagine a world through the eyes of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band plays heavy guitar drive, Southern country rock, and Southern Rock Opera was the break-through release. The band "crowd-funded" the album, before crowd-funding was a term. The strong critical reception to the album led to a re-release, and the band began tour nationally. The band's gritty, rich sound became part of the mixture of popular alt-rock in the aughts and the 10s. This album is a daring attempt to express the "duality of the Southern thing." The song "Three Great Alabama Icons" is a spoken word piece at the center of this theme. It voices the tension of a culture that is addressing its racist past.
Actually surprised me first song was really good and pumped me but it went down a notch from that initial start. Still this band susrpised me and the album is much better than what I ever expected.
Authentic sounds. Started really well but for me tailed off a bit.
goed, zeer goed, maar beetje teveel Lynyrd Skynyrd referenties om goed te zijn... OK, het is een conceptalbum dat deels over hen gaat, maar toch... nu, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neil Young, beetje ZZ Top, beetje Eels ... je kan bij mindere goden leentjebuur spelen... toch duurt de plaat me net iets te lang voor de volle vijf sterren...
I really tried to get through this. It’s so boring and just as awful as it is long.
Good actually.
...
Not for me. Too long with a couple OK songs mixed in.
What can I say. When this guy hears a guitar scale, he gives a 3 minimum!
There's some fun southern rock here but it wears out its welcome rather quickly - one disc would have been enough.
meh
I found this to be really forgettable - the music played but none of it had any impact - positive, negative or otherwise! It's not bad - just, well, meh!
We get it. You like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alabama. Geaux Tigers.
Southern Rock Opera. Un poco rollo.
Like it more than I expected
Quite long, but some good stuff on there.
Pretty good
This is a tough one for me as I am a DBT fan (particularly the Isbell years), but I do think this album is a bit overrated and is definitely too long. The "southern rock" sound is in full force which I think was part of the point, but some of the songs are just unnecessary and not very good. I feel like this could be a 4 star effort with about 6-8 fewer tracks on the album which would really help highlight the stronger ones, but that's not the route they took here, so 3 stars it is.
It’s just too friggin long. They have a decent sound. They could probably open for Hootie and the Blowfish one day.
Lol! I've 790 albums in and just can't waste my time on derivative newbies mimicking 70's classics. They sound like a load of drunk guys having a laugh in someone's garage. There are so many better albums and bands out there that aren't even on the chart. They couldn't even be bothered to spend money on a proper cover.........
excellent old time
Enjoyed this album. Wasn't a hard rocking album, but there was still an edge. There was definitely a strong Southern Rock vibe throughout, and that was refreshing.
Zzzzzzzzzzz
way too long. Had some alright songs but mostly same-y garbage. Favorite Track - Days of Graduation
Let’s just pretend I listened to this whole thing
I enjoyed the up-tempo southern rock and booze-drenched storytelling that encompasses this sweeping double album. Lyrically, there is a lot to like about SRO as well, given the lyrics that don't shy away from the history of racism and "redneck-ery" (is that a word? It is now) that so many think of when "the south" is mentioned. "Three Great Alabama Icons" gives us a spoken-word history lesson about segregation and frontman Patterson Hood's experiences with this topic growing up. Given the 90-minute length of this double album, I don't see myself relistening often and perhaps ever again (I docked a star because it starts to drag toward the end of the second disk), but I enjoyed it overall and give it a 3/5. There are some strong tracks scattered across this southern fried thing. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: * A double album covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 1970s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the context of legendary Southern band Lynyrd Skynyrd. *According to (former Drive-By Truckers frontman) Patterson Hood, "(the album) was recorded in Birmingham, upstairs in a uniform shop during an early September heat wave, with no air-conditioning. We had to turn the fans off when we were recording, and we worked from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. So Southern Rock Opera was fun to write, but we had a miserable time making it." *After the album was finished...the troubles continued for The Truckers when they ran out of funding for the immense project. To resolve the problem, and to avoid "any fine print crap", as Hood put it, the band took a non-traditional approach. The Truckers made a prospectus and solicited investors, with a promise of 15% interest, to pay for the manufacturing and distribution of Southern Rock Opera. The approach worked. Through their fan-based online news group and by sheer word of mouth, The Truckers were able to raise $23,000. This allowed them to print about 5,000 copies of the album and buy a "new" used van for touring. [From a Stereogum article that reflected back on the 20 year anniversary of Southern Rock Opera] *Originally intended for self-release on Soul Dump Records on Sept. 11, 2001, the sprawling double album was delayed a day when the printer closed early following that day’s terrorist attacks. As a result, the band sold its first copies of Southern Rock Opera during a concert in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Sept. 12. A year later, after the musicians had moved an initial 10,000 units on their own, the album was reissued by Lost Highway Records, the Nashville-based Universal subsidiary that was quickly becoming a standard-bearer in the so-called “alt-country” scene via releases from the likes of Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, and Robert Earl Keen." Standout Tracks: Ronnie and Neil, Dead, Drunk And Naked, Three Great Alabama Icons, Let There Be Rock, Women Without Whiskey, Shut Up And Get On The Plane 3 stars
unapologetically southern rock
Bless their hearts. Not old Southern rock (Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd) but a sweet tribute to them. Fine background music.
Not very exciting
Very surprised. actually not that bad at all. Has some ballads Stories and good country. Won't listen again, but was OK
cultura southern al 100% piacevole ma di una lunghezza esasperante. do 3 stelle anche se sarei più da 2
Rate instance I couldn't finish.. awful
Reading through the reviews, I thought this was going to be terrible, but I liked it. Maybe because I'm southern...IDK? Nothing revolutionary or anything, but a fun listen. Knocking off a point because it is just too long and they talk about Lynard Skynard too much. 4/5
Ended up liking it much more than expected.
Women w/o whiskey is okay.
Too long, but the instrumentals were pretty good
Hvað skal segja... þetta er ekki andstyggilega tónlist, voða meinlaus suðurríkjarokks hljóðheimur, en það er ekkert sem grípur, og ein röddin sérstaklega léleg. Var að velta fyrir mér tvisti sympatico, en ég enda í ás. Fullkomlega óþörf hlustun.
When it came out I am sure they were going for Southern Rock but in the 20 years since it came out, it just sounds like a lot of the underground country music that I am sure they inspired. Unfortunately, I grew in an area where that is basically the only type of music you can see live on a regular basis, so I'm kind of burnt out on it. There are also a lot of bands that I think have done it better since this album came out. Props for being trendsetters but not a huge fan of the album.
Kind of a trip and I didn't hate it.
If you take away the comparisons and references to Lynyrd Skynyrd, you're left with an above average alt-country band that reminds me of Whiskeytown, a bit of Tom Petty, early Wilco, Molly Hatchet and maybe even the Beat Farmers. Epic in length and ambition, there is lots to love, but maybe there's too much to listen to. So many songs and two acts (and discs), if was pared down it could have had more impact. Sprawling and over an hour and a half, it's a pretty big time commitment and while most of it pays off, it is a really good album, but you really have to be in the mood for the complete southern rock opera. 3 1/2 ***
An ambitious project, having a rock opera all about living in the south, especially for an at the time very small band (they had to get fans and friends to help pay for its completion). There are some great songs here with great lyrics, Three Great Alabama Icons being a cool history lesson, but this album has a fatal flaw that completely ruins the entire thing for me. It. Is. Too. Fucking. Long. It's so long, that i tuned out a LOT of the songs because I felt it should have just ended at the end of disc 1. Sorry Drive-By Truckers, great effort, with some great songs, but the album is too fucking bloated and desperately needed some trimming, like 45 minutes of it
6/10, it was OK but this the album that got me to pause reviewing again even though I didn't hate it
J'ai rien contre le Southern Rock mais ça, à l'aide.
Started strong but liked it less as it went on. 57/100
1.5/5⭐️ This sounds like the Cars soundtrack if all the characters were violent drunks
Went in to this thinking I'd hate it but honestly had a pretty good time with it. Some cool riffs and great songs. Probably a bit long but not something I'd ever listened to before.
This album is so fun and would probably be 5 stars if it was just one disk
Although this is generally their most highly acclaimed album I much prefer The Dirty South and Decoration Day.
Gotta give em points for the attempt at a souther rock concept double album, but it comes up short. It's more like a long winded collection of bits that are Gaffa taped together to try and make cohesive whole, but for me there's not enough variation in sonic textures to keep me interested, got about 3/4 through it before I tapped out.
90s and early 2000s southern rock to the hilt. Birmingham was just “Last Dance with Mary Jane” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers without the charm. I respect the carrying on of the tradition. The lyricist is a southern rock historian. Ultimately, the sounds and the grooves all melt together for me. None of the songs hold any special place for me, but they do make me want to listen to Skynyrd and Tom Petty.
It's just some southern US and A mild rocking. I get that they sing about important stuff in a pretty intersting way, still not a big fan.
Paints a picture of the south from the band’s lived experience. Really good in that regard… interesting listening… as if listening to a memoir with southern rock accompaniment if that makes sense. I probably won’t listen again though as it made me feel kind of sad and disturbed.
This shit sucks. Straight up. It's a good record if you and your old pill head friends record a record to play at family barbecues or town gatherings. Otherwise, what the fuck? This band has the most consistently terrible album covers too. 0/5. If I could give that, I would. Even that's too high.
Fuck this shit entirely. Imagine the worst guys you know suddenly decide to act like storytellers like they’re Bob Dylan only they were football players and only drink light beer. Pass!
When I typed in "Drive" and YT suggested "Like Jehu" I very much almost just went with that. I'm sure there's people that appreciate this album, but I'm not sure I want to meet them. I do not need a country rock opera concept album in my life.
Just posting my track by track listening notes. ACT 1: Days of Graduation - I laughed. This talk over introduction destroys whatever emotion they are trying to build here. Ronnie and Neil - I'm onboard with this one. Upbeat Southern Rock. 72 (This Highway's Mean) - This SUCKS in every way that I hate country. Dead, Drunk and Naked - see above review for 72. Guitar Man Upstairs - I guess this is "cowpunk"? It sucks too. Birmingham - I kinda like this. It's a HUGE rip off of Neil Young's Ohio in both sound and the emotion they are trying to convey. The Three Great Alabama Icons - exposition like the intro because they can't work it in musically. Throwaway track. Wallace - Jesus, what are they doing here? Sounds like an untalented ZZ Top. Zip City - More uninspiring country infused "rock". No thanks. Moved - Wow... Who knew it could get worse. AWFUL vocals on this boring wanker of a track. Great way to close out "act 1" you dicks. ACT 2: Let There Be Rock - This AIN'T AC/DC! Road Cases - More Neil Young worship. Actually listenable. Women Without Whiskey - see above review for 72. Plastic Flowers On The Highway - Southern rock but without any emotional feeling to it. Vocals sound like Rod Stewart. Cassie's Brother - Oh! Now they are trying southern Soul (or R&B). I can't do much more of this. Life In The Factory - These are all starting to blur into completely non-memorable southern rock you'd hear at any redneck bar or county fair. Shut Up and Get On The Plane - OK, just figured out this whole thing is about Skynyrd... These guys AIN'T Skynyrd! Greenville To Baton Rouge - Finally, Southern Rock that actually sounds like it ROCKS! Album should have been a single. Angels And Fuselage - Neil Young rip off again, this one more early singer/songwriter style. Makes sense, this is where they are at their strongest. Still feels like a cover song when it's not. Never truly has the emotional pull Neil's voice did on tracks like this. Wow LOL they even bust out the harmonica for it!
Only listened to disc 1
Fairly uneventful. Country music masquerading as rock.
3.5
of course everything is phony, but some things are too phony music: hated. (⌐■_■)
On the whole, I like this band. This one is just too narrow as a concept. Only so many times I need to hear a guy sing the words “Lynyrd Skynyrd” before I say “Ok, ok.”
09/1001 God, this album was unbearable. I could talk for an hour about how this album is horrible. Sorry to those who like the album but this album is not good, that's my opinion. I think one of the things that frustrates me the most about this album is the vocals. It was one of the things that made me suffer listening to this album. I didn't get into the lyrics much but I think that doesn't make up for how the album sounds at all. You can't make an album that bad and last an hour and a half, with 20 songs. Notable song: Three Great Alabama Icons
Nothing special here.
What I'm sure people unfamiliar with the US South imagine. Some good stuff message-wise but the music didn't blow me away
heilmikið á seyði. á aðra umferð skilið. 3,5
There are a lot of great Southern rock albums - too bad this isn't one of them. I could have died without listening to this and had no regrets.
Could not care less about the concept and story behind this record, but I am a fan of the southern rock riffs.
Entertaining core American rock
Ok but not for me
Super weird but a lot of this was way cooler than I thought initially
Meh. I couldn't pay attention.
Meh
This is good, not great. There's a lot of filler and some element of "boogie" that rubs me the wrong way in a way that the later Isbell and post-Isbell stuff doesn't. Not bad by any stretch, but not an album I'd reach for regularly.
Ikke for meg
I got pretty tired of this sound by the end. I feel like these guys were a little too inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd
This was a blast, had no idea what to expect and exceeded all my expectations. Maybe overlong but feels like an album you can live in for years, let's go 5 to even out all the idiotic 1 star reviews
I'm not feeling this one. If I wanted to listen to something inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd I'd listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd. One star awarded back for some good political commentary
An album that is heavily inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd, as they mention the band at least 50 times throughout the thing. Not bad, but I'd honestly just listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd at that point.
For this project, I like to listen to a given album three times before deciding a rating. It took me about a week to listen to this album ONCE. The horribly raspy or painfully boring lead vocals over butt country instrumentals is so uninspiring. If you don’t like the first couple of tracks, you will be in for the longest 90 minutes of your life.
The title “Southern Rock Opera” suggests a novelty record, the length suggests obnoxiousness, while what lyrics I caught suggest a whisky-rock liker’s Bildungsroman; an uneasy mix that needs banging riffs and a lot of soaring to work. The record’s pleasant to have in the background, the guitar sounds are there, but the songs and riffs don’t stick, apart from maybe Life In The Factory and Let There Be Rock. Is that a goat I hear? “Meh meh meh…” Bumping up to three because “Angels and Fuselage” is a title redolent of a lost JG Ballard novel set in the Nevada desert, “Shut Up and Get On The Plane” made me laugh, and because I enjoyed the album enough to listen to it exactly twice. This means any other rock operas on this list defaults to 1, apart from “Tommy”, which will be DNF. Never make me visit the Lynrd Skyrnd Wikipedia page again.
Well, that was a rollercoaster! Started out as a clear 1 given the length and subject matter. First impressions - sounds more like Butthole Surfers than Skynyrd, amusingly macabre opening track! Then: OK, more like I expected; please don't ask me to indulge George Wallace apologia - "southern culture" yadda yadda is just good ol' cynical racism, stop excusing that shit. Next: I really don't want to hear a litany of shit concerts you went to as a high schooler, or trite southern fried thematic effluvia. They really like teasing that Sweet Home Alabama riff, eh? Finally: Oh, this is the Skynyrd story *in media res* and I am *totally here for it*. Last track is remarkable; I played the whole thing through again immediately and appreciated it *a lot more* (ditching my oh-so-witty "2nd worst thing to happen in 2001" quip - could also have worked a plane crash angle in with a bit more effort..) Excise the sub-Kid Rock shit in the middle and I'd give this a 4. For now: unexpectedly, 3 hours of my day I did not begrudge spending with these hicks.
Not for me 1/5
I might have a soft spot for this band because of a fun little song called "Gravity's Gone" which has been on my playlists for the last couple decades. But this is a different project entirely, and one that I probably should dive into a bit deeper. Getting through it was a bit tough on first listen. Definitely not worth the dunking most listeners are giving it. A solid 3/5.
High energy classic southern rock with some clever lyrics.
So, this album seems like it's on here more for representing the cultural footprint of a region and sub-culture, rather because the music stands out particularly (although the music is quite good). More than anything, this is a homage to rock music and to the South. But with how both of these are consistently exemplified by Lynyrd Skynyrd, it makes me wonder why Dimey didn't just give us another Lynyrd album instead. Another thing this album is about is traffic accidents - be these on the road or out of the sky. I don't have all that much to say about the music. It's good, rock-solid southern rock. But there just isn't much more to say about it. It was nice.
This was better than I expected. Couple of great songs on here and a lot of guitar playing that I liked.
1st half is great but it's in the 2nd act where this kicks in even more. Brilliant double album
This is probably amazing if you know a lot about Lynyrd Skynyrd, but i don't, so 90 minutes of songs about them is a little much. The music isn't bad though.
3.5/5 I'll have to relisten, seemed promising!
I am a Truckers fan, but have not heard this one. Crowd funded! The discs are full of good Truckers noise, but what's up with the Skynyrd obsession? Truckers' songs are full of great stories - the Skynyrd frame just seems unnecessary.
Truly awful, personalityless, garbage
Miles better than I expected at the start. Surprisingly thoughtful lyrically, a pleasant surprise. Probably didn't need a whole double album, but all good.
Not going to lie, I didn't like disc 1 at all, but Disc 2 saved it for me. Still not something I would really listen to again overal (2.5)
Good solid background rock
When I saw the words “southern rock opera” I was very skeptical. But found myself bopping along and never wanted to turn this off! Worthy of 3 stars in my book.
This did nothing for me, didn’t even finish the first disc.
This is firmly in 3.5 territory. I know this band fairly well, this album less so. I enjoy the band but this album was just okay. Every song felt like it was right on the edge of me loving it, with none of them quite getting there. Maybe I need more familiarity with Lynyrd Skynyrd?
A pretty neat concept well executed. There is is some guff on the journey particularly at the start and we are taken though a sampler of all that southern rock has to offer. All that rough and all that shines can be found.
Huge, and very enjoyable
This is very long. It also mentions Lynyrd Skynyrd so many times. Not offensive but not really our vibe, and for the most part it blends into one.
A little bloated and maybe only their 3rd best album. But DBT rules. Worth sticking around for the 2nd half. And the George Wallace saga.
My disappointment was immeasurable when I determined Dale Gribble was not the voice on the title track. Would have been the highlight of an otherwise bad album.
This was just so strange
I hate this. Why is he gargling. Why is it 16 hours long. Why is he talking about my least favourite singer Neil Young (made it even worse- didn’t think that was possible). This was horrible from start to finish. Bad bad bad. This is awful.
This album put me in a bad mood. It's a shame really - this music alone with different lyrics altogether and different vocals might be a minimum 3. Honestly is there that huge of a musical difference between this and early Tragically Hip which I love...? It's just that holy crap not only do I not give a shit about southern American bullshit so-called culture...actually I give a negative shit about it - it's mocked for a good reason. Hey - an album about meth heads and drunken good old boys drivin' around is hard to ignore - every damn song? jfc. Even if it's self-deprecating - i don't want to hear it. ...and I will say some of it is semi-appreciated, e.g. the half-assed effort in "The Three Great Alabama Icons" to not entirely smooth over some of the endless bullshit peddled for decades which caused so much harm to this day but ... as I listened to it and started to kinda want to come around to this quasi-open discussion ... it all came across as more than a little pandering and a little (ahem) south of poetic. Frankly the trying to have it both ways about this "Southern duality" - it ain't clever boys - it's just a little whataboutism. "Fk George Wallace" - how about that for a better title? oh how nice that he felt bad in later life. I remember Georgie and he was an evil asshole who yeah -> caused continuous and irreparable harm mostly because of the cretins that believed in him. Fk off you shall rise again. Shut up - I know I'm sensitive to this stuff, it's my review. My rating shows me that my scale isn't linear and probably not fair. The lyrics, the subject matter, the vocals just annoy me so much that I'm in a mood and don't care about being objective. I hate it - one of the few DNFs in 700+ albums. 2/10 1 star.
Pretty good, but too long and too many Lynyrd Skynyrd references. Seriously there’s a reference to Lynyrd Skynyrd on every single song basically. Just reference something else from the South, like other country music or eating a ton of meat (more American, but whatever) or (offensive thing the South did as a joke that ends up not panning out the way I expected).
I was surprised I liked as much as I did. Definitely some good songs. "Let There Be Rock" & "Women Without Whisky" (the hits) were fun to listen to... and a few others (Cassie's Brother & Plastic Flowers On The Highway) I really liked too. Although Plastic Flowers was sad...
Not bad. Kind of what I expected. Nothing really blew me away.
interesting not my cuppa
If I could give it less than 1 star I would.
One star for parody value
A 90 minute concept album where numerous topics are discussed through the lens of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Its ambitious, in a sense, but every song seems to start with a nod to the opening bars of Sweet Home Alabama before descending into a general sludge. This makes it monotonous and tedious. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: Let There Be Rock Date listened: 02/02/24
Love this album. I think I prefer The Dirty South over all. Southern Rock Opera is poignant and tough and poetic and brings the kind of humanity to Southern Rock music that pulls me in every single time. Plus I could listen to Patterson Hood's emotive, imperfect voice all day long. 4.5 stars
Boring.
Ganske kjipt
It's southern rock for 90 minutes. Nothing special in the music. Nothing special in the vocals. Sometimes lyrics that go beyond muh Alabama and skynyrd
It was actually pretty good, might delve into it again in the future
Dated maybe but enjoyed it anyway. Gutsy.
Would've been a 3 if it wasn't a double album---was fun for a while but becomes tiresome and samey.
Favorite Tracks: The Southern Thing Ronnie And Neil Dead, Drunk, & Naked
This seems kinda all over the gambit in the Southern Rock spectrum. It's interesting.
The best rock-and-roll I've heard in a while and it's from the 2000s? With thoughtful social commentary from a (checks notes) _southern_ USA perspective? Hell yes.
Some moments are a little too Bryan Adams. I like the story though it is told in a rather obvious, on-the-nose way. I bet these songs rip at a live show, however.
Begging someone to tell these guys they could write songs about literally anything else if they wanted
Nimensä mukainen. Vallan kiinnostavia tarinoita, tai no kertojan elämä nyt oli aika tavallista selkeesti. Ihan päteviä rock-kappaleita, sedille kivoja. Viihdyttää muttei juuri innosta. Miksi on ollut tarpeen antaa aivan näin paljon mittaa albumille?
Bändin fiksaatiot ovat koomisia ja siksi rohkeita - minua ainakin naurattaa ja liikutta läpi sedimentoituneimmankin rokkauksen. Ronnie and Neil!!
eh, not my style
Surprisingly good. Awsome riffs and interesting lyrics. Gotta love the hate on this app due to intolerance. Southern culture is one of the only groups we can still all hate with impunity, and I find cowardice in that
This is a decent album, though I don't feel like it needs to be a double album. If I grew up listening to this band I could see really loving it but coming to the album later, it just starts to feel repetitive after 90 minutes. I was excited to give this one a listen after reading some about the band and album. I have to be honest, I never really gave the Drive-By Truckers a chance because their name sounded silly to me and painted a different picture of what their band would sound like but there are some really solid songs on here. Also, was stoked to find that they're quite progressive. You can definitely hear the common themes come back up on the album but difficult to find the concept album on first listen. I'd give this one a 3.5 if I could but feel like I have to go with a 3 instead of 4, just because I feel like it could use some paring down. Standout Tracks: Ronnie and Neil, Dead Drunk and Naked, Birmingham, Zip City, Plastic Flowers on the Highway, Life in the Factory, Shut Up and Get on the Plane, Angels and Fuselage
i got maybe 3 minutes into this 90 minute album before i died. a tumor grew on my brain so quickly i died on the spot. unironic hillbilly rock with no fun aspects.
Boring, I feel like I've heard about 10 albums just like this one before
Ça me fait penser à bonhomme.
If you are pressed for time, just listen to Disc 2. It shifts gears from "typically good" to "sublime".
Pretty much right up my street. It's a curious and rather long journey through a lot of subjects but all framed around Lynyrd Skynyrd, and that's fine by me. It's the sort of southern rock sound I could happily listen to all day long as background radio music but it doesn't really stick with me enough to be truly memorable. That said, Zip City, Let There Be Rock, Shut Up And Get On The Plane and Greenville to Baton Rouge are all excellent, but the last song really misses, it's got the potential to be a terrific closer but the vocals just don't do it, and it goes on too long. I think it's probably a high 3 rather than a 4 but there are songs I'll definitely add to my rotation.
Far too long, and too much of a tribute to another band to be considered a good work in its own right. That said, it's kind of interesting - some good Southern stories and some proper thoughtfulness. Could've been a properly good album if distilled down to 45 minutes (removing 90% of the Skynyrd references along the way). 3/5.
Was ready to dismiss as southern fried rock but the storytelling and lyrics really are a cut above.
Ah Southern Rock Opera by the Drive-By Truckers I wonder what type of genre this will be, either true southern USA rock or there’s still a slight chance on some country-rock mash up which would make the next 93 minutes not that nice. In all seriousness this album was a fair eye opener and a refreshing take on how aware a band is to social and political climates that they experienced and have seen which has also had impact on music. The band originating from the south there were some very obvious social issues occurring in the 50’s and 60’s in the USA and the band has a way of shining the light on these and also political stances during that time, for example “Three Great Alabama Icons” is a spoken word piece that highlights what Alabama is known for and particularly recognises how a politician could win favour in the civil rights era by leaning into racism particularly in the south, its worth listening to this song alone to get some context. Another reoccurring topic on the album is Lynyrd Skynyrd, who is mentioned a whole bunch of times and, more specifically, as an iconic band from Alabama that endorsed the recognition of music led by black musicians in the post civil rights time. Now in terms of the songs this is where I find the album to be a bit less interesting, overall I’m not much of a fan of the lead singers vocals, they’re very raspy and although suiting the genre of music fairly well they’re not that enjoyable. Also I do find this album to be excruciatingly long, now I do like some longer albums but there has to be enough variety to make it feel shorter and more enjoyable and I just don’t get that out of this, despite this I did enjoy a few songs such as “Ronnie and Neil” which is a truckers rock anthem, I get a similar vibe with “Let There Be Rock”, meanwhile “Greenville To Baton Rouge” had some standout guitar too. I do appreciate the band trying to switch things up on “Moved” as this slower style can definitely work on an album such as this I just find the vocalist not too strong without the thick instrumental in the back. From what I’ve heard so far on this list this might have the most interesting theme so far and I’d highly recommend just to try and understand what the band is commentating about on this album because I started to learn a bit about 60’s politics in the south and also what the area meant to the band. I’d also like to say the album is fairly well put together but from a song and genre standpoint it’s not my cup of tea unfortunately.
mehhh.....Uncle Tupelo is way better....