Drive-by Truckers

In my book, to be a good Southern rock band requires that you sing primarily about three topics: women, binge drinking and a kind of stoic, reserved loneliness. Based on these criteria, the Drive-By Truckers are a great Southern rock band. Their eclectic sound, which is a mix of blues, rock and some genre I've never even heard of called "cowpunk," is on full display in their eighth record, Brighter Than Creation's Dark. The album marks the recording debut of a new member, guitarist John Neff, who fills the void left by now-solo Trucker Jason Isbell.

Neff joins founding members Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood to complete the band's signature three-axe attack, while bassist Shonna Tucker and drummer Brad Morgan fill out the rhythm section.

Brighter Than Creation's Dark is at its best when the Truckers ditch their electric, fast-paced and ultimately formulaic sound for their more mellow acoustic guitars.

The extended solos on songs like "Self-Destructive Zones" and "Home Field Advantage" often deteriorate into disorganized noise. However, with that said, I can definitively say that the raucous "The Man I Shot" is the best (and perhaps only) song I have ever heard about living with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The album's acoustic pieces are not only the most catchy, but their lyrics also fully reveal the Trucker's sense of humor and reflective insight. "Bob" depicts the equally poignant and amusing life of a man "who likes to drink a beer or two every now and again/Who always had more dogs than he's had friends." On "Perfect Timing," Cooley laments that "I used to hate the fool in me/But only in the morning/Now I tolerate him all day long." The album ends with "Monument Valley", which warns that "when the dust all settles and stories told/History is made by the side of road."

While disorganized at times, Brighter Than Creation's Dark proves that you have to slow the Drive-By Truckers down in order to hear them clearest and appreciate them most.