Drive-By Truckers: Go-Go Boots (2011)

The Drive-By Truckers have always had a strong connection to the music of Muscle Shoals Albama. Most of the members are originally from that area and frontman Patterson Hood's father was a session bassist at FAME Studios and a founder of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Although these connections have always been apparent, the band had never created a full blown country-soul album until the release of Go-Go Boots.

Recorded at the same time as last years rocking The Big To-Do, Go-Go Boots is a much more restrained album. There are no loud guitars and few raging solo's to be found here. What DBT has done this time is create an album that is unlike anything they've done before, while managing to maintaining their sound. Hood delivers another set of fantastic story-songs dealing with murder ("The Fireplace Poker," "Go-Go Boots"), fuck-ups ("Used To Be a Cop"), firearms ("Ray's Automatic Weapon") and dysfunctional families ("The Thanksgiving Filter"). He also manages to write one of his sweetest songs ever ("I Do Believe") and also one of his most soulful and beautiful as well ("Mercy Buckets"). Guitarist Mike Cooley is in country mode here and his three contributions ("Pulaski," "The Weakest Man" and "Cartoon Gold" - my favorite of the three) are all winners. Bassist Shonna Tucker get's two chances (three if you get the vinyl version) to show off her naturally soulful voice. "Dancin' Ricky" and the cover of Eddie Hinton's "Where's Eddie" are great fits. It's worth noting that DBT had never included covers on any of their studio albums until the two Hinton covers on Go-Go Boots. Both "Where's Eddie" and the Hood sung "Everybody Needs Love" are amazing soul songs and I'm thankful that DBT has included them here. I only knew of Hinton's work as a session player but soon I will have to check out his solo stuff too.

The music on Go-Go Boots is a far cry from the hard rock DBT became famous for but it really shows how great and versatile this band is. The give and take between the 3 guitarists (Hood, Cooley and John Neff), the rhythm section (Tucker and Drummer Brad Morgan) and Keyboardist Jay Gonzalez is outstanding. Each member gets a chance to shine and they play off each other remarkably well. There's still great guitar work here it's just a little more subdued than usual (although "Used To Be A Cop" and "Mercy Buckets" have extended guitar workouts in them).

Even though Go-Go Boots is a very different album for DBT, it's pretty fantastic. The album showcases a different -- and awesome -- side of one of the best bands in the world. I have a feeling that, in time, this will go down as one of the best albums the Truckers have ever made. For now, it will have to be considered a frontrunner for my favorite album of the year even though it's only February.


Rating: 4.5

Track Listing:

1. "I Do Believe" (3:33)
2. "Go-Go Boots" (5:38)
3. "Dancin' Ricky" (3:28)
4. "Cartoon Gold" (3:16)
5. "Ray's Automatic Weapon" (4:28)
6. "Everybody Needs Love" (4:38)
7. "Assholes" (4:41)
8. "The Weakest Man" (3:22)
9. "Used To Be A Cop" (7:06)
10. "The Fireplace Poker" (8:17)
11. "Where's Eddie" (3:04)
12. "The Thanksgiving Filter" (5:37)
13. "Pulaski" (4:27)
14. "Mercy Buckets" (5:25)
15. "I Hear You Hummin" (Vinyl only)