Southern Rock is typically associated with beer drinking and waving the Confederate flag, but the Drive-By Truckers are not the typical Southern Rock band. They are five-album veterans with Southern accents and a balls-to-the-wall rock sound, showcasing both sides of the “Southern Thing.”
The Truckers are smart, which shines through their songwriting and musical structure. This has always been the case for these Muscle Shoals, Alabama, natives, but with the last two albums it’s really become apparent. In their previous album, Decoration Day, the Truckers exposed the listener to songs of family feuds, irate farmers, and fatherly advice. On The Dirty South, they write about similar themes, but the general feel is much different. Musically, the songs are not as crunching and guitar-driven as previous efforts, but are more melodic and slower.
After the first song, “Where the Devil Don’t Stay,” an avid fan would realize this is a much different album than any previous DBT outing. It’s darker and the storytelling is almost creepy.
“Tornadoes,” a song about a pair of twisters wrecking a small town in Alabama, is an instantly catchy song in which the chorus almost chokes me up. The Truckers have had this effect on me only once before, and on this album it happens twice (the second being “The Sands of Iwo Jima”).
“The Sands of Iwo Jima” is my personal favorite song on The Dirty South. The lyrics are the story of an old man explaining to his grandchildren about World War II and how John Wayne was never there. Singer Patterson Hood’s usual growl is set aside for a beautiful falsetto with his Southern twang still intact.
“The Day John Henry Died,” is a no-excuses rocker that leaves your fists in the air 15 minutes after you listen to it. Jason Isbell, the youngest Trucker and newest member of the band, modeled this one after the story his grandfather told him about John Henry winning over the machine.
The Truckers bring the tempos down on The Dirty South, but the impact is greatly increased. Each song is a story that brings you into the action and makes you experience the ups and downs of coming from the South. This is almost a history lesson without the jackass teacher.
I definitely recommend this album for people familiar with The Drive-By Truckers, or any music fan with an open mind. Check it out; it’s not Lynyrd Skynyrd, but it’s pretty close.