Red Mosquito

it's def not their best since Dirty South, but it is their best since Brighter Than Creation's Dark

Possibly. I can't decide if I like it more than The Big To-Do at this point--the extra mileage I have with that one definitely gives it an edge. I listened to virtually nothing else through the summer of 2010, during which a lot of really great stuff happened to me, so I have some warm memories associated with it. But more importantly, I just love those songs; especially "Birthday Boy" and "Sante Fe."

So far I'd classify English Oceans as a "good, but not great" addition their catalog. Cooley's spitting fire, but Patterson's stuff sounds a little workmanlike to these ears, with a few exceptions. I feel like "Pauline Hawkins" recycles an older melody of his (not a particularly good one, either), but I can't put my finger on which one it is. And "Hanging On" strikes me as pure dead weight; just unimpressive songwriting on every level. The rest range from good to very good (minus a few cringeworthy lines here and there, i.e. "His integrity was phoning in/Totally Nixonian"), but the only ones that come close to matching his previous peaks for me are "Grand Canyon" and "When Walter Went Crazy." And even then, they're just close. But I do think the former is one of the best closers they've ever laid down.

I'm not feeling this...

verb_to_trust wrote:I'm not feeling this...

Really? Were you a fan going in?

Blaine Ryan wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:I'm not feeling this...

Really? Were you a fan going in?

Sure. This just isn't very good.

These guys fall into the category of bands that I think I should like but that I never quite get. I've given them a few listens over the years and they've never quite stuck. Don't know if I should grab this or not.

verb_to_trust wrote:

Blaine Ryan wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:I'm not feeling this...

Really? Were you a fan going in?

Sure. This just isn't very good.

Fair enough. I just ask because it seems like there's enough of the familiar here that an established fan would at least find something to like about it. But to each his own, man.

Varis wrote:These guys fall into the category of bands that I think I should like but that I never quite get. I've given them a few listens over the years and they've never quite stuck. Don't know if I should grab this or not

It's definitely not their best. I'd say if you've tried The Dirty South and Decoration Day and neither one has reeled you in, you're probably just not a Truckers fan.

Hitting DBT hard today. Time to rank the albums again:

*****
Decoration Day
Brighter Than Creation's Dark
The Dirty South
A Blessing and a Curse
Southern Rock Opera

****
Pizza Deliverance
American Band

***
The Big To-Do
Gangstabilly
Go-Go Boots

**
English Oceans


*
None

This band is so goddamn solid.

HOpefully gonna catch up a couple of the solo shows this december.

Just got tickets to the Truckers in February.

It's been a long time since I've seen them play and I haven't listed to the last few albums. I will give them some metaphorical spins in the next couple of months.

The Unraveling is out today. It's a post-Isbell DBT record. The Cooley songs are instant classics, the Hood songs will take time to grow on me.

21st Century USA and Babies in Cages are super depressing.

Slow Ride Argument and Heroin Again are pretty good jams.

Grievance Merchants is lyrical genius. Cooley raining fire and brimstone on incels.

The rest kinda sucks. Easily their worst effort.

It sounds like a The Hold Steady album

I like it so far, but it will take me a while to figure out where it ranks among their other albums. I usually gravitate to Patterson's songs more these days, though I would say Cooley was just as solid from Southern Rock Opera to Brighter Than Creation's Dark. Definitely about as depressing as it gets for a band that writes a lot of really depressing songs, though. Keep in mind there's supposed to be a pretty short turnaround until another is being released. I would imagine that one will be a little less political... may more rock'n'roll?

verb_to_trust wrote:It sounds like a The Hold Steady album

wut

It grew on me over the weekend.

I watched The Dirty South concert yesterday. Pretty good, band is high as hell.

Man the climax of Grievance Merchants is so good.

Strat wrote:

verb_to_trust wrote:It sounds like a The Hold Steady album

wut

It was just the one track. Disregard.

Armageddon? I hear that.