DBT Isles

[Moetown]

kurt, as far as DBT goes, i would start with the first 2 (gangstabilly and pizza deliverance). once you get their whole aesthetic, check out the southern rock opera. i can imagine thats harder to swallow if you are not already a fan, although it's pretty fuckin brilliant. the 3 after that are a little inconsistant(great at times, not so much other times), although "decoration day" is pretty amazing. "sinkhole" is one of my favorite songs.

[Jeff]

I would say almost the total opposite. Start with "Decoration Day," their best, most fully-developed record. Then skip through "Dirty South" (one or two duds on there but several several A++ songs) then Southern Rock opera, then back to the old stuff. " A Blessing and a Curse" has some genius tracks but a much lower batting average overall than they usually manage.

Or, go to archive.org and check out either via the embedded player or direct download this show from 2004 which includes most of their best loved songs, as well as covers of "Mama Bake a Pie" by Tom T. Hall, "Keep On Smilin'" by Wet Willie, an absolutely flamingly badass version of "People Who Died" by Jim Carroll, and a completely unironic, straight version of Outkast's "Hey Ya."

And if you're already a DBT fan, you really need this show.  There are also several shows on Archive.org that feature their extraordinarily appropo and heartfelt post-Katrina cover of Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927."

[Poop Fresh-Herbed Pickles]

Would there be any good reason to do an ironic version of "Hey Ya"?  Outkast is great.

[Jeff]

Would there be any good reason to do an ironic version of "Hey Ya"?  Outkast is great.

When you hear that a Southern rock outfit has covered a hip hop song, you might assume it was a smartass "Hey Listen to Us Wacky Cats!" kind of thing, but no, they just love the tune. Best part is the followup. Cooley says, "Y'all sure knew the all the words to that one, whether you wanted to or not. You better know all the words to this one or I'm quittin'." Then they do "Zip City."

[Jeff]

For more, crazy long spoken word intro DBT fun, check out this live version of "The Southern Thing."

[Jeff]

Have y'all heard "Dress Blues"?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJb1_EGnapY[/youtube]

Mamas and grandmamas love you
'Cause that's all they know how to do
But you never planned on bombs in the sand
Or on sleeping in your dress blues

[bebopbalogna]

i posted that (maybe not the same clip) a while back when isbell played here.  great song. 

[brainfiber]

i've never been into their albums as a straight through listen. I'd start with a mix.

Lookout Mountain
Zip City
Sinkhole
Women without Whiskey
Aftermath USA
Marry Me
Gravity's Gone
Never Gonna Change
Carl Perkins Cadillac
Let there Be Rock

it's top ten rocking mix...then you can head into the more acoustic/mellow stuff.

ah whom I kidding...there so many more songs that i had to delete to keep it at ten...I could have added another 10 favorite Cooley songs on there.

[Jeff]

Hey look: it's the brand-new DBT record, Brighter Than Creation's Dark.
(links deleted)

[bebopbalogna]

YAY!!!  i haven't been able to afford to go out and buy that yet!!  thanks jeff!!   also,  you may have heard that newwest is releasing all of their albums on lp next week (not that you care) but i'm kinda excited about it.  up until now, the entire vinyl output consists of the bulldozers and dirt single and southern rock opera (when lost highway put it out before they got picked up on newwest) so i gotta save up for all o them.  now that i got the digi version of the new one, i don't hafta buy the cd!  just the record. YAY!

[brainfiber]

I'm really digging the new album...at least the part I get through everytime I listen.

Two daughters...love it...love Shonna's harmonies and love Spooner's keyboards.

3 dimes down...hey rock and roll never forgets...a cooley rocker...totally screwed!

I dig the Shonna tunes...for a bit...

daddy need a drink...he sure does.

Self destructive zone...love it...wife loves it...I loved 1990...because I was one of those hippies whoe "rode a wave putting smiles on faces,
that the devil wouldn’t even put a shoe" ...that's when i was into the Dead...when they were peaking again...Uncle Cid made his appearance and things were good.

Bob...he ain't light in the loafers...he might kneel but he never bends over. I remember Cooley saying he won't release a solo album...that he's keeping that ace up his sleeve for when the band breaks up...and then laughs...but it's true...he could put out an amazing country album...that voice is country gold!

I'll have to come back with my second 1/2 review once I have a few more listens.

[Jeff]

Y'all know that long spoken word intro Patterson always does live for "18 Wheels of Love"?

It just got longer. He updated it with what ended up happening to old Chester. And it's even funnier and more moving.

No recording online of the show I saw, but he does the same thing here:
Patterson's Intro to 18 Wheels of Love
and for good measure, here's the tune itself
18 Wheels of Love

[Jeff]

OOOOOH, new DBT live CD/DVD coming out.  Niiiiiiiice.