Southern Rock Opera (studio album) by Drive-By Truckers

From Brad1770 07/23/2022 02:51

A rock opera by name but in reality a Patterson Hood love letter to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie Van Zant and Neil Young with lyrical references to the afore mentioned artists too many to list. This album supposedly tells the tale of a young musician growing up in the south (Side 1) who hits it big before tragedy strikes in the form of a plane crash on its way to Baton Rouge. If this all sounds awfully familiar with art imitating life it should

Getting a grip on the entire 20 tracks and 93mins can be a slog as the quality dips in the middle 3rd (Bar AC/DC love letter “Let There Be Rock”), however I can entirely recommend the 6 tracks bookending the album in

Track 1: “Days Of Graduation” with its LS “Free Bird Reference”

Track 2: “Ronnie (Van Zant) and Neil (Young)”

Track 17: “Life In The Factory” with its LS history lesson

Track 18: “Shut Up And Get On The Plane”

Track 19: “Greenville To Baton Rouge”

Track 20: “ Angels And Fuselage” - closing with a “Free Bird” inspired track first mentioned in track 1 “Days Of Graduation” thus completing the circle

From Jboy56 02/15/2022 13:24

Long but rewarding Opera for rock fans.

This is a great record and it really captures the feel of the South. You can't help but feel engulfed by the culture surrounding the music and you find yourself feeling nostalgic by the end. At over 90 minutes it can feel like a bit of a beast to tackle but all of the tracks have their moments even if a few cuts are a little slow and feel like filler. I am a huge fan of the vocal performance on this record and that along with the guitar is a major consistent throughout. The solos of the guitar on some tracks are immense and it is very easy to be craving more by the time the album closes. Overall, a great album that deserves to be talked about more than it is.

From Brad1770 12/17/2017 10:16

Southern Rock goodness, grab a beer and check this out

From rliberty 01/02/2017 07:40

Honestly surprised this isn't ranked higher. Loved this one from the very first listen.

From buzzdainer 10/05/2016 20:09

The first installment of the Southern rock trilogy of albums (along with Decoration Day and The Dirty South) that established Drive-By Truckers as one of the greatest bands of the twenty-first century so far. This double album is dominated by tales of Alabama icons George Wallace, Ronnie Van Zant, and Bear Bryant, all of whom represent what Truckers' frontman Patterson Hood calls "the duality of the Southern thing." From the bottom of my heart, as someone who lived for eleven years in the South, I want to thank Drive-By Truckers for giving voice to the ambivalence that I felt about living there. I especially love the opener to Act Two, "Let There Be Rock," in which Hood tells his autobiographical tale of just missing the opportunity to see Lynyrd Skynyrd before the infamous plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant and two other band members, instead settling for seeing such bands as Molly Hatchet and AC/DC, from whom the song's title was drawn.

AC/DC meets Lynyrd Skynyrd in this wonderfully ambitious set. It's an excellent concept album loosely based on Skynyrd and the southern states of America in general. It's a fun record with some fantastic songs including, Ronnie and Neil, let there be rock(no, not that one), and the enthralling, three great Alabama icons. All in all, a rip roaring rock'n'roll adventure that any rock fan cannot help but enjoy. Excellent.

From zdwyatt 05/05/2015 14:48

This is the album Patterson Hood was born to make, which means I have to forgive the somewhat indulgent length. An ode to being Southern by way of a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, this album is a southern rock masterpiece. It does have three clunkers by Rob Malone, but it also has a couple of Hood essentials, plus Mike Cooley's "Zip City," which is probably the best DBT song ever recorded.

From drivebytornado 02/25/2013 23:21

The best album of 2001, this is one I didn't hear until two years after it was released, after falling in love with this band when Decoration Day came out. This album began their incredible 4 album peak, with one classic after another.

There are multiple themes on this album, but all focused on one central topic - the South. DBT attacks that theme from several fronts - the history of Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Wallace's influence on the South, and what it was like growing up in Alabama amongst all that. After living inside this album for a while, you feel like you understand "the duality of the Southern thing."

I could do without the 3 songs by Rob Malone - the band would definitely get better when Jason Isbell replaced him following this album.

Two of my favorite DBT songs are on this one - Patterson Hood's "Let There by Rock" and Cooley's "Zip City."

From Romanelli 01/21/2011 16:48

Wow...no comments on this? DBT pays ultimate tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd on what is easily the best Southern rock album this side of Street Survivors. Straightforward, deadly honest, hard rocking, and done with class. "Angels And Fuselage" is a frightening, slow motion trip from the clouds to the ground in a dead hull of an airplane that will have you gripping the stuffing out of your non-existent armrests. A great celebration and a fine eulogy in one package.