Decoration Day (studio album) by Drive-By Truckers

PATTERSON HOOD: Something's Got to Give Pretty Soon
MIKE COOLEY: When the Pin Hits the Shell
JASON ISBELL: Outfit

I just love the way this groups writes songs as they are so good at creating stories and this record isn't an exception to that. Every song has something to explore behind it with the better songs being just a thing of beauty. They then use this classic southern rock vocal on top which deliver these words perfectly. Musically, the record can be a little simple at times but it is very effective on the bigger tracks with it getting stuck in your head especially on the choruses. I love the guitar playing as well with some of the solos being exceptional to listen to. However, I do find this record to contain quite a lot of filler that could be taken out. None of the songs are bad but they just aren't up to the level of the other tracks, they are pretty average in my opinion. It is a very bloated release as well and the music doesn't justify the run time, unlike on other records. Overall, not as good as their other releases but still worth a listen as there are some truly phenomenal songs on this album.

From Brad1770 02/16/2022 23:42

I do like me some home spun southern alt-country (in moderation) and this ones a good un with lyrics and song titles that paint a thousand pictures such as “Hell No, I Ain’t Happy”, “You’re Daddy Hates Me”, “When the Pin Hits the Shell” and of course “Loaded Gun in the Closet”

From buzzdainer 10/04/2016 17:01

One of the things Drive-By Truckers do best is to examine life in the American South from a variety of perspectives, an approach that works so well on Decoration Day because of the strength of three enormously talented singer-songwriters in Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, and Jason Isbell. I can remember an argument I had with some guy about the meaning of these lyrics from Jason Isbell's "Outfit": "Don't call what you're wearing an outfit / Don't ever say your car is broke." Should a Southern man refrain from saying his car is "broke" because the diction makes him sound like a dumbass redneck? Or because it implies that he can't fix his car himself? It's important.

From zdwyatt 10/18/2013 17:35

It's a shame that the Truckers don't enjoy a wider audience. They have a truly impressive catalogue, and this one is the absolute peak: three singer-songwriters at the top of their game. The lyrical content alone makes this a must-own.

From Romanelli 02/12/2012 21:55

Darker than the previous DBT albums, Decoration Day benefits from fine songs by Jason Isbell, as well as some different takes on subject matter, from incest to suicide to Southern feuds. Souther rock is alive and well, thank you!