Truckers expand Southern roots

Brighter Than Creation's Dark finds the Drive-By Truckers, the once-labeled disciples of the Southern rock movement (see Lynyrd Skynyrd), in a state of identity crisis. But it is this welcomed tension, characterized by a breadth of weary voices and multi-textured rhythmic backdrops, which propels The Drive-By Truckers past their Southern Rock Opera roots and introduces their vintage ideology into a variety of new settings. Guitarists Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley share much of the songwriting and lead vocal duties - with the exception of three tunes penned by bassist Shonna Tucker, whose lead vocals would be akin to Stevie Nicks attempting to sing country in the mid -'60s.

Though the orchestration follows a familiar pattern of riff-heavy saturation augmented by the cry of a lingering pedal steel guitar, much of the song direction depends on the will of that song's particular owner. For those looking for accessibility, Hood relies heavily on the spirit of Tom Petty - but through a far more rustic lens. Picture Crazy Horse calling in Petty to replace Neil Young - an idea that would only come close to functionality if Petty were able to drop his guard and sing with some deep-seated personal conviction. In essence, Hood's familiar tone is the product of this type of equation, especially on "The Righteous Path," which offers an optimistic lesson about the simple life of an individual in a "messed-up world" and fades to obscurity when Hood calls out, "No time for self-pity or self-righteous crap / Trying to stay focused on the righteous path."

While Hood's style is consistent and relatively easy to grasp, Cooley is much harder to pin down as he ventures from the rugged, pick-up-truck-driving influence of Neil Young to the far more laidback, small-town country shuffle of Gram Parsons. The thickly distorted guitar attack of "3 Dimes Down" caters to the former styling and comes fittingly with the playful invitation, "Come on baby, rock and roll never forgets."

As Hood sets the pace with his loyalty to his Southern rock roots, the placement of Cooley's simplistic country throwbacks may be questionable, especially when he proves equally as effective in droned-out rock numbers. With Cooley's mid-tempo shuffle, both "Perfect Timing" and "Self-Destructive Zones" echo the front-porch, country-honk swagger of the Stones. If anything, these tunes allow the listener to come up for air and prepare for the next electric journey through the seldom-romanticized lives of your typical struggling Southerner.

The depressing, two-minute, static confusion of "You and Your Crystal Meth" may be oddly placed, but upon further listening, it resonates as a fitting accusation to the drug's unmerciful grip . Hood pleads with his addict friend, even conceding, "I ain't exactly a no-drug guy / Don't dig the way that you get high." And in showing his disgust with his friend's state, he goes on to say, "Hope your kids don't see you throwing up / Hope they ain't there if the house blows up." While the American anti-drug campaign remains ambiguous and ineffective, tales mirroring the sentiments felt in Hood's quivering voice are the ones that question why the war on methamphetamine has yet to begin.

On the brighter side, while "Checkout Time in Vegas" channels the honest despair of Van Morrison's voice, Cooley fills the graceful arrangement with his humble touch and experience-laden vocals. Reflecting upon times of loss, he aptly sizes up the role of authority with the consideration, "If all you need is a badge to take what's left from those who lost it / A badge ain't no more real than bullets are."

Brighter Than Creation's Dark plays on the collective strengths of each individual talent within the current Drive-By Trucker's lineup. While Cooley is unable to be held down to one specific style, Hood is the rock that creates the stability in the Truckers' venturing sound. While Hood may be the rock, the true unifying factor comes in the form of shared experience, which welcomes the presence of Southern authenticity. A-