DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS - GO GO BOOTS

Here's another Drive-By Truckers release (11th in total), the companion to 'The Big To-Do', which was recorded at the same time in 2009. Whilst 'The Big To-Do' was full of crunchy rock anthems, 'Go Go Boots' is way more soulful and features slower ballads from the three main songwriters, Hood, Cooley and Tucker. There's also two Eddie Hilton covers thrown in for good measure and overall this album keeps up the career high quality from DBT over the last year or so.

The album has several beautiful Cooley country tunes, with a couple of Patterson Hood R&B murder ballads thrown in (as he likes to call them). Shona Tuckers two songs are the equal of anything she's recorded with DBT to date. Several of the songs have been around for many years and only finally finding a home on this album, case in point being Pulaski, which Mike Cooley wrote many years ago.

The Wes Freed cover art is absolutely spot on and nails the feel of the album. In addition you can track down a six track live EP called 'Sometimes Late A Night', which is being given away free with orders from Rough Trade in the UK. This EP features a cover of the late, great Vic Chestnutt song 'When I Ran Off and Left Her', plus five DBT songs live. Well worth tracking down, not least for the brilliant Wes Freed cover art (which is now framed and on my wall).

DBT return to the UK in May for a long awaited Leeds gig debut. Should be a blast.

UPDATE 17/02/11 - I'm on my 10th play since this dropped through the post yesterday. This album is quite simply superb. So many fantastic songs, Go Go Boots and The Fireplace Poker especially are stand outs.