CD of the Week: Continued Excellence From Truckers

With the "Wig he Made Her Wear" from last year's The Big To-Do, Patterson Hood started a streak of Southern murder dramas, which he continues on the title track and "The Fireplace Poker" from WTMD's CD of the Week, Drive-By Trucker's Go-Go Boots. 

This time, Hood, who reportedly may be writing a movie on Southern crime syndicates, flips the true plot of an allegedly abusive preacher who met his untimely end at the hands of his humiliated wife. He's matter-of-fact yet empathetic to his female victims.

A real feminine touch comes courtesy of bassist Shonna Tucker's lone original, "Dancin' Ricky," which declares to her dancing fool antihero, "Don't let the diabetes get you!" But, don't miss "Where's Eddie," Tucker's stunning cover of underappreciated Muscle Shoals session guitarist and songwriter Eddie Hinton (who wrote Dusty Springfield's  "Breakfast in Bed"), one of two on the record.

Mike Cooley's warm, familiar baritone twang appears on the made-for-Cash "The Weakest Man" while a dobro and banjo make his plucky "Cartoon Gold" ripe for Avett Brothers fans.

Drive-By Truckers songs play more like vignettes than muscular country-flavored rock songs, though they still can flex a-plenty live.

Check out the talents of this uniquely American band all week long on WTMD.

CD of the Week: Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows

Next year marks the fortieth anniversary of legendary singer-songwriter John Prine's self-titled debut, featuring "Six O'Clock News"  and "Angel from Montgomery." These standout tracks have stood the test of time--and Prine's work has often taken on a life of its own with artists as diverse as John Denver, Bonnie Raitt, Ben Harper and Susan Tedeschi covering "Angel."



Old Crow Medicine Show delivers its own distinctive take on "Angel" as part of the new tribute Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows. The collection also includes contributions by Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band ("Wedding Day in Funeralville"), Josh Ritter ("Mexican Home"), The Avett Brothers ("Spanish Pipedream"), and Drive-By Truckers ("Daddy's Little Pumpkin").

Longtime Prine fans are in for a treat--and newcomers can trace Prine's influence on this new batch of songwriters.

A Trucker's Deep Fried Home Remedy

Who knew that fried chicken had healing qualities for a bass guitar?





Shonna Tucker and her Drive-By Truckers bandmates play a sold out show at the Recher Wednesday night. DBT's new one The Big To-Do rocks with Southern storytelling at its novel best! Big highlights include Patterson Hood's courtroom drama, ala City Confidential, "The Wig He Made Her Wear, " and Mike Cooley's character study "Birthday Boy." Shonna steps up her songwriting and singing, sounding like a 70's-era Emmylou on "You Got Another." Cooley will join me for Morning Sessions next Friday.