Artist: Drive By Truckers
Album: The Fine Print
Worth Buying: Every Track
You might be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Neil Young,
Lynnard Skynnard, Southern Rock, Old School country music and albums where bands reveal their rare b-sides and alternate versions of their songs.
Tell me more: The latest release by the DBT is subtitled as a collection
of oddities, rarities and alternate versions. Sometimes collections like
this can be uneven and are made to appeal to the hardcore fan rather than
the first time curious. So it’s a pleasant surprise to hear how well this
collection works as an album even if you had not heard any of their
previous albums.
In the liner notes group member Patterson Hood talks about the origins of
these tracks. In one case a (fantastic) remake of the Bob Dylan record
“How Does it Feel” was released only as part of a compilation CD for Mojo
Music Magazine. In another case a song like When The Well Runs Dry was recorded for the Blessing and A Curse album and then later kept off. But these tracks are in no way leftovers, or tracks that weren’t considered good enough…..In fact on a couple of these Mr. Hood himself express’s the opinion that these tracks that didn’t make it on the album are better than anything that was on the album…..What he doesn’t bother to say is why?
I personally would have liked to have read more about the why on this, but
no information is given. Either way, though it is great to see hear these
tracks. All together there are covers from Tom Petty,Warren Zevon, and Tom T Hall. There is a sprinkling of alternate versions of tracks that did make it onto albums, and then just recordings that for one reason or another where never released.
Ever since I was introduced to the DBT via their epic 2 CD concept album
(Southern Rock Opera) I have been a fan. And when someone new to their
music asks me what’s a good album to start with, I always point to
Southern Rock Opera as a good starting point (I would use the same
philosophy with The Who or the Beatles and recommend either Who’s Next or
Sgt Pepper). For the most part I would still point to Southern Rock Opera
when making this recommendation, but as a second choice I might just go
with “The Fine Print”. A collection of oddities that comes together quite
well on it’s own as an album.
What about the packaging? DBT albums are always well packaged and this
one is no exception. It is packaged in a mini lp gatefold sleeve. The
artwork is beautiful and interior artwork is equally beautiful and makes
you wish you had it in a larger vinyl format. It comes with a booklet too.
There are no lyrics, but (as mentioned earlier ) there are notes by
Patterson Hood for each track and it makes good reading.
Get this album on CD
mp3 version
TJR 09/28/09
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