Drive-By Truckers – Go-Go Boots (ATO)

Recorded at the same time as, but with a different vision than, the band’s most recent album The Big To-Do, Go-Go Boots has been described by Drive-By Truckers leader Patterson Hood as the band’s “country/soul/murder ballad” record. Of course, none of those things are exactly alien territory for Athens’ finest, though up ‘til now the band has confined its R&B influences to its work backing Booker T and Bettye LaVette. Given Hood’s roots in the Muscle Shoals sound (his father is MS mainstay David Hood), it’s surprising that it’s taken this long for the band to be overt about that influence, but perhaps the time hasn’t been right until now.

At any rate, the portions of the Muscle Shoals sound that make their way into Go-Go Boots consist mainly of appropriating that era’s sparse production sound, a lot of warm electric piano underpinnings and a heartfelt cover of Alabama homeboy Eddie Hinton‘s “Everybody Needs Love.” That’s not to say the influences aren’t noticeable, especially on Hood’s groove-driven noir tale “Used to Be a Cop” and bassist *Shonna Tucker*’s ballad (and Hinton tribute?) “Where’s Eddie,” but if you’re expecting the Truckers to suddenly whip out a blue-eyed soul record, you’re misguided.

The country element comes to the fore on “Cartoon Gold,” “Pulaski” and “The Weakest Man,” all not coincidentally penned and sung by guitarist Mike Cooley. The murder ballads constitute about half the record, but let’s face it: that’s not terribly unusual for a Truckers album. What longtime fans may notice, though, is the absence of the big rock anthems that serve as the hooks for any new DBT LP, though the closing “Mercy Buckets” should get heart beating and lighters waving. That doesn’t mean Go-Go Boots isn’t rewarding on its own terms – just that it requires patience and more spins before its merits fully reveal themselves. Give it time and you’ll be keeping these Boots by your bed as often as your cowboy shoes.

http://drivebytruckers.com
http://atorecords.com