Getting a belated start to 2010 albums with some theoretical comfort food — new albums from three bands who each produced one of my favorite albums of the past couple of years. None repeat the trick here, but one comes pretty close, and one falls off hard.
The Big To-Do — The Drive-By Truckers (ATO): As tends to be the case on lesser Drive-By Truckers albums, bandleader Patterson Hood’s grand proclamations — about a faltering economy, a dying music scene, and a couple of domesticated circus performers — fall a little flat here. But he redeems himself with sidelong glances at a couple of mysterious crimes (the unstated details of one will be familiar to most Memphians) and a tough alcoholic’s testimonial. As is the case with all Drive-By Truckers albums, less prolific sidekick Mike Cooley comes through some priceless low-rent character sketches (especially the nagging wife’s rant “Get Downtown”). And this time out, newish third wheel Shonna Tucker’s starkly written contributions provide a more useful tonal contrast. A merely good record from a great band. (“Get Downtown,” “The Fourth Night of My Drinking,” “Drag the Lake Charlie,” “Birthday Boy”)
Grade: A-
