Drive-By Truckers Announce: English Oceans

English Oceans: March 4th via ATO. We named them band of the decade.

...an elegantly balanced and deeply engaged new effort that finds the group refreshed and firing on all cylinders. “It can go from this chainsaw rock ‘n’ roll to this very delicate, pretty-sounding stuff,” says Mike Cooley.

English Oceans was recorded over 13 days at Chase Park Transduction Studios in Athens, GA with their longtime producer, David Barbe. Cooley fans will be happy that he brought six new songs to the sessions and this record marks the first time that Cooley sings a song penned by Patterson Hood on “Til He’s Dead or Rises.”

Loretta Lynn: "Take Your Gun and Go, John"

While perhaps not bound for #1 Hype Machine blog glory - if Loretta Lynn sings a song about the Civil War, I'm probably going to post it. While we haven't had new music from the ageless country star since her instant-classic collaboration with Jack White 'Van Lear Rose' it's great to hear Loretta singing over some front porch banjo and fiddle. Details from Rolling Stone:

This fall, ATO Records will release a two-disc compilation of songs from the Civil War called Divided and United that will feature contributions from Old Crow Medicine Show, A.A. Bondy, Taj Mahal, T. Bone Burnett, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton and more.

Lucero Announces Women & Work Tour 2012

[mp3] Lucero: "She's Just That Kind of Girl"

We're extremely excited about the announcement of Lucero's new record and debut for ATO Women & Work due this March - supported by a massive tour. Supporters include J. Roddy Walston and William Elliot Whitmore, and the tour includes a co-headline with Built to Spill. Dates after the jump. Of the new album Ben Nichols says: "This record is Lucero doing what we do best. It's one part barrelhouse Rock & Roll and one part lonesome nights. The thing is, we are having more fun than ever playing both on stage and off and I think that shows on this album."

Caitlin Rose Does It All, Signs to ATO

[mp3] Caitlin Rose: "Own Side Now"

[mp3] Caitlin Rose: "Shanghai Cigarettes"

What can't Caitlin Rose do? After releasing her debut record earlier this year, Own Side Now, Rose took the UK by storm ruffling feathers at NME, BBC and Q Magazine. Shortly thereafter, she returned to the states garnering album reviews from the New York Times, NPR, LA Weekly and more. Doing what a good young artist does best, Rose kept to the road spreading her crystalline voice, cheekily-creative lyrics and southern charm. This Nashville-native was making friends in the right places; ultimately those friendships landed her a record deal with ATO Records. Home, or former home, to such artists as Drive By Truckers, Dawes, My Morning Jacket and Gomez, ATO will add a much needed stiff-label backing to Rose's exponential career path. Soon to join the likes of Justin Townes Earle/Jason Isbell and Hayes Carll on a Fall tour, Rose is poised and positioned for continued success; keep your eye on her...we have for the past four years and it is paying off.

Tour dates with Justin Townes Earl/Jason Isbell and Hayes Carll after the jump!

New Dawes and Seapony Records Announced

[mp3] Dawes: "If I Wanted Someone (Live)"
Download "If I Wanted Someone (NEW)"

Nothing is Wrong releases June 7th on ATO. A self-described “American rock ‘n’ roll band,” Dawes represent everything pure and true about that fundamental delineation, four talented friends making music together, fueled by a shared belief in the power of their songs. With Nothing Is Wrong, singer/guitarist Goldsmith, his brother Griffin on drums, keyboardist Tay Strathairn, and bassist Wylie Gelber – continue to master their blend of singer/songwriter reflection with folk, country, and AOR-inspired arrangements, all ringing guitars, soaring harmonies, and heartfelt melodies.

[mp3] Seapony: "Blue Star"

Seattle three-piece Seapony has announced album details for their debut full-length, Go With Me, forthcoming May 31 on Hardly Art. An mp3 of "Blue Star" is also now available, which is the first new Seapony material since their "Dreaming" single was released last fall. The music of Seapony is refreshing in its simplicity. Most songs on Go With Me use no more than three chords, with an average running time around two-and-a-half minutes.

All copy via album press releases.

Happy 'Go Go Boots' Release Day

[mp3] Drive-by Truckers: "I Do Believe (Live)"

There's not much more we can say (or post) about how much we've been loving the new Drive-by Truckers' album Go Go Boots, out today on ATO. Just go get it. You want be disappointed. We promise. Further to that, there's not much more we can say about how excited we are for their CD release show tonight at the intimate (for 2011 Truckers' standards) Bowery Ballroom. Any chance to catch a band this loud and bold in a setting that's not T5 or Webster is a special treat. Enjoy a timeless Cooley tune in "Cartoon Gold" above.

Drive-By Truckers: Go-Go Boots Cover Art

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS: Go-Go Boots, February 15, 2011 on ATO Records.

DBT will also be releasing their documentary The Secret to a Happy Ending on DVD

[mp3] Drive-By Truckers: "Used to be A Cop"

“We recorded nearly 40 songs last year and into this year and fairly early on divided it into two separate albums” explains DBT co-founder Patterson Hood. “The Big To-Do, released first, was the more straight forward "Rock" album. Go-Go Boots is what I sometimes (semi-jokingly) refer to as our country, soul, and murder ballad album. Those elements definitely play into it, but it's a little more open ended than that.”

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New Drive-By Truckers MP3: "Birthday Boy"

[mp3] Drive-By Truckers: "Birthday Boy"
[mp3]: Drive-By Truckers: "This Fuckin' Job"

Somewhere along the way, The Drive-By Truckers got indie cred. The best part about this, is that the band didn't really do anything. To their credit, indie tastemakers like Stereogum and Pitchfork will sometimes get behind artists, because, well, they make good music. Yet, The Truckers are a safe bet. They smoke on stage, pound whiskey, and their beer of choice is more often than not PBR. Yet, the difference between The Truckers and The Wild Yaks, is that DBT have been doing this since PBR was a redneck beer, not the go-to choice of thrifty hipsters.

But we digress. My band of the decade has a new record coming: The Big To-Do drops March 16th on their new home, ATO. Today, we get the first Mike Cooley-fronted single, "Birthday Boy."

After a few weeks with the record, what strikes us about it is not the melodies, or the return to a really hard rocking attack. What really stands out, is that The Big To-Do contains some of the best stories The Truckers have compiled since Decoration Day. From "Drag The Lake Charlie" to "Birthday Boy" to "The Wig He Made Her Wear" the lyrics and characters are as well developed and compelling as short novels. The subject matter remains the same: small town life, huge problems, domestic violence, drinking, prostitution, and murder. Yet, the manner in which these tales are spun is as direct and engaging as if Patterson Hood sat on your porch for a few hours and laid it all bare for you.

That being said: enjoy the two tracks above. More on the record and its content coming up.

Drive-By Truckers are Band of the Decade, Sign to ATO

OK. Snap decision. The Drive-By Truckers are my band of the decade. Done. I'm not making a list about it. That's all. It's them. How can it not be?

From the epic Southern Rock Opera, to the old, crazy, drunk years of Gangstabilly and Pizza Deliverance, to the (almost) perfect Decoration Day, to the mature (still pretty drunk) and beautiful Brighter Than Creations Dark, The Drive-By Truckers have put out some of the most well-written rock songs I've heard, maybe ever. Mike Cooley, is a calm and modest genius of a songwriter, while Patterson Hood is the face and soul of the band. Most of their live performances are easily in my top 10, and maybe one or two cracking the top 5. They survived the loss of a great songwriter when Jason Isbell left the band, and were able to rebound from the notoriously poor album A Blessing and A Curse. They've survived this long on the road, mentally and physically. They have families now, and sometimes Patterson Hood wears a blazer. They are resilient, exciting, sad, brilliant, and overarchingly sincere. They are my band of the decade.

I'm extremely happy I've made this decision, and it was easier than I thought. A lay-up. I'm also extremely happy to share the news that they have signed to ATO Records. Of course, it's sad to see them leave their longtime New West home, but their commercial success of late (it's still weird to say that) could be built upon and developed further through the ATO channels and staff. Their new album, The Big To-Do drops March 16th. Patterson says: "[it's] very melodic and more rocking than anything we’ve done since disc 2 of Southern Rock Opera.” It also contains a song titled "The Fourth Night of My Drinking." We'll leave it at that. Full track-list after the jump.

The Big To-Do Track Listing:
1. Daddy Learned to Fly
2. The Fourth Night of My Drinking
3. Birthday Boy
4. Drag the Lake Charlie
5. The Wig He Made Her Wear
6. You Got Another
7. This Fucking Job
8. Get Downtown
9. After the Scene Dies
10. (It’s Gonna Be) I Told You So
11. Santa Fe
12. The Flying Wallendas
13. Eyes Like Glue
14. Girls Who Smoke (Bonus track – vinyl only)

Brendan Benson: My Old Familiar Friend

[mp3] Brendan Benson: "Feel Like Taking You Home"

We haven't gotten to hear Brendan Benson's new record My Old Familiar Friend (August 18, ATO) in its entirety yet, even though it IS streaming at NPR, but what we have heard is more high-grade, 60s inspired rock and roll songwriting from one of the genre's most underrated stars. Best known as the co-front man and resident heartthrob for The Raconteurs, Benson's presence in the band is oft overshadowed by the massive stature of Jack White. Yet, without Benson's full-bodied vocals and well crafted tunes, the two Raconteurs records would not even exist. On the other hand, the notoriety gained from the band has shed light on Benson's solid solo catalog, and has set up his newest record quite nicely in the press. The true gem of the catalog is Lapalco, pick it up, like, today. Looking forward to the new record for sure. Benson has announced a string of US dates including the Bowery Ballroom on 8/17. See the rest of the dates and the cover art after the jump.


Confirmed Dates:

8/17/09 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

8/20/09 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s

8/22/09 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig

9/10/09 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

9/11/09 San Diego, CA @ Belly Up

9/12/09 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

Do You Get (Or Understand) Evil Urges?

My Morning Jacket has a new album coming out soon, and I'll bet this blog and a half that it'll be polarizing. Whereas Z was ambitious and adventurous, it was still a natural progression from It Still Moves.

This? I can't tell.

MMJ is giving away the title track to Evil Urges, due June 17 via ATO, for free on their Web site. And it's blowing my mind. Jim James dons his best Barry Gibb impression and sings the whole song in falsetto. Then the rest of the band launches into an impromptu jam that wouldn't feel out of place at a Dave Matthews Band show in Central Park.

On first listen, I was perplexed. Put off. Now, I'm transfixed. There's something oddly endearing and majestic about it. Love it or hate it, no one in the world really sounds like My Morning Jacket. It's a good thing.

-Andrew Daniels