Brighter Than Creation's Dark

Last updated
Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Brighter than creations dark.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2008
Genre
Length75:08
Label New West
Producer David Barbe
Drive-By Truckers chronology
A Blessing and a Curse
(2006)
Brighter Than Creation's Dark
(2008)
Live from Austin, TX
(2009)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 83/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
The A.V. Club A [5]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [1]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
MSN Music (Consumer Guide)A [8]
Pitchfork 8.2/10 [9]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Spin Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]

Brighter Than Creation's Dark is the seventh studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers. It was released on January 22, 2008 in the United States.

Contents

Background

Recorded during and after the acoustic Dirt Underneath Tour, the album features a more stripped down, and country based sound not seen since their second release Pizza Deliverance . The album's title is taken from a line in a Mike Cooley song entitled "Checkout Time in Vegas". Wes Freed once again provided the album artwork. According to guitarist Patterson Hood, the band's decision on the name of the album was greatly influenced by the Freed's artwork. Hood also said that the album was recorded with much ease and did not require compromises. The album was released as both a compact disc as well as a double vinyl. The band embarked on a worldwide tour entitled "The Home Front Tour" throughout the entirety of 2008 in support of Brighter Than Creation's Dark.

"Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife" is about Bryan Harvey, singer-guitarist for a number of indie bands, most notably House of Freaks. On New Year's Day 2006, Bryan and his family were found brutally murdered in the basement of their home.

"Goode's Field Road" took many trials, recordings, and years for Hood to finish writing. Originally begun in 2000, Hood intended the track to be on The Dirty South , but at the last minute the band switched the take for "Lookout Mountain" (however, the original "mannered country" version that didn't make The Dirty South can be heard on The Fine Print ). The band rerecorded the "raging primal stomp" version of "Goode's Field Road" as heard on Brighter Than Creation's Dark in one take. [12]

"A Ghost to Most" was written in reaction to Hurricane Katrina. [13]

In Sweden, the album charted at #37 on the official albums chart. The album also peaked at #37 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States. [14] According to Hood's letters to fans, the Drive-By Truckers are exceptionally well received in Scandinavia. [15]

Accolades

Brighter Than Creation's Dark was voted the 27th best album of 2008 in the Pazz & Jop music critics poll [16] and the poll creator, Robert Christgau, named it the third best album of the year in his own top ten. [17]

Christgau ultimately named it his 7th favorite album of the decade in 2009. [18]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife"Hood3:05
2."3 Dimes Down"Cooley3:19
3."The Righteous Path"Hood4:13
4."I'm Sorry Huston"Tucker3:11
5."Perfect Timing"Cooley2:58
6."Daddy Needs a Drink"Hood3:48
7."Self Destructive Zones"Cooley4:12
8."Bob"Cooley2:15
9."Home Field Advantage"Tucker5:01
10."The Opening Act"Hood6:48
11."Lisa's Birthday"Cooley3:19
12."That Man I Shot"Hood6:03
13."The Purgatory Line"Tucker3:48
14."The Home Front"Hood3:18
15."Checkout Time in Vegas"Cooley2:41
16."You and Your Crystal Meth"Hood2:19
17."Goode's Field Road"Hood5:28
18."A Ghost to Most"Cooley4:41
19."The Monument Valley"Hood4:33

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [19] 55
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [20] 78
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [21] 39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [22] 37
US Billboard 200 [23] 37
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [24] 6
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [25] 11
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [26] 3

Related Research Articles

<i>Brighten the Corners</i> 1997 studio album by Pavement

Brighten the Corners is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band Pavement, released on February 11, 1997 by Matador Records. The album received extremely positive reviews from critics.

<i>Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black</i> 1991 studio album by Public Enemy

Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on September 24, 1991, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. The album received critical acclaim, ranking at No. 2 in The Village Voice's 1991 Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

<i>Southern Rock Opera</i> 2001 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

Southern Rock Opera is the third studio album by the American rock band Drive-By Truckers, released in 2001. A double album covering an ambitious range of subject matter from the politics of race to 1970s stadium rock, Southern Rock Opera either imagines, or filters, every topic through the context of legendary Southern band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The record was originally self-released on Soul Dump Records. The album was re-released on July 16, 2002 by Lost Highway Records. The album was financed by issuing promissory notes in exchange for loans from fans, family and friends of the band.

<i>Bricks Are Heavy</i> 1992 studio album by L7

Bricks Are Heavy is the third studio album by American rock band L7, released on April 14, 1992 by Slash Records. The album peaked at number 160 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Heatseekers Albums chart.

Drive-By Truckers American rock band

Drive-By Truckers are an American rock band based in Athens, Georgia. Two of five current members are originally from The Shoals region of northern Alabama and met as roommates at the University of North Alabama. The group also has roots in Richmond, Virginia.

Pazz & Jop Annual poll of top musical releases

Pazz & Jop was an annual poll of top musical releases, compiled by American newspaper The Village Voice and created by music critic Robert Christgau. It published lists of the year's top releases for 1971 and, after Christgau's two-year absence from the Voice, each year from 1974 onward. The polls are tabulated from the submitted year-end top 10 lists of hundreds of music critics. It was named in acknowledgement of the defunct magazine Jazz & Pop, and adopted the ratings system used in that publication's annual critics poll.

<i>Strong Persuader</i> 1986 studio album by Robert Cray

Strong Persuader is the fifth studio album by American blues singer and guitarist Robert Cray. It was recorded by Cray at the Los Angeles studios Sage & Sound and Haywood's with producers Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker, before being released on November 17, 1986, by Mercury Records and Hightone Records. Strong Persuader became his mainstream breakthrough and by 1995 it had sold over two million copies. The record was later ranked #42 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 80's.

<i>Siren</i> (Roxy Music album) 1975 studio album by Roxy Music

Siren is the fifth album by English rock band Roxy Music, released in 1975 by Island Records. It was released by Atco Records in the United States.

<i>Parade</i> (Prince album) 1986 studio album / soundtrack by Prince and the Revolution

Parade is the eighth studio album by American recording artist Prince, and the third and final album where the Revolution is billed. It also was the soundtrack album to the 1986 film Under the Cherry Moon, directed by and starring Prince. It was released on March 31, 1986 by Paisley Park Records and Warner Bros. Records.

<i>Decoration Day</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

Decoration Day is a rock album released by Drive-By Truckers in 2003. The album was recorded mostly live over two weeks at Chase Park Transduction Studios in Athens, Georgia, and was produced by noted producer and former Sugar bassist David Barbe. The album is the Truckers' fifth, including their live album Alabama Ass Whuppin', following the critically acclaimed Southern Rock Opera. The album features a more mellow, stripped down, and reserved sound compared to Southern Rock Opera's heavy hitting southern rock.

<i>The Dirty South</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

The Dirty South is the fifth album by Alabamian rock group Drive-By Truckers, released in 2004. The Dirty South is Drive-By Truckers' second concept album. Like its predecessor, Southern Rock Opera, the album examines the state of the South, and unveils the hypocrisy, irony, and tragedy that continues to exist.

<i>A Blessing and a Curse</i> 2006 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

A Blessing and a Curse is the sixth studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers, released in 2006. It peaked at #50 on the Billboard 200, which was the highest charting for the band until 2008's follow up, Brighter Than Creation's Dark, which hit #37.

<i>Totally Krossed Out</i> 1992 studio album by Kris Kross

Totally Krossed Out is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Kris Kross. It was produced and largely written by Jermaine Dupri and Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo and released on March 31, 1992, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. After developing a musical concept for the duo, Dupri and Nicolo spent two years writing and producing the album.

<i>The Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities</i> 2009 compilation album by Drive-By Truckers

The Fine Print is a compilation album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers. Released in 2009, it consists unreleased material mostly recorded throughout the making of their albums Decoration Day and The Dirty South; a highly prolific period for the band. It features album artwork and a sample of concert posters from 2009 by Wes Freed, and is produced by David Barbe.

<i>The Big To-Do</i> 2010 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

The Big To-Do is the eighth studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers, released on March 16, 2010. It is their first album released on ATO Records, which they signed to after completing their four album deal with New West Records.

<i>Go-Go Boots</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

Go-Go Boots is the ninth studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers, first released February 14, 2011, on Play It Again Sam Records. It was produced by record producer David Barbe and recorded during 2009 to 2010, concurrently with sessions for the band's previous album The Big To-Do (2010). Upon its release, Go-Go Boots received positive reviews from most music critics.

<i>English Oceans</i> 2014 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

English Oceans is the 10th studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers, released on March 4, 2014, by ATO Records. It was produced by long-time collaborator David Barbe and recorded during two weeks in the late spring of 2013. Wes Freed again provided the album's artwork and cover. English Oceans marks the first time the Drive-By Truckers returned to the studio in four years and is one of three records the band has released with two songwriters. It's also the band's first record after bassist Matt Patton officially joined the band.

<i>Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs)</i> 2009 studio album by Patterson Hood

Murdering Oscar is the second solo album by Patterson Hood. The album's songs were written from 1994 to 2004, and recording began in early 2005 in Athens, Georgia. Murdering Oscar was released on June 23, 2009 on Hood's own label, Ruth St. Records, and on ATO Records. The music consists of guitar chords and reverb on some tracks, while others also feature piano. The lyrics address topics that affected Hood around the time Murdering Oscar's songs were written, such as the birth of his child and his success with the Drive-By Truckers.

<i>American Band</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

American Band is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers, released on September 30, 2016 on ATO Records. Produced by long-time collaborator David Barbe, and recorded in the summer of 2016, it is the first Drive-By Truckers album since 1999's Pizza Deliverance not to feature cover art by their longtime collaborator Wes Freed.

<i>The Unraveling</i> (Drive-By Truckers album) 2020 studio album by Drive-By Truckers

The Unraveling is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers, released on January 31, 2020 on ATO Records. It was produced by long-time collaborator David Barbe, and recorded between 2017 and 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 Wood, Mikael (January 18, 2008). "Brighter Than Creation's Dark". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Cromelin, Richard. "CD: Drive-By Truckers". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  3. "Reviews for Brighter Than Creation's Dark by Drive-By Truckers". Metacritic . Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  4. Deming, Mark. "Brighter Than Creation's Dark – Drive-By Truckers". AllMusic . Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  5. Hyden, Steven (January 28, 2008). "Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark". The A.V. Club . Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  6. Simpson, Dave (February 1, 2008). "Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation's Dark". The Guardian . Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  7. Gill, Andy (February 1, 2008). "Album: Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation's Dark (New West)". The Independent . Archived from the original on April 22, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  8. Christgau, Robert (May 2008). "Consumer Guide". MSN Music . Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  9. Love, Joshua (January 25, 2008). "Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  10. Christgau, Robert (January 7, 2008). "Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creations Dark". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  11. Young, Jon (February 2008). "Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark". Spin . 24 (2): 92. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  12. "Records". Drive-By Truckers. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  13. Klimek, Chris (2011-02-18). "A Conversation with Drive-By Trucker Mike Cooley - Arts Desk". Washingtoncitypaper.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  14. "Billboard Charts & Awards". Allmusic . Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  15. "News". Drive-By Truckers. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  16. "Rocklist.net...Village Voice (Pazz & Jop) Lists 2008..." www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  17. "Robert Christgau: 2008: Dean's List". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  18. "Robert Christgau: Rolling Stone Ballot: The 00's Best Songs & Albums". www.robertchristgau.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  19. "Ultratop.be – Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation's Dark" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation's Dark" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  21. "Norwegiancharts.com – Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  22. "Swedishcharts.com – Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation's Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  23. "Drive-By Truckers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  24. "Drive-By Truckers Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  25. "Drive-By Truckers Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  26. "Drive-By Truckers Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2016.