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Trying to describe the Drive-By Truckers is like trying to describe the greatness of sweet tea without using the words ‘sweet’ and ‘tea.’ So I’ll just start from the beginning. The band has been touring the world for almost 20 years without ever making a set list, they record live, and have three prolific song writers who not only write the songs, but also sing the creations they bring to the group. The primary song writer, Patterson Hood has a great voice for any country band. He’d never fit in with Motorhead and certainly wouldn’t do well at a Whitesnake concert, but Hank Williams or Johnny Cash would probably have invited him to their Thanksgiving dinner celebrations. He’s got a particularly nasal delivery, which, admittedly was what made getting into this band the most difficult part. But if you can appreciate imperfections being overshadowed by extreme talent, then you’ll love Hood’s contributions. He’s got the songwriting thing down and will take the opportunity to delve into the meanings of his songs whenever he can. Next to him, DBT has Mike ‘Stroker Ace’ Cooley to do the real southern songs. His drawl is ridiculously strong and as an effect, adds that little bit of extra southern tinge to their already existing southern tinge – the ‘sweet’ in sweet tea, if you will. As a song writer, he’s a little bit more reserved than Hood as he rarely strays from a verse-chorus-verse-chorus formula. But on a muggy summer night, sitting on the porch of your Alabama home with a guitar in hand, why would you want to do anything else? DBT’s third song writer was recently replaced by bassist Shonna Tucker. She only has three songs accredited to her on DBT's latest album, but that doesn’t mean she’s not doing her job well. She can sing, play bass, and write a killer love song that would bring a tear the eye of that guy sitting at the end of the bar at closing time.

So what does ‘Brighter Than Creation’s Dark’ have that makes it one of the best albums of 2008? Well, its DBT’s first (maybe second) album that is not based on a concept, which is pretty evident in the lyrics. DBT is delivering songs reminiscing about the good ol’ days (3 Dimes Down), the downside to crystal meth (You and Your Crystal Meth), their first ‘bring the boys back home’ story (The Man I Shot), and the story of a movie never made (Check Out Time in Vegas). The songs have also become more personal and almost autobiographical, and musically speaking, their sound is expanding. Where their album ‘Southern Rock Opera’ remained true to a rock n’ roll or death attitude, this album has a more varied song selection – everything from slow country diddies (Bob, Daddy Needs a Drink) to foot-stomping booty-shakers that sound like the band is playing in your bedroom (Righteous Path, Ghost to Most). I definitely give this album four stars out of five. If you want to hear the band at their very best, a five out of five effort, then by all means check out ‘The Dirty South’ and ‘Southern Rock Opera,’ in that order.