Brighter Than Creation's Dark

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

Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Studio album by
Drive-By Truckers
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2008
GenreAlternative country, Alternative rock, Southern rock
Length75:08
LabelNew West
ProducerDavid 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
Metacritic83/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The A.V. ClubA[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
The Guardian[5]
The Independent[6]
Los Angeles Times[7]
MSN Music (Consumer Guide)A[8]
Pitchfork8.2/10[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
Spin[11]

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
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References
  1. "Reviews for Brighter Than Creation's Dark by Drive-By Truckers". Metacritic. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  2. Deming, Mark. "Brighter Than Creation's Dark – Drive-By Truckers". AllMusic. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  3. Hyden, Steven (January 28, 2008). "Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  4. Wood, Mikael (January 18, 2008). "Brighter Than Creation's Dark". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  5. Simpson, Dave (February 1, 2008). "Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation's Dark". The Guardian. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  6. 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.
  7. Cromelin, Richard. "CD: Drive-By Truckers". Los Angeles Times. 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.
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