American Band (Deluxe Edition) vinyl

The Drive-By Truckers' American Band, originally released in 2016 and now reissued on silver vinyl, stands as one of the band's most politically charged and poignant records. Reflecting the turbulent times during which it was written, the album confronts the complexities of American identity, weaving historical events and personal introspection into its Southern rock fabric. With tracks like 'Ramon Casiano', written by Mike Cooley, the band delves into the killing of a young Hispanic boy by future NRA leader Harlon Carter. Patterson Hood's contributions, including the haunting 'Guns of Umpqua',]address the Umpqua Community College shooting, while 'What It Means' grapples with the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. The album's lead single, 'Surrender Under Protest', takes aim at Civil War revisionism and the Confederate flag, embodying the band's no-holds-barred approach to current issues. Musically, American Band strikes a balance between Cooley's hard-hitting rockers like 'Filthy and Fried', 'Kinky Hypocrite' and Hood's more introspective, soulful tracks, such as 'Ever South.' This nuanced blend of anger, reflection and Southern identity solidifies the album as a modern classic, reaffirming the Drive-By Truckers' place as one of America's most vital bands.