Is there a link readily available ?

Graci

I find it amazing how much more I like Cooley songs than any other member's. Patterson tries soooo hard to be lyrically bad-ass but just comes across as unintentionally comic. Cooley on the other hand appears to be the real deal. "Which one's the birthday boy, she said, I ain't got all night" is a fairly awesome first line. Plus Cooley clearly remembers how to rock.

And those promises of it being their "power pop record"? I can even hear that - background whoo whoo's, chord progressions stolen from Webb Wilder, upbeat melodies hear and there - still seems a vast improvement over their last album (or two).

I don't know which one sings which songs, but whoever sings "A Ghost to Most" is the one I can't stomach.

Or maybe it's just that song.

Y'ALL:

As everyone knows we, Drive-By Truckers, are huge vinyl fanatics and are proud to release our records in that best of all formats. We always go all out for high quality, employing world renowned mastering engineers and using the best of the best manufacturing plants. Our records cost a little more than many because we go the extra mile on all aspects from the making to the mailing.

Therefore, we've been perplexed and very upset to hear that some fans have heard problems with some of the albums. I approved the master myself, so I initially thought maybe it was some very limited quirk in the system, but further investigation has turned up some issues that we've been working overtime to correct.

Because of all of this, we have pulled them from circulation, postponed the official vinyl release to stores, and will be pressing up corrected copies to replace any defective ones that were purchased. Everyone, from the label ATO, to the mastering engineer and the pressing plant have been most helpful and concerned and we are all committed to making this right.

Please be patient, as it is all taking a little bit of time. Hopefully, in the meantime those with defective copies can make do with the free CD that was included. A well pressed album, if cared for properly can last a lifetime and we are all committed to getting this one to you as soon as humanly possible.

If you are one of the unsatisfied vinyl owners, please contact us at vinyl@drivebytruckers.com BY FRIDAY APRIL 2 (please include your order number in the email) and we will cover the costs to get replacement discs out to you as soon as we can get them manufactured. Please know that we MUST know by FRIDAY APRIL 2 so that we can properly place the order for those who are hearing issues with their copy of the record.

We are very sorry for the inconvenience and are totally committed to getting all of you the highest quality record that money can buy.

Yours in Rock,
Patterson Hood / Drive-By Truckers

Just watched "Birthday Boy" from Jimmy Fallon last night on hulu--I reckon they'll have an individual clip up later. Great to see Cooley get center stage on teevee.

My well documented disdain of KISS aside, the cover of "Strutter" is fanfuckingtastic. The bass sounds like Appetite-era Duff McKagan and the whole affair has a raunch that can only be pulled off by people who spent a lot of time sitting on couches, pulling tubes and listening to bad hard rock.

posted that up on the last page. Can't wait for it. Hope I get one in my hands.

Did you beat the crowd? I didn't. Looking for a link if you happen to run across one.

Thanks!

Passing along from Patterson:

Concerning Vinyl Defects (an update):
YES, we are still working on replacing the defective vinyl copies.
Thanks for your patience. Believe me, we are very eager to get this
past us.
As far as the time frame,
We just approved the new test pressing this week.
This time, we brought in extra ears, including some of the earliest
people to complain about the issue.
Everyone has signed off on the new one (it sounds great).
Now it is at the manufacturer, so it's kinda out of our hands as to
how long it will take, but hopefully they will get it done ASAP.

As for what to expect, we will (as far as I know) replacement discs in
plain sleeve so you can replace the copy in your cover.
You'll get to keep the defective one as a souvenir.

Thanks for the concern someone mentioned about it costing us.
Yes it is, as we approved the defective one so we're eating a lot of
the cost, but our main concern is making it right to our supporters.
We have been cut some slack along the way by the other involved
parties and we certainly appreciate their help.
ATO has been super supportive and helpful. (THANKS!)

Now we're hopefully in the homestretch in putting all of this behind
us so we can get on to better things (like Rock Shows).