Brighter than Creation’s Dark turns fifteen

[Tequila Cowboy]

Released 1/22/2008. In hindsight it’s truly astonishing that they released a record this good after losing Jason Isbell. The record produced show favorites like Ghost to Most, Righteous Path, and Goode’s Field Road not to mention gems like Perfect Timing, The Opening Act, The Man I Shot, Lisa’s birthday and the incredible tribute Two Daughters and a beautiful Wife. Oh and the sublime Monument Valley. One of maybe five or six genuine masterpieces in the catalog.

[brettac1]

So hard to believe it's been that long. Undoubtedly in the top tier of DBT albums for me. Listened to it several times over the past six months and think it has a case for their best work.

[WarHenRecords]

It is a remarkable record and ranks near the very top of their entire discography.

[Clams]

BTCD was my entry point into the world of DBT. I heard Self Destructive Zones on XM radio one day in Feb 2008 while in my car at lunch. It was like being hit on the head with a sledge hammer (but in a goood way). I had never heard of DBT. I immediately checked them out online, next thing you know I was reading about rock shows, southern rock operas, Wes Freed, Scott Baxendale, Jason Isbell, etc. I bought BTCD the next day. The rest, as they say, is history. BTCD is still the DBT record I come back to most. It's got a great vibe, especially late at night.

[pearlbeer]

BTCD was my entry point into the world of DBT. I heard Self Destructive Zones on XM radio one day in Feb 2008 while in my car at lunch. It was like being hit on the head with a sledge hammer (but in a goood way). I had never heard of DBT. I immediately checked them out online, next thing you know I was reading about rock shows, southern rock operas, Wes Freed, Scott Baxendale, Jason Isbell, etc. I bought BTCD the next day. The rest, as they say, is history. BTCD is still the DBT record I come back to most. It's got a great vibe, especially late at night.

If penned down, probably my favorite album as well. I'm just guessing here (and I'm sure someone has the data), but I think the most "Cooley-heavy" of all the DBT Albums. Maybe not totally fair with the Shonna songs in there, but has just always felt that way to me.

[tinnitus photography]

nothing tops Decoration Day for me.

and oddly enough, that was my entry to the DBT world too; i think the initial record you hear from a band you grow to love always takes the top or near top position.

[Clams]

i think the initial record you hear from a band you grow to love always takes the top or near top position.

yes

[pearlbeer]

i think the initial record you hear from a band you grow to love always takes the top or near top position.

yes

God, if I had a nickel for everytime Clams has gushed to me about Backstreet's Back by the Backstreet Boys...

[Zip City]

It was my first "new release" album after I discovered the band (The Dirt Underneath tour).

I had bought SRO, DD and TDS after the tour, so I prefer those, but BTCD is still great. Perhaps 2-3 songs too long, but I great big swing by the band

I miss Neff's pedal steel SO MUCH

[WarHenRecords]

Felt like maybe they had something to prove after the Isbell departure and they delivered in a big way.
Plus it gave us A Ghost To Most which IMO is a top 5 DBT track.

And yeah I miss Neff too.

[Vincent]

My introduction to the band as well.

Perfect balance between the acoustic songs and the rock songs.

Plus, 7 Cooley songs.

[Zip Up to Michigan]

Released 1/22/2008. In hindsight it’s truly astonishing that they released a record this good after losing Jason Isbell. The record produced show favorites like Ghost to Most, Righteous Path, Gravity’s Gone and Goode’s Field Road not to mention gems like Perfect Timing, The Opening Act, The Man I Shot, Lisa’s birthday and the incredible tribute Two Daughters and a beautiful Wife. Oh and the sublime Monument Valley. One of maybe five or six genuine masterpieces in the catalog.

Gravity's Gone is on a Blessing and a Curse.

Great record, indeed, though. It falls just short of the "Big 3" for me; too much filler with the Shonna tunes and couple others.

Like most DBT records, there are songs on here I wish they played a lot more: The Opening Act, The Man I Shot, Self Destructive Zones, Perfect Timing, and the aforementioned The Monument Valley.

[Tequila Cowboy]

Gravity's Gone is on a Blessing and a Curse.

You’re correct, of course. Fixed.

[Tequila Cowboy]

To me, maybe the most interesting thing is how much the Shonna songs have held up. “I’m Sorry Huston” in particular.

[Clams]

Gravity's Gone is on a Blessing and a Curse.

You’re correct, of course. Fixed.

Hereby calling for TC's immediate resignation as Site Admin

[brettac1]

To me, maybe the most interesting thing is how much the Shonna songs have held up. “I’m Sorry Huston” in particular.

Agreed. I think all three are solid tunes.

To me the weakest track is "You & Your Crystal Meth" and it's only a shade over 2:00 on a 75 minute album.

[Iowan]

I’d still cull a few songs. “Bob” is a really clever song, but just doesn’t seem to fit. “Crystal Meth” is an interesting soundscape but not as fully formed. “Purgatory Line” has never worked for me.

I think from a production standpoint it’s the best sounding DBT album. I think some of Patterson’s most underrated songs are here. “Opening Act”and “That Man I Shot” don’t get a ton of love, but I absolutely love ‘em in certain settings.

This might be Cooley’s best album.

[cortez the killer]

nothing tops Decoration Day for me.

Same.

[brettac1]

I’d still cull a few songs. “Bob” is a really clever song, but just doesn’t seem to fit. “Crystal Meth” is an interesting soundscape but not as fully formed. “Purgatory Line” has never worked for me.

I think from a production standpoint it’s the best sounding DBT album. I think some of Patterson’s most underrated songs are here. “Opening Act”and “That Man I Shot” don’t get a ton of love, but I absolutely love ‘em in certain settings.

This might be Cooley’s best album.

"That Man I Shot" just rips. One of my all-time faves live during the Neff years.

[RolanK]

I’d still cull a few songs. “Bob” is a really clever song, but just doesn’t seem to fit. “Crystal Meth” is an interesting soundscape but not as fully formed. “Purgatory Line” has never worked for me.

I think from a production standpoint it’s the best sounding DBT album. I think some of Patterson’s most underrated songs are here. “Opening Act”and “That Man I Shot” don’t get a ton of love, but I absolutely love ‘em in certain settings.

This might be Cooley’s best album.

"That Man I Shot" just rips. One of my all-time faves live during the Neff years.

Matt’s bringing something to that song that wasn’t there before imo. Hope they do it at HC.

[305 Engine]

They could have cut this into a very strong 12 song album but I'm glad they released it as is. I like the White Albumish left turns the songs take, even if they aren't all fully formed.

Something triumphant about releasing something this good and diverse after the upheaval around JI leaving.

[WarHenRecords]

~50 shows I think I've only seen That Man I Shot once, though it may be zero honestly.
Also pretty sure I've only seen The Opening Act once too.

[Cole Younger]

Hard to believe this album is that old.

I really didn’t love it when it came out. I came on board with A Blessing and a Curse. Things were so different then. There was of course an internet but you didn’t know every single thing that happened with every single thing you were interested in the second it happened in those days. I miss that. I say all that to say that when BTCD came out I didn’t know Jason wasn’t in the band anymore. So in addition to this album sounding pretty different I was wondering where he went and then after finding out wondering why John Neff wasn’t singing any songs and then realizing Shonna was now the third singer. It was a lot to get used to for somebody who was a relatively new fan and had loved the Isbell era.

It’s among my favorites now. I loved A Ghost To Most, Three Dimes Down, and The Man I Shot the first time I heard them.

I like the Shonna songs better than a lot of people seem to. I love Huston I’m Sorry, I think Purgatory Line is at least a good song and think the way it was recorded with the space that you hear is perfect, and I don’t hate Home Field Advantage.

Maybe I missed it in this thread but no love for Checkout Time In Vegas? Man that’s one of my favorite Cooley songs. You And Your Crystal Meth works for what it is to me. Not so much a song but kind of a pivot point on the album and serves to accentuate the atmosphere they were trying to create. Are there too many songs? I don’t know. I like it the way it is. To me the album where they jacked up which songs were included and weren’t included came on the next one but that’s another topic.

I miss Neff’s pedal steel on the outro on Ghost. Especially the way he would do it live.

[schlanky]

I got into DBT way later than most of y'all. (First album I waited to be released was English Oceans). I bought Gangstabilly through Go-Go Boots pretty close together and listened to whatever album grabbed me at the time until I learned them all.

I had a long drive for a hiking trip and took along BTCD to get better acquainted---good sprawling album for a long drive. That was 2012 or so and there is a stretch of road on Hwy 27 in the area of Spring City TN that I still associate with BTCD every time I drive through because that's where that album really hit me.

I don't get some of the criticism of "You and Your Crystal Meth." Hood delivered similar messages more eloquently on other songs, but I think the starkness of the sound and direct simplicity of the emotions in the lyrics is what makes it work. It's a hard song to hear because it makes me think too much about a few people, but it's one of my favorites on the album.

[Clams]

Hard to believe this album is that old.

I really didn’t love it when it came out. I came on board with A Blessing and a Curse. Things were so different then. There was of course an internet but you didn’t know every single thing that happened with every single thing you were interested in the second it happened in those days. I miss that. I say all that to say that when BTCD came out I didn’t know Jason wasn’t in the band anymore. So in addition to this album sounding pretty different I was wondering where he went and then after finding out wondering why John Neff wasn’t singing any songs and then realizing Shonna was now the third singer. It was a lot to get used to for somebody who was a relatively new fan and had loved the Isbell era.

It’s among my favorites now. I loved A Ghost To Most, Three Dimes Down, and The Man I Shot the first time I heard them.

I like the Shonna songs better than a lot of people seem to. I love Huston I’m Sorry, I think Purgatory Line is at least a good song and think the way it was recorded with the space that you hear is perfect, and I don’t hate Home Field Advantage.

Maybe I missed it in this thread but no love for Checkout Time In Vegas? Man that’s one of my favorite Cooley songs. You And Your Crystal Meth works for what it is to me. Not so much a song but kind of a pivot point on the album and serves to accentuate the atmosphere they were trying to create. Are there too many songs? I don’t know. I like it the way it is. To me the album where they jacked up which songs were included and weren’t included came on the next one but that’s another topic.

I miss Neff’s pedal steel on the outro on Ghost. Especially the way he would do it live.

Good to see you Cole. Hope you're doing well brother.

[Cole Younger]

Hard to believe this album is that old.

I really didn’t love it when it came out. I came on board with A Blessing and a Curse. Things were so different then. There was of course an internet but you didn’t know every single thing that happened with every single thing you were interested in the second it happened in those days. I miss that. I say all that to say that when BTCD came out I didn’t know Jason wasn’t in the band anymore. So in addition to this album sounding pretty different I was wondering where he went and then after finding out wondering why John Neff wasn’t singing any songs and then realizing Shonna was now the third singer. It was a lot to get used to for somebody who was a relatively new fan and had loved the Isbell era.

It’s among my favorites now. I loved A Ghost To Most, Three Dimes Down, and The Man I Shot the first time I heard them.

I like the Shonna songs better than a lot of people seem to. I love Huston I’m Sorry, I think Purgatory Line is at least a good song and think the way it was recorded with the space that you hear is perfect, and I don’t hate Home Field Advantage.

Maybe I missed it in this thread but no love for Checkout Time In Vegas? Man that’s one of my favorite Cooley songs. You And Your Crystal Meth works for what it is to me. Not so much a song but kind of a pivot point on the album and serves to accentuate the atmosphere they were trying to create. Are there too many songs? I don’t know. I like it the way it is. To me the album where they jacked up which songs were included and weren’t included came on the next one but that’s another topic.

I miss Neff’s pedal steel on the outro on Ghost. Especially the way he would do it live.

Good to see you Cole. Hope you're doing well brother.

Hey, man. Thanks. I’m doing great. Hope y’all are too. I stop by here every week or so. Need to post more.

[beantownbubba]

Need to post more.

Yes, please.