Drive-By Truckers – Southern Rock Opera (2xLP)

Although only recently joining the impressive roster at Lost Highway Records, Drive-By Truckers' two-disc tour-de-force Southern Rock Opera is already something of a legend in indie circles. Whether born of madness or genius (to be fair, most likely both), Southern Rock Opera explores - and attempts to untangle - what the Truckers' Patterson Hood refers to as "the duality of the Southern thing" through the tragic career arc of a semi-mythical Southern rock band, one "Betamax Guillotine." Loosely based on Southern rock's star-crossed heroes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Betamax Guillotine takes a bumpy, pitfall-laden path to the top, crashing cars into trees, hoisting lighters, draining bottles, selling gear and checking in with the likes of Neil Young, Skynyrd, Bear Bryant, AC/DC and George Wallace en route to its tragic fiery conclusion.

Only 2,500 copies of each title will be pressed. They've already gone out of print once. Get 'em now before it happens again.