Many Drive-By Truckers fans feared the worst when longtime guitarist and key songwriter Jason Isbell left the band, with skeptics fretting that Isbell took with him much of the band's fire and grit. DBT's response is "Brighter Than Creation's Dark," an album that definitely serves as a departure from the band's earlier harder and louder efforts. The new album is much more diverse, with soft, introspective ballads balancing typical DBT rockers. The disc also features the promising and welcome development of bassist Shonna Tucker as a vocalist and songwriter; she adds a unique feminine touch to the band's dirty Southern rock. Some naysayers might argue that "Brighter" represents a step back for the group, but they'd be missing the point. To prove its greatness, a band must continually grow and evolve, and DBT certainly does that here. While it might not be the group's best album, it's easily the most unique and thoughtful, more proof that DBT is one of the best American rock bands today.