A Blessing and a Curse is Drive-By Truckers least Southern album. Now that’s saying something coming from a band that’s released LPs called The Dirty South, Southern Rock Opera and Alabama Ass Whuppin’. Their Skynyrd-esque boogie is all over the place – stomping drums, slide guitars and twangy, rugged vocals. But the overtly Southern themes of old have been replaced with more universal looks at love, heartbreak, pain and death. They also push the delicate, alt-country tracks to the back half of the album and make you work to get to those satisfyingly poignant moments. With three talented singer/songwriter/guitarists it’s almost impossible for Drive-By Truckers to make bad music. A Blessing and a Curse just lacks some of the charm and character that makes them special.
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Little Bonnie“; “Easy On Yourself“
Medium Rotation tracks: “Gravity’s Gone“; “Daylight“; “A Blessing and A Curse“
Grade: B