DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
A Blessing and a Curse
New West Records 2006
www.drivebytruckers.com

Sample it here

What’s the 4-1-1?
Southern rockers release their 7th album.

Genre
Southern rock / acoustic rock

The Good
Twangy guitars and soft melodic vocals help tell the tale of a very unhappy Valentine’s Day on “Feb 14.” “Gravity’s Gone” has perhaps one of the best lines I’ve heard in a long time; I went stumbling through the fog / trying to find a reason for the things I told her / She woke up sunny side down / and I’m still thinking I’m too proud to flip her over. There are more gems like that all throughout this hook laden ditty. Fuzzy riffage and bending licks dominate the cleverly written “Aftermath USA.” It not all fun and games for Drive By Truckers; the group displays a lot of sadness and regret on the weepy ballad “Goodbye.” “Wednesday” bounces along at a good pace with steady rhythms and Tom Petty-like vocals. No drums, just acoustic guitars and vocals for the metaphoric track “Space City.”

The Bad
Nothing notable

The Verdict
This is my first encounter with the Drive By Truckers, and even though they gunned me down with their brand of acoustic southern rock rhythms, smooth emotional vocals, and clever and witty lyrics; I enjoyed every minute of it.

Did You Know?
The albums first single “Feb 14,” was ironically released on Valentine’s Day 2006.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne