A Blessing And A Curse
by Drive-By Truckers
  • Record Label: New West
  • Release Date: Apr 18, 2006
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Paste Magazine
    60
    Blessing is merely good, solid rock.
  2. The A.V. Club
    50
    The bulk of the album is made of slight, rote country-rockers, as sturdy and flat as a table.
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    Workmanlike. [18 Mar 2006, p.33]
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User Reviews

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User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Ricko
    Jun 21, 2020
    8
    Arguably Drive-By Truckers best album. I think it is tied with "Decoration Day" as my favourite because it is their best attempt at blendingArguably Drive-By Truckers best album. I think it is tied with "Decoration Day" as my favourite because it is their best attempt at blending their different styles of songwriting without ever letting the quality levels drop. Unlike "Decoration Day", this is their most focused album. It's 11 tracks with most in an around the 4 minute mark. A downside I find even with their best work is that songs and albums are overly long. This can be a blessing but often is a curse ;-0 . On this album the balance is perfect. At times it veers towards one of my favourite genres, indie folk, but its essentially classic country rock. The more I listen to this album the more I'm hearing the lyrics properly too which are top class. Excellent stuff.… Full Review »
  2. VincentH.
    Mar 19, 2007
    7
    Another amazing album from probably the most consistent rock-band around today. DBT have never made a bad album...ever. They rarely even Another amazing album from probably the most consistent rock-band around today. DBT have never made a bad album...ever. They rarely even write weak songs, so despite the fact that this is easily their overall weakest album since Pizza Deliverance, I am comparing this album to three masterpieces in a row (SRO, DD, TDS), so it is still a solid album with more great hooks and musicianship than 90% of any other bands out there. There are three songs I usually skip cause they are kinda boring (Aftermath USA, Gravity's Gone, Space City), but the rest of the songs are all brilliant. Particularly "Feb 14" (contrinuing Patterson Hood's tradition of beautiful and poignant love songs) and "Daylight", two of the best songs DBT have ever recorded. Essentially I love all the Patterson Hood and Jason Isbell songs, but tend to skip the Cooley tracks (sorry Mike...you're still an amazing guitar player). Anyways, if you like DBT and own any of their previous album, you should buy this one and you will love it. I promise.… Full Review »
  3. LawrenxceP
    Aug 7, 2006
    8
    Still the best and most solid honest country-rock band around..."world of hurt" is one of their very best and most heartbreaking tunes.
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