Drive by Truckers albums
	Band Members:            Patterson Hood - Guitars, Vocals                                            Mike Cooley - Guitars, Vocals                                            Jason Isbell - Guitars, Vocals                                            Shonna Tucker - Bass                                            Brad Morgan - Drums Best Album: unknown to me at this point Biggest Influences: Bruce Springsteen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rolling Stones                                                          2006                                                          A Blessing and a Curse -  7/8       This is an album that really takes a while to get into, because I think this is the most personal album the band has made yet. I'm no authority figure on this of course, the bad has had six albums prior to this one and I have heard the other three released in the 00's (Southern Rock Opera; Decoration Day, The Dirty South) maybe twice each with friends. Based on how much I like this one I really should get more into these guys! See, these guys are from North Alabama, where I also grew up, so maybe I've had some reluctance to get into them, being the "hot local band that has made it big" (some members also hail from Athens, Georgia). Oh well though, that juts makes it a special coincidence I guess. The band expands their sound here, going beyond southern rock at points on to new territory. Previous records might have been good, dark, and unique takes on old fashion rock 'n roll, but this album shows them embracing a kind of sound: optimism.       Two songwriters try this out, Hood on "Feb. 14" and the road trip ready "Wednesday" and Isbell on "Daylight". These kinds of sounds are new to the band, and mix with their more traditional songs in interesting ways. Cooley is always himself, with an old fashion country rocker "Gravity's Gone" and an old fashion country ballad "Space City", which are both fantastic. Other highlights include the harrowing "A Blessing and a Curse", the creative wordplay of "Easy on Yourself", and "Aftermath USA", the best song The Rolling Stones forgot to write (co-written by producer David Barbe, formally the bass player form Sugar! How cool is that now?) Really I could talk more, but the main point to make that there are anthem songs, depressing songs, nice little ballads, which all add up to an album that does not flow at all, but is consistent as everything, making it a great sounding record (though again, hard to get into). I thought about holding off until I got all of their albums to ramble about the Drive By Truckers, but I couldn't contain the joy after hearing this. On their seventh record, the band has gotten so good at what they do, that it is hard for them to go wrong. My bet, and hope, is that this great band will be around releasing solid records for years to come, and based on their track record they won't disappoint. - Trevor e.y. 1.february 14th- 3 2.gravity's gone- 4 3.easy on yourself- 4 4.aftermath usa- 4 5.goodbye- 2 6.daylight- 4 7.wednesday- 4 8.little bonnie- 3 9.space city- 4 10.a blessing and a curse- 4 11.a world of hurt- 3