The Nashville Sound

I am new to Jason Isbell, but having read lots of great reviews from other reviewers who I share similar musical tastes with (like Sid Nuncius), and reading an interview with him in a music magazine, I decided to eventually take a punt and try this out . It is not Country in the schmaltzy way that generic title can sometimes imply. It crosses over from confessional singer songwriter great songs like opener Last of My Kind and 3rd track Tupelo, 2 of the best songs on the album in my opinion, to a more outright rocker like Cumberland Gap. In general I prefer the more mellow and confessional songs, rather than the more brash uptempo numbers.Jason has led a colourful life, his past addictions to alcohol and drugs have been well documented, but he has been clean the last few years. He was also married to an earlier band member, and is now with Amanda Shires who plays strings on the album, so he has had some rocky relationships, which can sometimes make for memorable songs from bitter personal experience. He also has some sharp one liners in his thoughtful lyrics that delight and stick in the mind. Jason is now at a different stage in his life, having got through a rebellious youth where he over indulged in tempting additions on offer and experiencing a troubled emotional life, he is now seeing things from a more mature settled perspective, with children and family values and concerns more to the fore, like on the song White Man's World.The band is tight, Jason is the songwriter and lead vocalist, centre stage throughout. I can spot various influences, from the early country rock of the Eagles,(Tupelo) to a working class outsider perspective of Springsteen trying to fit into society (Molotov) , but finding it all a challenge to achieve. Some of the songs have autobiographical elements within them, but he also shows his vulnerable side, such as on the track Anxiety, where he highlights his personal demons and fears. Having only recently come across this artist, and having listened to his latest album some half a dozen times now, I can confirm that I am delighted to join the enthusiastic fan club of positive supporters for this great disc. It has a classy set of memorable songs, and I can recommend it to others like me who like me were unfamiliar with this artist. Try this out, I think you will enjoy it and not be disappointed, one of my top 10 albums of the year..

Yet another superb set by Jason Isbell. Inhabiting the intersection point between folk, rock, country and blues perfectly, he shifts seamlessly between the four on the first tracks without leaving any behind completely. Whilst all the songs are recognisably Isbell, with the same transitions between contemplation, rage and regret, they’re also definitely different from their predecessors. Some clearly reflect his new status as a father, and one, If We Were Vampires, possibly rebounds off that in being a reflection on mortality. On most of them Isbell’s voice has a clear bite; there’s none of the trace of Paul Simon I’ve noted before.The opener, Last Of My Kind, sees Isbell in folky, reflective mood. He grinds through all of the gears after that into the rocking Cumberland Gap, and then shifts down a touch for the country flavoured Tupelo.Isbell’s songs in the past have touched me deeply, but none probably as the fourth track, White Man’s World. PBS’s review made much of the words themselves, depicting them as a realisation of unwitting culpability in the perpetuation of racism and sexism. The words are complemented to the point of intensification by the music, both the bluesy riffs and, as a bitingly poignant enhancement, by Amanda Shires’s fiddle. Since I first heard her playing I have been a shameless admirer, but her playing here seals it for me, going beyond anything she’s done before in terms of emotional edge. PBS’s view that this song marks Isbell’s entry into political comment is not quite right, though. His earlier song TVA, for example, praises Keynesian-style state intervention, and in Dress Blues he sneered at Hollywood wars.A couple of tracks on is Anxiety. When I reviewed Isbell’s previous album, Something More Than Free, I wondered if he was shifting into prog music with the use of mellotron, and the PBS reviewer noted that shift too on this new track. It also has a rollicking coda reminiscent of that from Decoration Day back in Isbell’s time with DBT. The one that follows, Molotov, is an admission that he’s forsaken his wilder days, and he wonders if he still retains any of the excitement of the past (I’d say yes). There are a couple of great lyrics in this one, once where he rhymes “three wishes” with “facetious”, the other where he confesses to breaking a promise to himself to “ride the throttle till the wheels came off”.Something To Love is the perfect finale, folky, gentle and one of the best expressions of “Best Wishes” you could hope for.Looking forward to the Roundhouse in October!

The two preceding albums were always going to be hard acts to follow, yet if anything JI has produced his best album yet. This album ebbs and flows nicely, with a well balanced mix of upbeat and lower tempo songs, as well as having a few songs where he lets loose a bit and gives us some heavier moments – such as “Cumberland Gap” and “Anxiety”. It is difficult to choose favourites as the consistency is so good throughout but if pressed I would say the previously mentioned songs and “White Man’s World” edge it, together with the opener “The Last of Our Kind” and closer "Something to Love".. Lyrically these songs are up with his best, and I love the lyrics of WMW. It is that time of year where people are considering their “best album of the year”, and in a very good year this is a strong contender.

Just an amazing album its a little bit louder in places than the last couple of albums which were also excellent imo, and if you didnt know it already confirms Jason as one of the best songwriters around right now. It doesnt have a weak track on it highlights include "If we were Vampires" a stunning moving song that is as emotional as Elephant from Southeastern and like the former deals with death but is more autobiographical, "Cumberland Gap" will blow your head off, The album will both delight old fans and win him many new. Looking forward to seeing him in October. I could write a long review but its a Jason Isbell record so you knew it would be good.