Jason Isbell: Classic Or Dud?

yeah there's been no drop in quality imo

Every song I hear of his is really good, and then I hear a second song and don't want to hear any more.

I'm sure he thinks eschewing rock 'n' roll adduces his maturity. I suppose artists earn the right not to give a damn about commercial considerations. A pity.

if only he would come to ilm and read this thread, maybe then he'd do a better job of steering his career *eyeroll*

dude put out the best record he has ever been involved in three years ago, at age 34. that's an opinion. as far as commercial considerations go, he's doing the best he's ever done as we speak. that's a fact.

I hate to be a music geek cliche but yes, the old stuff with the Truckers is best.

tbf not a lot of people's solo stuff is better than "outfit"

A mean industry person in Nashville once told me (before all the Americana awards and stuff, naturally) "he was better when he was fat and drunk." And while I definitely believe the "damaged artist" myth (and propagation thereof) is tired at best and irresponsible at worst, I can't help agreeing with that Nashville dickhead about the declining caliber of Isbell's work since becoming a, err, friend of Bill.

Also, the 400 Unit, while a fine band, are not DBT. Having them playing your songs clearly helps.

This new record is fantastic. His most upbeat set of songs ever.

Pretty sure "If We Were Vampires" is the best song he's ever written.

I'm still not a fan but, yeah, it's a terrific batch of smart songs.

I love this new album

The early 400 Unit albums often had good uptempo numbers music-wise but werent always written so well, or were kind of rambling - and his solo songs were almost always well written but usually slower musically

This is a perfect mix of his writing & the band's talents so you get some really searing lyrics with a faster pace.

It's a great driving record, I have found :D

I mean you can pine for DBT's raw rockin all you want but I dunno if he'll ever go that way, since a lot of that sound was driven by Cooley & Hood's style more than his and he seems to favor a more polished sound generally

Stumbled upon a Saving Country Music pan of the new live album. Checking it out myself, the main criticism of the production is spot on. The drummer and keyboard player sound like they recorded in the Ryman bathroom. I've heard bar bands recorded better.

No buzz for Reunions? It's likely gonna be one of my favorite albums this year.

There's been some discussion over here:

Drive By Truckers fans - does anyone know when in the goddam hell Jason Isbell's solo album is coming out??

But seriously, I understand why some feel he is too MOR, but his twitter game is A+

First of all, i https://t.co/vCxrLYuJbt

— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) July 2, 2020

All this work to get to the heart of the rock and roll truth then You Shook Me All Night Long comes on the radio and it’s as perfect as a damn quail egg

— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) July 4, 2020

<3

your brother, your children, and a stranger who works at the Cinnabon at the Indianapolis airport have all called to wish you a happy birthday pic.twitter.com/t4aiqRuqKi

— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) July 8, 2020

lol

is this not the very definition of a humblebrag

album was underwhelming imo

disagree but i have not gone back after some fairly obsessive listening so maybe it will hit me with less of a boom at end of the year

I'd never been blown away by his solo stuff, but I heard "Cover Me Up" the other day, and was absolutely amazed a song that good slipped under my radar. Maybe the production on "Southeastern" is the problem? I'll have to go back and figure out why I'm not listening to the album everyone likes.

is this not the very definition of a humblebrag

The joke is that he doesn't feel like he deserves to be mentioned in the same group as Paul McCartney and The Who. So yeah, probably a humblebrag, but maybe more just surprised that he of all people was one of the three picked to highlight in that headline.

That's how I read it. I mean, I'm sure hundreds of people wished Ringo a happy birthday, many recognizable names. Why he should be lopped in with Paul McCartney and The Who is anyone's guess.

A nod to the with-it, younger generation!

Pretty douchey move

I think that's pretty harsh, since the guy has showed himself again and again to be remarkably modest and, well, not douchey.

yeah he’s just making fun of himself

Actually the part about The Who was throwing me because I don’t remember seeing Zak Starkey in the birthday bash video I watched yesterday.

I think that's pretty harsh, since the guy has showed himself again and again to be remarkably modest and, well, not douchey.

― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, July 8, 2020 7:22 PM (thirty-eight minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

actually I find the guy pretty smug, but I don't know him in real life so maybe I'm just objecting to his online persona. It doesn't help that his records are the musical equivalent of an oatmeal cookie

lol

yr mom’s an oatmeal cookie

zing

His songs have gotten tougher, so he's an oatmeal cookie with extra nutmeg.

idk decoration day seems pretty tough

JIC if you somehow missed the biggest song of his solo career (call it his “when the stars go blue” since it’s been covered already by a “bigger” Nashville Star) maybe Southeastern is worth another listen.

Great stuff all over that record. Second verse of “relatively easy” is about as close to perfect as it gets.

ps “cover me up” is also hint hint a very easy song to play, esp if you thought drop d was just for “enter sandman”

His solo stuff, I mean.

"Cover Me Up" may be easy to play but not so easy to sing, he really lays into that one.

i've seen isbell live, really genuine-seeming guy, not smug at all

I have no idea how I missed it, but after he left the Truckers I just never clicked with his solo stuff. And when I heard "Southeastern" back when I think I just tuned it out, which was a huge mistake, because his words are so important. I recall right after he left the Truckers hearing that song "Dress Blues" - maybe he played it once or twice in the band? - and just finding it incredible.

i saw him open for father john misty and trust that the douchebag in the building was not jason isbell

the last song on the new one is pretty treacly but on the whole it's a definite improvement on The Nashville Sound. I still probably prefer his first two solo records because the lyrics were more finely drawn but Reunions is a nice blend of sharp songwriting and full-band grooves.

"Cover Me Up" may be easy to play but not so easy to sing, he really lays into that one.

This is his best solo album; still miss the intensity and pain of "Goddamn Lonely Love" and "Never Gonna Change."

re: Southeastern, it didn’t grab me on first listen... I think I went in looking for “outfit pt ii” and wandered off when I didn’t hear that...

it just took a while to realize the whole thing really is outfit pt ii

xpost ugh goddamn lonely love is so good

how does like a nineteen yo kid write that and I still haven’t managed to get a word down here or anywhere that’s true

sigh