Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - #02 The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (2017)

Sitting at #2 on my list of The Best Albums of 2017 is the sixth studio from Jason Isbell and the first since Here We Rest (2011) to have the 400 Unit credited as the artist (not taking into consideration the Live From Alabama album from 2012.

As with his last album Something More Than Free, Jason Isbell continues to make great strides to being one of the best songwriters around today. He's Country but not Country like some of the nonsense you hear on Country Music Radio. Isbell is Thinking Man's Country and if that wasn't enough to upset some he's also prepared to step outside the boundaries of Country and to embrace other sounds that also throws a spanner into the cogs of the machine!

He is also political but not in that usual redneck, ten gallon hat wearing, card-carrying Repulican way that some of the top players on the Country Scene are. He wears his heart on his sleeve and realises that whilst that may mean some "fans" are lost there are a lot more newer fans embracing what he's doing. Isbell was recently out supporting Doug Jones in the Special Election that saw Roy Moore (the favoured Republican with the allegations of sexual misconduct and other salacious baggage) defeated by the Democrats in Alabama (a sign maybe that people are rising up against the current administration and those ruling the roost in the Sentate).

The Nashville Sound is a wonderful array of sound from the acoustic opening Last of My Kind to full on Rockers like Cumberland Gap. It's loaded with songs for the desperate days in which we live like Hope The High Road. All in all it is a pretty balanced album that deserves a much wider hearing and despite the fact that the album is released on his own label Southeastern, an Independent label, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are making great efforts in being heard in many far away places than just Nashville!

Track-by-track Guide to The Nashville Sound (Rolling Stone 14/06/17).

"It's A Risky Statement" (Rolling Stone 19/06/17). 

Jason Isbell on Modern Country Music (Rolling Stone 28/07/17).

 The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Southeastern

Produced by Dave Cobb

Released 16th June 2017

US Charts #4

US Folk Albums #1

US Indie Albums #1

US Country Albums #1

US Top Rock Albums #1

UK Charts #26

Watch and Listen To Performances of Songs 

from The Nashville Sound (and a Bonus NPR Tiny Desk Concert) Here:

 The 400 Unit
    Jason Isbell – lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
    Derry Deborja – keyboard, Therevox
    Chad Gamble – drums
    Jimbo Hart – bass
    Amanda Shires – harmony vocals, fidle
    Sadler Vaden – electric guitar

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

LiveStream 13/10/17 

from Ryman Auditorium

The Soundtrack4Life Concert Series: Jason Isbell

A double hit of Jason Isbell Live in Concert features firstly a performance with his band The 400 Unit from 2013 and then from earlier this year in Boston a cracking show from The House of Blues.

(Photo: Joshua Black Wilkins)

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

Live in Moulton, Alabama 13th April 2013

Setist:
Tour of Duty
Go It Alone
Decoration Day
The Magician
Danko Manuel
Hey Pocky Way
Heart On A String
Outfit
Try
In A Razor Town
Alabama Pines
Dress Blues
Codeine
Never Gonna Change

 Jason Isbell

Live at The House of Blues, Boston

27th February 2016

Setlist:
Palmetto Rose
24 Frames
Flying Over Water
Stockholm
Dress Blues
Decoration Day (Drive-By Truckers)
Flagship
Alabama Pines (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit)
The Life You Chose
Traveling Alone
Something More Than Free
Never Gonna Change (Drive-By Truckers)
Cover Me Up
If It Takes A Lifetime
Super 8
Children Of Children
(Encore)
Speed Trap Town
Codeine (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit)

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 128 - Jason Isbell

So, we come to an end of Country Week on S4L and there's no better place to end than with the music of Jason Isbell. He's not quite as Country as some people would like him to be as he kind of fits somewhere on the Alternative Country, Americana side of things or in what I like to call Thinking Man's Country.

Jason Isbell   is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Green Hill, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. He is best known for his solo career, and as a former member of the Drive-By Truckers for 6 years.

Back in 2014 I asked my friend Gol to write a few words about discovering the music of Jason Isbell. If you would like to read it you can check it out HERE.

Last year his latest album, Something More Than Free was named here as The Soundtrack4Life Album of the Year. It also won a Grammy for Best Americana Album.

If by any chance you haven't heard him before have a listen to the two albums below. Some quality songwriting indeed I think.

Look out for a post coming in awhile in the Soundtrack4Life Concert Series that will feature a live show from Jason Isbell and you can see why there's so much of a fuss about him.

Southeastern (2013)

Something More Than Free - Jason Isbell

Southeastern Records

Produced by Dave Cobb

Released 17th July 2015

US Billboard 200 Albums #6

US Billboard Top Country Albums #1

US Billboard Folk Albums #1

US Billboard Independent Albums #2

US Billboard Top Rock Albums #1

UK Album Chart #17

Tracklist*

(Click on the Links to Listen to the Music)

01. If It Takes A Lifetime    
02. 24 Frames    
03. Flagship    
04. How To Forget    
05. Children Of Children    
06. The Life You Chose    
07. Something More Than Free    
08. Speed Trap Town    
09. Hudson Commodore    
10. Palmetto Rose    
11. To A Band That I Loved.

* Links might not necessarily be the version of the song that appears on the record. You Tube once again removed tracks from the album they had uploaded to a playlist themselves when the album came out. Apologies for this. Hope it doesn't spoil your listening pleasure.

 

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!

Jason Isbell Wins Two Grammy Awards

At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards today in Los Angeles Jason Isbell has won two Grammy Awards.

Well deserved as well. Something More Than Free was The S4L Album of the Year 2015.

Congratulations Jason Isbell!

Something More Than Free 

Grammy Winner: Best Americana Album

 01. If It Takes A Lifetime    
02. 24 Frames    
03. Flagship    
04. How To Forget    
05. Children Of Children    
06. The Life You Chose    

 07. Something More Than Free

08. Speed Trap Town    
09. Hudson Commodore    
10. Palmetto Rose    
11. To A Band That I Loved.

24 Frames

Grammy Winner: Best American Roots Song

The S4L Album of the Year 2015: Something More Than Free - Jason Isbell

From the moment I first heard it I knew that every album that followed had to top this. From July onwards this was already penciled in as The S4L Album of the Year 2015. This is "Thinking Man's Country" as oppossed to some of the nonsense that generally spews forth from Nashville!

His previous album Southeastern was always going to take some beating, such was the high praise for that album (even my mate Colin Busher below speaks with great favour about it) that pleasing the critics with something a little bit different was always going to be difficult. The Good News for Jason Isbell though is that if he, or any other Artist for that matter, relied on sales from the critics then they'd all be pretty poor! A good review, or even a bad review doesn't always matter to an artist who is really on a roll when it comes to crafting great songs. Rather it is the people who will listen and are able to find a little bit of themselves in the music that have the greater say. It is they who buy the album, go to the shows etc so if it sucked they'd vote with their feet and not bother to support it.

Seeing the response to Something More Than Free from the public should encourage Jason Isbell and not hamper  his efforts to day by day become a better songwriter.

Where Southeastern seemed very personal at times Something More Than Free is loaded with characters to spotlight the world he wishes to convey (and in doing that, he's doing no different to what Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Paul Simon or any other decent songsmith is doing).

There's a diversity of sound as well throughout the album. There's Country, Folk, and a bit of Rock all cleverly dispensed between the 11 songs.

If It Takes A Lifetime appeared at #2 in my Top Ten Songs of the Year. I loved 24 Frames the moment I first heard it (well saw it being played live on a TV show). Speed Trap Town is another favourite, and the title track also is fantastic (though personally I don't think there's a poor track on the whole of the album).

Some might have hoped that Jason Isbell would have failed to live up to the hype that was generated (not by him or his label) by Southeastern but they are all going to be disappointed because Something More Than Free is a work that has clearly triumphed and shows that Mr Isbell will be around for a long time to come yet!
 

Something More Than Free - Jason Isbell

Southeastern Records

Produced by Dave Cobb

Released 17th July 2015

US Billboard 200 Albums #6

US Billboard Top Country Albums #1

US Billboard Folk Albums #1

US Billboard Independent Albums #2

US Billboard Top Rock Albums #1

UK Album Chart #17

Tracklist*

(Click on the Links to Listen to the Music)

01. If It Takes A Lifetime    
02. 24 Frames    
03. Flagship    
04. How To Forget    
05. Children Of Children    
06. The Life You Chose    
07. Something More Than Free    
08. Speed Trap Town    
09. Hudson Commodore    
10. Palmetto Rose    
11. To A Band That I Loved.

* Links might not necessarily be the version of the song that appears on the record. You Tube once again seem to have removed tracks from the album they seem to have uploaded to a playlist themselves when the album came out. Apologies for this. Hope it doesn't spoil your listening pleasure.

Something More Than Free 
Some thoughts by Colin Busher 

"an album a lot of artists would sell their family for!"

2013's Southeastern is the best album I've heard in the last 15 -20 years. It stopped me in my tracks.

I told myself and others, when waiting on the follow up that a Southeastern only comes along every 20 years or so and expecting SMTF to be as good was foolish. Its not as good in my opinion, but only by the shortest of margins. If a record can have a 'lived in' feel about it, then SMTF has it. Isbell is a great storyteller and you feel immediately immersed in his tales and his characters.
From the couple in Flagship to the working class father in the title track which for me captures perfectly the life of the hard working man.

The standout track for me is Speed Trap Town a song that just pulls at your emotions. A song where you live every moment with the protagonist. Storytelling at its best. Who hasnt at some point wanted to be "a thousand miles away from a speedtrap town"?

Just shy of the perfection of Southeastern, SMTF is an album a lot of artists would sell their family for.

Something More Than Free - Jason Isbell (July 2015)

No words from me except to say you really need to listen to this album....NOW!

Tidy Tunes 2015: Something More Than Free - Jason Isbell

Alphabet Beats #058: I is for...Isbell as in Jason

I is for Jason Isbell

This is dedicated to my mate Gol

Jason Isbell   is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Green Hill, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. He is best known for his solo career, and as a former member of the Drive-By Truckers for 6 years.

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit

Live in Alabama

13th April 2013

 

Southeastern (2013)

Click on the links to enjoy more from Jason Isbell.

 Sirens of the Ditch (2007).

Live at the Twist and Shout (2008).

Here We Rest (Full Album 2011).

Live on KEXP.

G and G Back Porch Session (2013).

The Living Room NYC (20/10/11).

Born in the U.S.A.

Decoration Day (Live).

Razor Town (Live).

Traveling Alone (Live).

Like A Hurricane (Neil Young Cover).

Tidy Tune #184: Born in the USA - Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires

One of the best covers I think I've ever heard of this.

Tidy Tune #98: Heart on a String - Jason Isbell & The 4000 Unit

Discovering Jason Isbell

For awhile I have wanted to do a post on Jason Isbell but felt he was just a little bit too new to my ears to give it the attention he deserved, so in order to set it straight and get a post about him here on Soundtrack4Life I asked a good buddy of mine, Colin Busher, from Ireland if he would kindly write a few words about the man. And as if by magic, here it is. Enjoy. Click on the links for further information and for music from Jason Isbell.

(Photo: Joshua Black Wilkins)

DISCOVERING JASON ISBELL
by Colin Busher

Towards the end of his book “Walk Like a Man”, Robert J. Wiersema laments the change in your reaction to discovering new music as you get older.

As a teenager, the effect is a very visceral, physical one, from devouring every note, pouring over every word. Your heart, he says expands in your chest as if it’s about to burst. We’ve all been there in our younger years, finally having found an artist that just ‘gets you and your life – understands you’ with their lyrics and music. As we get older the reaction to new music he argues is more cerebral, appreciative rather than passionate. You love the new music but you’re not IN love with it. He then proceeds to blow this argument out of the water as he discovers The Hold Steady.

One cold morning last October in Cologne the same thing happened to me. Walking off a hangover in the cold at 7am I was listening to Jason Isbell’s 'Southeastern album'. As I rambled around unfamiliar streets I found myself thinking just how good is this guy I’d never heard of until a few weeks previously. Songs like Cover Me Up, Traveling Alone, Live Oak, Different Days, Songs that She Sang in the Shower, Yvette and the kicker - Elephant, are all songs worthy of having a film made from them*. Not a dud in sight.

Isbell’s narratives read like those of a world weary soul having felt, loss, regret, loneliness, recrimination, love and salvation. A lifetimes worth of experiences. But he’s only 34. Man I can’t wait to hear what he’s gonna write when he’s 60!

That physical reaction that Wiersema speaks of in his book took hold of me that day. I went out determined to get hold of his back catalogue and over the next few months I have managed to get all but one of his previous albums on vinyl. Each one a corker in it’s own right.

A former member of Drive By Truckers (who I have to listen to – but am assured of great things by the good people on Facebook) Jason Isbell wrote material with them for the three albums, Decoration Day (2003), The Dirty South (2004) and Blessing and a Curse (2006).

Drive-By Truckers Live in Columbia 19/03/05.

Due to alcohol and drugs, Isbell is reported as saying “I’m lucky to have a second chance at all this. I don’t remember a lot of the good times from my days with the Truckers.” This time I want to remember it all. Thankfully his now wife Amanda Shires and friend Ryan Adams got him into rehab back in 2012 and everything seems to be going on an even keel at the moment.

I managed to catch him live in Dublin back in November for what for me was my gig of the year. At first appearing self effacing, he grew to be charming, funny and very appreciative of the audience telling tales of his exploits with the bottle, how he suffered his wife’s study of James Joyce and the enthusiasm of DBT fans. The songs of course stood out in their own right. Each one had the audience transfixed – particularly Yvette and my own favourite Different Days.**

Jason Isbell is on tour in the UK in May – make an effort to get to see him. You may just be transported back to those visceral, physical feelings of discovering new music you had when you were a teenager.

*I have plans for all the movies on Southeastern in my own mind’s eye!

** Doug note for Colin: found the video of the song from Dublin. Just for you.

More Music From 
Jason Isbell.
Live on KEXP 2013 (Full Performance).

Live at The World Cafe Philadelphia 2009.

Jason Isbell and Browlan Lollar Live in Macon 2009 (Full Show).

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
The Bluebird Theatre, Denver 04/09/13.
Relatively Easy.
Live Oak.
The Magician.
Codeine.
Traveling Alone.

Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires.
Muitineer - Warren Zevon Cover (WRN Charlottesville 2014).
Traveling Alone (WRN Charlottesville 2014).
Live Oak (WRN Charlottesville 2014).
Outfit (King Tuts Glasgow 2013).
Stockholm (King Tuts Glasgow 2013).
Mutineer (King Tuts Glasgow 2013).
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (DylanFest 2013).
Elephant (Stockholm 2013).
Pancho and Lefty (The Garage, London 2013).
Dress Blues (Hartford CT 2012).
Goddam Lonely Love (Brussels 2013).
Tour of Duty (Brussels 2013).
Decoration Day (Eindhoven 2013).

For More Information on Jason Isbell check out his website.