16-05-2020, 13:06
JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT ~ Reunions
![[Image: R-15259036-1589058087-1688.jpeg.jpg]](https://img.discogs.com/xxky2_SYhF98zpp_KkWIEWogcH4=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-15259036-1589058087-1688.jpeg.jpg)
Isbell seldom puts a foot wrong IMHO - musically speaking, at least, over the past few years. This is another excellent album following on from 2017’s The Nashville Sound (which incidentally won a Grammy). Can’t believe it’s been three years!! Who knows where the time goes?
A blend of Americana and Alternative Country, accomplished musicians, most originating from Muscle Shoals, Alabama – lovely strings as always, courtesy of Amanda Shires (aka Mrs Isbell), the guitars are fab, as are Jason Isbell’s distinctive vocals, and he himself supplements bass and piano in addition to playing lead. Backing singers include Shires, Jay Buchanan and one David Crosby. I like the warm production which is, at the same time, quite crisp. I get the impression he’s a perfectionist – sometimes a heavy cross to bear. He observes the human condition and feelings with great sincerity – nothing too cheesy - largely drawn from his own experience I'd say, soulful and soul searching, some topical in an oblique kinda way (despite being conceived prior to the current woeful state in which we find ourselves), and he writes all the material - he’s a good lyricist. Oh – makes sense now – just discovered that he studied English and creative writing. MH – curious to know if you approve of this one, in a country context … the last track on the album – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6alzZQXi7Y
As far as this genre goes, he’s definitely near the top of the heap at this time, in my view. My picks …
“Running With our Eyes Closed” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAQ6ZYJLzfQ
“River” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5bathZEbNU
The album opener (on which he credits Michael Kiwanuka for incorporated elements from “One More Night”) … “What’ve I Done To Help” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYJlg0u7Ee0 – worth a listen …
Couldn’t decide whether to ‘feature’ this one or to go with the lead track … this won, obviously
… “Only Children” …
Isbell seldom puts a foot wrong IMHO - musically speaking, at least, over the past few years. This is another excellent album following on from 2017’s The Nashville Sound (which incidentally won a Grammy). Can’t believe it’s been three years!! Who knows where the time goes?
A blend of Americana and Alternative Country, accomplished musicians, most originating from Muscle Shoals, Alabama – lovely strings as always, courtesy of Amanda Shires (aka Mrs Isbell), the guitars are fab, as are Jason Isbell’s distinctive vocals, and he himself supplements bass and piano in addition to playing lead. Backing singers include Shires, Jay Buchanan and one David Crosby. I like the warm production which is, at the same time, quite crisp. I get the impression he’s a perfectionist – sometimes a heavy cross to bear. He observes the human condition and feelings with great sincerity – nothing too cheesy - largely drawn from his own experience I'd say, soulful and soul searching, some topical in an oblique kinda way (despite being conceived prior to the current woeful state in which we find ourselves), and he writes all the material - he’s a good lyricist. Oh – makes sense now – just discovered that he studied English and creative writing. MH – curious to know if you approve of this one, in a country context … the last track on the album – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6alzZQXi7Y
As far as this genre goes, he’s definitely near the top of the heap at this time, in my view. My picks …
“Running With our Eyes Closed” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAQ6ZYJLzfQ
“River” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5bathZEbNU
The album opener (on which he credits Michael Kiwanuka for incorporated elements from “One More Night”) … “What’ve I Done To Help” … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYJlg0u7Ee0 – worth a listen …
Couldn’t decide whether to ‘feature’ this one or to go with the lead track … this won, obviously
… “Only Children” …
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson
