So this month I stumbled across some music I'd bought a few months ago, maybe even a year ago for one album as a leap of faith but never actually listened to properly.
I sat down and listened to two Jason Isbell albums, what a song writer, lyrically and musically really really strong, playing and singing is good, but the songs, really impressed, went out and bought the whole back catalogue to go through the next week.
Everyone I talk to seems to know about him and it's just I'm really late to the party, is this common is he as well known as people make out and I've just totally missed him ?
Any of you guys like him ?
Comments
Starts at 7:00 ish
I think i saw that deer tick are supporting him soon. Now that's a line up.
And his rig rundown. Bit out of date now. When I saw him I don't think he played a Duesenberg at all. His guitar player Sadler Vaden is no slouch either.
(formerly miserneil)
Southeastern was the one that got me hooked there are some incredible songs on that album. Yvette particularly deserves repeated listening in a darkened, silent room.
Thought Something More Than Free was an excellent follow up.
Well I carved a cross from live oak
and a box from shortleaf pine
And Buried her so deep
she touched the water table line
That was it for me. The lyrics on Southeastern as a whole are magnificent too.
(formerly miserneil)
My favourite song is Flying over Water. I think he's probably one of the best singer songwriters out there- I'd rank him with Born to Run era Springsteen.
I think it helps that his band are awesome. Amanda and Jimbo in particular.
Here are a couple more videos of him.
Tiny Desk- intimate acoustic
House of Blues- bigger & louder
My wife was a fan for years, she saw Jason in the drive by truckers when she was part of a crowd of less than 20. Apparently the DBT got asked to leave to make way for a disco...
She got me into him and his Something More Than Free album really struck something with me and is one of my all time favourite albums.
I've seen him three times now, each time in a bigger venue,, truly and incredible musician.
People who don't like The Nashville Sound as much as southeasten/something more than free should remember that TNS is Jason Isbell & the 400 unit - It's not just him writing for it, so not technically part of his solo sound.