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  2. I’ll be buying it, as his albums always have one or two outstanding songs. Southeastern was the high watermark and it doesn’t look like he’ll hit that standard again. Saw him and the 400 Unit last year and, while good, it felt like he was phoning it in a bit.

  3. Only saw him once and the show left me stone cold.
    Like @Twang I am a big fan of (most) of his records but won’t be getting this one as a whole album of just him and an acoustic guitar does not excite me. Prefer him with a band.

  6. I may be in the minority, but i haven’t really been excited by anything he’s done since leaving the Drive-by Truckers (and vice versa).

    Read an interview with him a year or so ago and it seemed that the relationship had little prospect of surviving, based on what they were saying about each other. I get the feeling that he can be a difficult man.

  7. Here’s how I rate the Isbell albums that I know:

    1.= Southeastern
    1.= Weathervanes
    3. Here We Rest
    4. Live from Alabama
    5. The Nashville Sound
    6. Reunions
    7. Something More Than Free

    If you’re an Isbell fan and haven’t heard “Here We Rest” (2011), I urge you to give it a listen. It’s ace.

    • Mr. Duco. – I think this is the correct answer. Weathervanes was a fantastic album, very different from Southeastern. – but the product of a fully rounded artist and band.

      The two Ryman volumes are excellent summaries and allow a little more guitar wankery.

      The self titled and Sirens of the Ditch are also fine albums – but perhaps pale compared with the later music.

  8. I like the covers album, Georgia Blue, but then I like most covers albums.
    I have seen him live twice. The first time was just he and his then wife, Amanda Shires, acoustic, and it was wonderful. An electric show, with the 400 Unit, if still with Amanda, was not, being mainly show-off guitar wankery.

  9. Jason fanboy here!!! I should probably wait until Friday when the album is actually released but let’s throw in some thoughts.
    I saw him a couple of weeks ago in Chicago – just him and the guitar and showcasing these songs. It’s tough to make judgement when you are hearing songs for the first time – but they seem to be “classic Isbell” – that is excellent lyrics typically around relationships, life the universe etc.

    I personally like him solo and even better was just with his wife – with vocal and fiddle back up – but as mentioned above – that’s not going to happen again.
    Folks are going wonder which songs might be about the break up but from what I read some are also about his new love. One of the new songs Gravelweed includes the line “I’m sorry the love songs don’t mean the same to you anymore” – perhaps an apology to his fans. Haha.

    I have seen him many times over the years solo, duo and band. Last time with the band in Stockton on Tees of all places – which had the advantage of a smaller venue compared to typical US. Always a great show – however I do agree with some of the comments above on recent shows. Perhaps getting a little too sleek and polished – is it possible that he has got “too” good.

    Anyway – perhaps I’ll add to this after the requisite 6 listens – but I am surely looking forward to it.

    • The album has been my companion over the weekend – including watching a recent concert on nugs.net last night.
      I’ll stand by what I said above – great songs – some storytelling, some break up and some new relationship joy.
      Recorded pretty much live in 4 days at Electric Ladyland.

      It’s a great album – very much a John Prine feel to it – I am sure he would be happy with that description.

  10. Rave review in The Times

    “While modern country tends to deal with life on a surface level, Isbell goes deeper, tackling alcoholism, despair, the loneliness of cheap motels and, on this intimate album, love at its best and worst. He has shown that it is possible to write profound songs in a straight-talking fashion, which puts him in the noble lineage of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and all those other blue-collar poets. He’s a country singer of the old school and a real artist with it. “

  12. Some of the social media bile he is attracting is remarkable/appalling commie , better when he was a drunk narcissist.
    I have had a listen. The sound quality is wonderful for starters. Voice and guitar so true. And amidst all the usual break up woe there are sone genuinely good lines which prompted some self reflection.
    Above all he sings about punching walls and cheap whisky. And not doing that anymore.
    In these obviously trying times you gotta respect that.

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