Southeastern [B&N Exclusive] [Coke Bottle with Yellow Swirl Color]

by Jason Isbell

Overview

Jason Isbell was one of three first-class songwriters in the Drive-By Truckers, along with Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley, and each of them had (and has) his own spin on the kind of raucous Southern soul-country that band specialized in. When Isbell left in 2007 to pursue a solo career, there was every reason to believe he would continue in the same vein. Instead, Isbell produced work that still had some Alabama country twang, but was really closer to the folky singer/songwriter side of the spectrum, full of graceful melodies with thoughtful and literate lyrics. On this outing, Isbell strips things back even more, going with, for the most part, sparse, moody arrangements and songs that muse on the responsibilities of his newfound sobriety, an atonement of sorts, and they tell of lost weekends, drinking mouthwash when the alcohol ran out, and other sordid personal tragedies, all with an eye to how it seems to work out when problems are embraced, addressed, and finally owned. As such, this is an ultimately positive set that doesn't pull punches. Highlights include the beautiful opening love song "Cover Me Up," the elegant and sort of baroque country-rocker "Stockholm," the blast-along "Super 8" (which wouldn't sound out of place on any of the Truckers albums), and the love ballad "Relatively Easy," which closes things out here. The overall tone of this fine set is one of quiet and thoughtful honesty with one's life and past and the knowledge that personal redemption has to be earned again and again each and every day. It is, quite frankly, Isbell's best solo album thus far. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/2023
Label:	Barnes & Noble
UPC:	0691835752426
Rank:	858

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jason Isbell   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Paul Griffith   Drums
Kim Richey   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Dave Cobb   Percussion
Brian Allen   Bass,Bass
Derry Deborja   Keyboards,Mellotron
Will Johnson   Vocals
Amanda Shires   Fiddle,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Sadler Vaden   Guitar
Chad Gamble   Drums
Jimbo Hart   Bass

Technical Credits

Sylvia Massy   Mixing
Geoff Stanfield   Engineer
Pete Lyman   Mastering
Danny Clinch   Portrait Photography
Jason Isbell   Composer,Performer
Dave Cobb   Producer
Mark Petaccia   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Cain Hogsed   Mixing,Engineer
Chris Kro   Art Direction
Michael Wilson   Photography
Daniel Bacigalupi   Assistant
Ian Rickard   Mixing
John Michael Brady   Drum Technician
Pearl Rachinsky   Art Direction
Josh Weichman   Photography