3 drinks and 3 listens into the new release from a guy you should know, here’s my quick track-by-track review of Jason Isbell’s brand new album The Nashville Sound.
- LAST OF MY KIND — “Everybody clapping on the 1 and the 3” made me clap on 1/3 and then 2/4 to hear the incredible difference. 2/4 is soulful and 1/3 could not sound whiter.
- CUMBERLAND GAP — I don’t know guitars but I know the sound to start this one has something about it that’s exactly the same as “Gimme Something Good” by Ryan Adams which he played to open a perfect show my wife and I saw on a perfect vacation in Charleston a few years ago. (I assume this is the set opener when the tour starts tomorrow.)
- TUPELO — “There ain’t no one from here that’ll follow me there.” Good to know.
- WHITE MAN’S WORLD – Slinky bass line accompanying a really good Steve Earle song.
- IF WE WERE VAMPIRES – Lyrics grabbed me on first listen. Could definitely make me cry if I drink too much.
- ANXIETY — Billy Joel’s “Pressure” with, somehow, a less anxious bridge. BIG open that comes back to close it. Super cool.
- MOLOTOV – “Do you miss the little girl you once had the time to be?” is beautiful. Reminds me a lot of “In View” by The Tragically Hip.
- CHAOS AND CLOTHES – The best Simon and Garfunkel song in years. This is my 3rd time through the album this track is my current favorite. I desperately want to know details of the double voice production technique being used here.
- HOPE THE HIGH ROAD – This would be such a big hit if the world knew/understood Isbell like it should. Triumphant.
- SOMETHING TO LOVE – Duets like this slay me.
You should buy this album yesterday.
