Jason Isbell | Something More Than Free

Have you ever dated someone that was part of your group of friends for years then one day for whatever reason you two ended up together? If anyone asked you about them in the past you would say “yeah, they’re cool” and maybe even acknowledge that they’re attractive but you just thought of them as friends. There was no real reason for you not to be into them and you would hear others talk positively about them, but you just never felt that urge. Then one day maybe you’re drunk, maybe they got a new haircut, or maybe the moons of Jupiter aligned just right and you two hit it off. Maybe you started dating, or started enjoying hanging out together without any real commitment, or possibly you two just get drunk and hook up on occasion. Either way, I hope you’ve experienced this, not because I care about your sexual experiences but because this is my relationship with Jason Isbell.

Now he may not agree since we’ve never met and I’m sure he would be a little creeped out if he read this, but all the same me and Isbell have been dancing around each other for years without ever connecting. I know people who love him and he’s toured with bands that I listen to all the time.  His music is actually really similar to many artists that I listen to like Justin Townes Earle or Ryan Adams, whom is apparently his close personal friend. I write about Adams nearly every month here at Empty Bottle Evenings, so why would I overlook his equally appealing friend? It’s not like I didn’t like what I heard when I did give Isbell a chance. And if anyone asked me I would say that I liked him. I’m just not THAT into him.

In recent months, starting with the release of his latest album Something More Than Free, I’ve finally let my guard down a bit and been fooling around a little bit with the Americana stylings of the former Drive- By-Trucker.  Some nights I’ll put on the new disc and listen straight through. Other nights I’ll throw back a little bourbon and get frisky with some of his back catalog. I know there are some differences but for the most part it’s all the same bluesy pop, folk, and country songs that are really quite enjoyable. The only significant difference that I see between Something More Than Free is the press coverage. Isbell has gradually built up his following since his solo debut in 2007, but his just recent mainstream coverage suggests that they were missing something all these years too.

But months later I’m still not sure what that missing thing is. Most of the time a big jump in attention is caused by an artist polishing up their sound but Isbell has recorded pretty smoothly since the beginning. His lyrics are still relatable while not overly simple. He’ll tell first person narratives like personal favorite Josh Ritter might on songs like “Flagship” but I think he’s even stronger on more philosophical tracks like “24 Frames”. Either way his voice is strong as ever belting out the new tracks, even on those that he sounds a little bit more like Ashes & Fire Ryan Adams (see “Children of Children) rather than Whiskeytown-era Adams. There is a little bit of extra “maturity” on Something More Than Free, but it’s not like on his first two albums he was recording punk rock songs.  Is swapping out a few bluesy solos for extra crooning all it takes to become the sweetheart of NPR? Don’t answer that.

The more time I’ve had with Isbell and his latest album in particular has proven to me that we’re not an exact fit, even though I can’t exactly put my finger on why. I’m glad that I’ve listened to more of his stuff because I truly do appreciate his work, but I’ll still more likely to find myself going back to Adams, Ritter, or others like Lucero, Chuck Ragan, Rocky Votolato, JTE, or whoever. Sometimes you just can’t explain it. He has a great voice, never sounds like he’s dying (which I honestly can’t say for some of the other artists that I love), and sings about mostly stuff that I believe in, even if he goes a little too heartland on me at times. I mean I can understand people digging the title track, but it’s a little too corny for me. Maybe I’m just a lazy, cynical, godless prick but the lyrics “I don’t think on why I’m here where it hurts, I’m just lucky to have the work, Sunday morning I’m too tired to go to church, But I thank God for the work” is a little too much for me. Still, I think Isbell and his new album are certainly worth giving a shot, especially for other people.  Maybe we can still be friends.

The Drink: Whiskey mixed with something that something that tastes a little off. It’s not bad, it’s not bad. really, it’s good. Real good.  But it’s not quite what you were looking for.

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Bake

I'm nothing. Maybe less than nothing. I also write.

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