Album Review – Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit’s “Weathervanes”

Don’t call it a comeback. Jason Isbell has been the King of Americana ever since he released his album Southeastern 10 years ago this week. But the problem with minting your magum opus is that you spend the rest of your career chasing that high water mark, and being compared to it over and over by ever-present naysayers.
Nothing will ever be good enough when it’s measured against perfection. And with the way Jason Isbell’s political persuasions have ruffled feathers over the years, whatever he releases will be lambasted by that snarling set, just like whatever he sings will be unnecessarily praised by others. But with his new album Weathervanes with the 400 Unit, Jason Isbell finally comes close to fulfilling the expectation he set after Southeastern. That is because Weathervanes nears perfection as well.
Producing the album himself, Weathervanes not only sees a return to top form for Jason Isbell’s songwriting, it also sees a well-needed freshening of the approach to how those songs are rendered in recorded form—whether it’s adding a little harmonica to the mix like he does on “Strawberry Woman,” or the strings on “Volunteer,” or allowing the 400 Unit to stretch their legs on “This Ain’t It.”
There is a renewed invigoration, and a willingness to explore the studio space that just wasn’t happening in Jason Isbell’s Dave Cobb-produced era, which started with Southeastern. Hey, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. But sometimes even the best teams need a change at coach or quarterback to revitalize the original magic. In this case, it was Jason Isbell himself to step up in that leadership position, and he deserves accolades for his efforts in this capacity just as much as he does singer, songwriter, and guitar player.

Weathervanes really impresses you at virtually every turn. Though the opening song “Death Wish” feels a little much, and the final song “Miles” struggles to make it’s point, everything in between is evidentiary of why Jason Isbell is regularly praised as the preeminent songwriter of the era. Due to heavy rock songs bookending this album, some have assigned Weathervanes the distinction of being Isbell’s big rock breakout. But that feels off. The instrumentation and arrangement is imaginative and diverse—fitting perfectly in the always-nebulous “Americana” field. But the folk and country elements are there too.
What also is deduced by a strong listen through Weathervanes is how disappointing Isbell’s previous album Reunions really was, along with some of the other moments of his albums since Southeastern. It wasn’t as if anything specifically was wrong. It just didn’t feel exactly right. He was riding the momentum and good graces of a landmark album. With Weathervanes, Jason Isbell has bought himself another 10 years of being considered a top shelf songwriter, if nothing else.
With how stellar these tracks are, instead of trying to share thoughts in narrative form, let’s take it song by song from here. But make no mistake, the songs of Weathervanes all add up to an album that like all of Isbell’s others, will be applauded as a landmark of the year. In this case though, Weathervanes actually deserves it.
9/10
Purchase from Jason Isbell
Purchase from Amazon
– – – – – – – – – – –
“Death Wish”
This is perhaps the worst song on the album, and it doesn’t do the album any favors as the lead single and first track. The song works better in the context of the album though, since it speaks to the unsettled mind that is a recurring theme throughout Weathervanes. “Death Wish” is also most responsible for some fans and critics falsely claiming this album as Isbell’s official foray into rock, when he’s always been more rock than country.
“King of Oklahoma”
A perfect example of Jason Isbell’s character study and storytelling when he’s at the top of his game, and a taste of vintage Isbell, if you will. The half time shift in the chorus drives home the emotion of this song, and the fiddle compliments the rootsy nature of the setting. “King of Oklahoma” is certainly in contention for the best song on the album, and one of Isbell’s best ever.
“Strawberry Woman”
A great folk country track that counters the characterization of Weathervanes as a rock record, with the little details in the writing elevating the song beyond a simple love story. “There’s a young man crying in a cowboy hat. She’s got square toed boots so he ain’t for real.”
“Middle of the Morning”
This feels like a quintessential pandemic/lockdown track. The rather reserved production shies away from the snare drum, and features the wisps of a theremin/saw to create contrast with the decidedly unsettled perspective of the speaker. The song astutely captures the raging uneasiness of the restless and isolated.
“Save The World”
This is what Jason Isbell should be doing when it comes to social commentary—broaching divisive subjects through exploring the shared fear, uneasiness, and frustration we all feel from school shootings without devolving into trite platitudes to pandering to constituencies. Some will still say Isbell is being opportunistic here. But like all great artists, he’s reflecting and speaking to the troubles of our time. The music itself finds a space somewhere between a prog rock anthem, and the soundtrack of a Castlevania game cartridge. Over time, the track settles into the brain as mostly appealing, but the power of the message is the deeper point.
“If You Insist”
Similar to “Strawberry Woman,” this track is important to make sure the weighty moments of the record contrast with lighter fare that still has messages to unravel, and stories to get lost in. A recurring theme of Weathervanes is the intelligence of the instrument and drum selections, which in this case manifests as brushes on snare to make sure the melodic bliss of this song is not impinged upon. Drummer Chad Gamble deserves a lot of credit for how this album turned out. Listening to “If You Insist” is like riding on a wave of warm water that never white caps or crashes.
“Cast Iron Skillet”
The mix of simple country wisdom with a progressive story speaks to the command and confidence that Isbell brought to the writing of Weathervanes, which draws its name from this song. Definitely a standout from the album and one of its early singles, it was one of the first signs that Isbell had returned to his top songwriting and storytelling form. “Cast Iron Skillet” does beg the question though, is interracial marriage really the hot button cultural issue it once was? It sure doesn’t feel like it, at least on the same level as school shootings. Despite the signaling to constituents, the songwriting of “Cast Iron Skillet” endures any tough scrutiny.
“When We Were Close”
This song is about Justin Townes Earle who Jason Isbell was close friends with, but grew apart from before his passing in 2020. “When We Were Close” is part biography, part tribute, with just a little bit of survivor’s guilt thrown in as well, imbuing the song with emotion and sincerity. Again, it’s the little details that allow the listener to delve deep into the story, like busting a B-string and finishing the set without it. It may have been a bit more meaningful if this took a more folky tone to fit with Justin Townes Earle’s legacy as opposed to the punchy rock song it became. But the energy drives home the emotion behind the song.
“Volunteer”
This song seems to take parts of Isbell’s own life story and intertwine them with more fictional narratives, perhaps in an alternative reality. Jason gives something for the audience to unravel here and the writing is strong, though “Volunteer” feels like one of the album’s few elective tracks.
“Vestavia Hills”
“Vestavia Hills” is an enveloping waltz reminiscent of American Aquarium’s “Lonely Ain’t Easy” from their album Burn. Flicker. Die that was produced by Jason Isbell. Vestavia Hills is an affluent suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, and this song seems to be about a prodigy musician who gets too full of themselves and begins to burn out.
“White Beretta”
From a writing standpoint, this might be the weakest track on the album, despite Jason Isbell’s effort. Though it’s not easy to discern at all, “White Beretta” appears to be about a beau who once paid for an abortion reflecting back 25 years, and feeling bad that he wasn’t more supportive of the woman. The premise feels like a stretch to broach a hot button cultural issue, and Isbell throws in some religious guilt for good measure. You understand what Isbell is trying to get at, and due to the subject matter critics will praise it to the hilt (if/when they figure out what it’s about). But compared to the rest of Weathervanes, ‘White Beretta” feels a little forced, including naming the song after a car, which is a bit of a stock move from a songwriting standpoint.
“This Ain’t It”
Just when you start to tell yourself that Jason Isbell’s skills as a guitar player and the similar skill set of 2nd guitarist Sadler Vaden are going under-utilized, they turn in in this six-minute Southern rock anthem that gives Weathervanes some guts, sweat, and blue collar bluster that wasn’t just missing from this song cycle, but from Isbell’s career entirely. Remember, he started out as a lead guitarist for the Drive-By Truckers. Only later was it discovered Isbell could write a song.
“Miles”
As much as “This Ain’t It” feels like a home run, “Miles” feels a little bit lost, or like two or three songs smashed together that in the end, don’t really meld properly. At the beginning, the song seems to be the story of people growing apart, with the 2nd half mourning how a teenager has grown away from the parent that once used to be so close. The song then abruptly transitions to more of an anthemic barking of ideas, and then transitions once again into a sort of a David Bowie-sounding sequence. There are interesting elements to this seven-minute movement that may be worth salvaging or exploring, but it struggles to make it’s ultimate point. It also might be a song that reveals itself to be better over time.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:34 am
After my second listen through this album, I came away with “Chad Gamble really shines on this one” on top of all the jaw drop at the lyrics I missed the first time through. Couldn’t agree with you more.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:42 am
Can’t say enough about how important Chad Gamble is to making this album what it is, and the reason so many folks are praising it. That feels weird to say about a drummer on a songwriter’s album, but the textures he brings to each song is what helps take them all from good to great, including knowing when to not play at all.
When he finds the groove on “When We Were Close,” it’s downright sick. If that song is a beat faster or a beat slower, it falls apart. But Gamble keeps it right in the pocket.
June 12, 2023 @ 11:47 am
Credit where credit’s due. I know you don’t like his politics but you’re able to see a good record when it’s there.
Not being led around by your priors here.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:36 am
Isbell era DBTs is some of my favorite music. However, his solo career hasn’t really captured me. I’ve caught him live a couple of times, I could appreciate that it was good, I just felt that one song segued into the next without a lot to differentiate them. This album changes that and, at least for me, fulfills the promise that he showed with DBT. This was a great review, and this album is AOTY quality.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:45 am
King of Oklahoma would be a top 5 DBT song if it was on Dirty South or Decoration Day
June 12, 2023 @ 7:51 am
I can definitely relate to this comment. I have largely loved Isbell’s solo work, but have always wished for a little more of the juice in his DBT songs. It seemed that there was the focus was overwhelmingly on the craft of songwriting and presenting the song and the musicality wasn’t nearly as important. I saw him every between 2013 and 2018. The more albums he put out, the less DBT songs he would play and the shows got a little less exciting. Rocking covers are nice, but obviously the connection isn’t as intense. So, I didn’t see him in 2019 and haven’t seen him since. Might have to rectify that.
June 12, 2023 @ 10:32 am
Miles is an opus to me…. I love it more with every listen.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:41 am
This album is so good. I am kind of shocked I didn’t think he still had an album like this in him.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:59 am
Yeah. After not being initially bowled over by Death Wish, I started to wonder, too. But when Middle of the Morning and then Cast Iron Skillet was released, I started to have hope. Then, after listening to all three songs quite a bit, I started to warm up to Death Wish.
He delivered the goods on this one.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:48 am
There seems to be not-so-subtle references within almost all of these songs to other great songs of the past. Either lyrically or tonally. ‘White Beretta’ seems to use ‘Red Ragtop’ as its starting point.
I definitely hear ‘Lonely Ain’t Easy’, but Vestavia Hills screams ‘Cigarettes and Wine’ to me
June 12, 2023 @ 8:38 am
I agree that nearly every song evokes a memory or a feeling of another song, either old isbell/dbt, or other artists. Whether that’s homage or laziness/”ripping off” is probably in the mind of the listener.
June 12, 2023 @ 9:07 am
I had the word ‘lazy’ in my original comment but took it out. While I think using those tricks was a bit of a cheat code for a musician/songwriter of his caliber, it’s more acceptable considering the overall theme of this album. I also didn’t want to say anything derogatory about this thing. It’s a pretty great effort and I don’t think he compromised or mailed anything in. He’s just talented enough for this thing to work on a ton of different levels.
June 12, 2023 @ 5:28 pm
Red Ragtop is a fantastic country song. I remember when that song and (She left my heart as empty) Monday Morning Church were restricted from airplay.
June 13, 2023 @ 1:01 pm
To me it screams “composition by Frey/Henley”.
If it were an Eagles song, it’d be played at every concert.
One of my faves on the record.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:52 am
While overall I agree with your review (I give this a 10/10, and it could potentially top “Southeastern” after it has some time to set), I have to vehemently disagree with declaring “White Beretta” as a weaker track: to me, it is currently in my Top 3 songs on the album and is brilliantly written: as someone who grew up with the religious guilt that is described in the song about the subject but who has since evolved his opinions on the matter, I can say that this song resonates on a lot of levels and is absolutely beautiful.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:54 am
I just wish the song wasn’t so obtuse. It took me 10-12 times listening intently and writing the lyrics out to figure out what was going on in total. Reading through other reviews, most don’t even mention the song, and I think that’s because they don’t know what it’s about. But hey, that also means it’s more involved, and if it resonates with you, that’s all that matters.
June 12, 2023 @ 2:53 pm
I am pretty sure there are many women who knew exactly what it was about on the first listen.
June 13, 2023 @ 5:32 am
I’m a guy who’s been in that situation and I caught it first go around, before reading any reviews. It’s poignant.
June 13, 2023 @ 4:01 pm
I’m a dude and I caught it the first time I listened to the song the line about “walking into that room alone” and I instantly knew what the song was about.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:54 am
Great album for sure. He might never reach the heights of Cover Me Up or Elephant again but I’ll take it. Probably his most consistent effort and he finally feels relaxed. The production is spot on too. And I love that the weathervane on the cover only points South and East as a subtle nod to Southeastern.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:57 am
Great album. He’s damn good at what he does. And with Save The World he was gracious enough to add his obligatory awful, holier than thou song he has each album just to crap on everyone’s faces.
June 12, 2023 @ 4:49 pm
Agree on Save The World, but it’s better than White Man’s World or What Have I Done To Help.
June 17, 2023 @ 4:49 pm
Lol at not wanting kids to be shot at school holier than thou.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:02 am
This album is fucking incredible. The writing is truly jaw-dropping throughout the album. I’d say the only track that didn’t land for me is Miles; besides that I wouldn’t say there are any misses on the whole thing (even Death Wish which i seem to be the only fan of). Best song on the album has to be King of Oklahoma or When We Were Close. Honorable mention to Strawberry Woman which is absolutely transportive (but its BEGGING for a pedal steel lick after “wouldn’t last five minutes on a pedal steel”!!). Hearing the 400 unit get sweaty and southern on This Ain’t It fired me up.
I still wish he would make more folk, country, stripped stuff like Strawberry Woman. But i can’t really complain when the songs turn out this well, even if you can’t call it country.
this rips so does jeremy pinnell also too as well
June 12, 2023 @ 8:21 am
Miles is the one that was disappointing for me on first listen. The intro reminded me a little of Neil Young’s Down By the River and with the song being seven minutes long, I was hoping for a bit of a Crazy Horse guitar workout. Oh, well. Still enjoyable. Would be in the top five or so on Reunions.
June 12, 2023 @ 3:23 pm
I was actually reminded of “Cowgirl in the Sand”, also with it being the album closer.
June 13, 2023 @ 3:23 pm
I think it’s a really pleasant, epic surprise at the end of an already long album, almost like a bonus track where he melds Young, Petty, Abbey-Road era Beatles, and a couple parts reminiscent of Floyd and Zeppelin. It’s one of my favorites on the album just for its diversity in styles and obvious dropping of references to some of my favorite artists. I love the verse about the daughter and the Carnival in particular.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:33 am
Yeah I agree, I wish he would do more acoustic-driven songs — his songwriting on acoustic tunes just seems to be a cut above the rest. I guess it just leaves us wanting more, though.
August 30, 2023 @ 6:12 pm
I’m with you on Death Wish. I can’t understand why so many people don’t like it. Besides it not being a pleasant subject, I love the arrangement. After I play the entire album, Death Wish is the one that keeps playing in my head.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:06 am
Huh. Isbell has been my favorite artist since Southeastern. I even really like Reunions. After a few listens on this one, it hasn’t really grabbed me. It’s getting better as I keep listening, but I doubt it will become a favorite.
I wasn’t really expecting such a glowing review, but it seems I’m in the minority on this one.
June 12, 2023 @ 3:28 pm
I’m with you. Though good, it doesn’t come anywhere close to his creative peak of Southeastern – Something More Than Free. But I’m only a couple of listens in, so we’ll see how it goes.
June 13, 2023 @ 6:32 am
I’d rate TNS over SMTF, whose production I found a little too antiseptic…but yeah, I’d rate this as closer to that level than Southeastern.
…but Southeastern IS my favorite album of the last 20 years, haha
June 13, 2023 @ 1:09 pm
If you watch the First Row Boston concert from SMTF tour, it puts that album in a different perspective. The songs are good to excellent in live format. Children of Children is the highlight of the show for example. Watching that changed my opinion of the record quite a bit. Agree the production is not stellar, but it really wasn’t consistently great on Southeastern either. I saw Jason at a small club in Phoenix like 2 months after that record dropped and I was like 6 feet from him, dead-center the whole show. Stage was only like 2 feet high. Caught his pick at the end. It was a freaking brilliant show. Going on July 11 in Tempe, can’t wait! This album is the best since Southeastern and I’ve heard them all many times.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:11 am
The song about Justin is completely distasteful. Couldn’t agree with you more, that had it been a real tribute to JTE, it would have at least an element of acoustic sound. Fact: Justin and Jason hadn’t had contact for close to a decade when he passed, and it’s not the first time Jason has disregarded the fact that there are actual friends and family of Justin that cared for him and could use one moment of peace of mind where Jason doesn’t come in and act as if he has a right to tell Justin’s story. He has been doing that for years. It also would have been nice for him to give Justin’s family a heads up and let them know that there would be graphic detail, that would be impossible to hear (especially for his wife and daughter) – that now people will get to sing along to – how fun. Also the line about forgiveness and “now you will never need to look me in the eye.” Considering they did not know each other in the last years of Justin’s life, Justin obviously owed him nothing, yet in this narcissist’s mind, he seems to think he did. Completely distasteful. Also, the information about Justin’t death is false, which is not surprising considering he doesn’t know anything about it.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:57 am
Thanks for your insight on this. As someone who has been critical of Jason Isbell’s handling of his Justin Townes Earle friendship and others, I understand this frustration, especially from what seems to be a more intimate perspective on Justin Towne’s world. I feel like Isbell did a good job conveying his guilt in the matter, but in retrospect I could see how his attempt to balance his own life path with Justin’s and some of the details could come across poorly. I also think as a song, musically it’s great. But it just doesn’t fit the gravity of the story.
July 1, 2023 @ 12:41 pm
>Thanks for allowing the MAGA Morons to hijack the thread & ruin it. They’re too ignorant to post any kind of intelligent critique about why they don’t like Weathervanes & only came on here to use it as a forum to talk crap about Isbell & his fans & spew their political bullshit. You sound like a mother telling a kid throwing a tantrum you’re going to take away their TV privileges if they don’t stop, over & over, but never really doing it. Next time, man up & make good on your threat to close the comments when they continue with their bullshit & ruin the discussion for everyone else. People can say why they don’t like a record without having to insert their political crap or trash the artist because of their personal hatred for them.
July 1, 2023 @ 1:02 pm
I agree that the veering into political divisiveness in this comments section was unfortunate. But censoring comments or closing comments sections down is always a last resort. I believe in fostering an open discussion. At the same time, I have closed down comments sections on a regular basis, and will again in the future. These are not easy decisions to make.
July 1, 2023 @ 2:25 pm
Whatever. I have to wonder, if there are comments you have closed, if they were ones in which people were being critical of conservative country artists you like based on your own bias, because the comments on this thread were ugly & personal enough for most people to realize they have lost control of their forum. Doesn’t matter to me, because I’ll get my reviews from some of the multiple other sites that keep the comments on the topic at hand & where people can say why they like or don’t like the music in an objective way without diverting to politics, hatred, racism & bigotry.
July 1, 2023 @ 5:41 pm
Sherry,
I offer everyone a forum to share their opinions. I valued your opinion enough to respond to it, and agree with your concerns, at least in part. Please don’t do the default internet thing and just assume that we must be in a contrarian or combative posture here. The vast, vast majority of websites do not allow comments at all. The comments are simply a feature here, and should not reflect on my opinions, or this review. There are also plenty of comments here that are also critical of the “conservative” comments. But if you believe that one half of Americans should not be allowed to share their opinions, we’re going to have to respectfully disagree. I believe everyone has the right to an opinion, and again, did by best to control the discussion here.
June 12, 2023 @ 11:01 am
Im a huge JTE fan. I thought it was very disrespectful that Jason and Amanda performed at his tribute concert. But lets not forget that JTE was the one who ended that relationship. There are 2 sides to every story and the truth usually lies in the middle. And who says this is a tribute to JTE. Sounds like maybe its a person hurting that such a close relationship ended so childishly and now that one of them is dead, so it can never be resolved. Justin didn’t owe Jason anything, but not sure Jason owed Justin anything either. This is more a song about a relationship that didn’t work out and the person writing the song feels wronged that the other never attempted to right his wrong. It’s Jason’s side of the story, we will never get to hear JTE’s. Unfortunately.
June 12, 2023 @ 4:15 pm
Well put, Doc J. I love this song, and what this song says about the singer, in a sort of rambling, stream-of-consciousness response to the overdose of JTE. And for Jason Isbell as a person with a history of substance abuse, the death of even a former friend and artist of an overdose has to be impactful, even if the friendship had waned, right?
June 13, 2023 @ 1:15 pm
I’m also a huge JTE fan (and Steve). Song hit me like a ton of bricks. Here’s the thing, it’s not meant as a ‘tribute’ to JTE it is an ‘Ode to JTE’. Viewed in that context, it’s pretty perfect.
Kinda like “Drunken Angel” by Lucinda is an Ode to Blaze Foley.
June 16, 2023 @ 4:47 pm
For those looking into this song, I want to comment on some of the lyrics rather than the interpersonal drama others are discussing.
Townes van Zandt is a Texas music god and JTE’s dad’s mentor and BFF. The whole Isbell song is rife with TVZ allusions. Rex’s Blues is a TVZ song and several of Isbell’s lyrics are lifted from there. The last chorus changes Rex’s Blues to Ft. Worth Blues and mentions the Great Divide. Ft. Worth Blues is Steve Earle’s tribute to Townes. “Every place I go I see some kind of sign that you’ve been through.”
June 16, 2023 @ 7:00 pm
I think all of that is pretty known and has already been referenced by others.
April 14, 2024 @ 7:39 am
Great post my daughter says the same thing Jason got the facts wrong for instance Justin died on a wood floor not tile. Jason only knows what he has heard second hand or farther down the line but he have had to do that song because that’s just he is. Very weak rational and exposes Jason for the person he really is.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:15 am
Strawberry Woman is a great song, even tho the opening chords sound like a blatant rip off of the Griffin House song “Better Than Love”. Seriously, he should look into some kind of copy right law suit. I feel sorry for the father in Cast Iron Skillet who had to disown his daughter because she turned her back on her own family, culture and heritage just to chase here own selfish, capricious, and carnal desires. Beautifully written song tho. Rest of the album is ok. Nothing really jumps out me sonically enough to try to dissect the lyrics.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:22 am
“I feel sorry for the father in Cast Iron Skillet who had to disown his daughter because she turned her back on her own family, culture and heritage just to chase here own selfish, capricious, and carnal desires.”
Are you joking? Trolling? If you actually believe this, I’ll just tell you to go back to hiding under your rock you racist piece of shit.
June 12, 2023 @ 9:15 am
Unfortunately, somehow, I think he is actually serious.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:14 pm
@Jared
????????
June 12, 2023 @ 1:05 pm
A good friend of mine once told me a story about when he was a young man right out of high school, having just joined the military. He was preparing to leave for basic training and he said his mother gave him one rule and one rule only. “Whatever you do, don’t bring home any white girls”. I learned very quickly from my friend, that wanting what’s best for your children transcends any pre conceived notions of what society would have us believe racism is.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:15 pm
I’m not sure what argument you think you’re making. Please just shut up and go away.
June 12, 2023 @ 3:15 pm
You see, my friends mom understood that relationships are complicated, and that for her son to truly be happy it meant him meeting someone who could better understand the struggles and culture that go along with being a poor black kid from Biloxi Mississippi. She also knew that no matter how many nice white girls he might meet in his travels, they were never going to get it. Just like the father in the song, she wanted her son to do what was best for the family and for himself even if he didn’t understand it at the time. The dad in Cast Iron Skillet simply wants his daughter to love and marry someone who shares similar culture, values, history and traditions for her long term happiness.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:21 pm
The worst woman to bring home these days would definitely be an American white girl from the burbs, followed by a black girl from the hood.
The best would probably be a native Cuban, Asian, or African woman, followed by an American country girl from a Christian home, of any race.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:41 pm
Good idea. Let’s rank the races.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:53 pm
You can rank races if you want. I was ranking groups of women, which every man should do prior to marrying one….unless you want to live in Hell on Earth.
June 12, 2023 @ 5:00 pm
What an insane thread. My goodness lol.
June 12, 2023 @ 5:31 pm
let’s rank our favorite communists, but by race, to appease honky! honky, you can start.
June 12, 2023 @ 5:52 pm
Let’s not, and if this thread continues to go off-topic, this comments section will get shut down. This is an album review. Please keep the discussion about the album.
June 12, 2023 @ 6:01 pm
good to know where you continually draw the line trig. not when honky actually ranks races (that gets by the moderation), just when someone makes fun of him.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:49 pm
I wasn’t drawing the line at your comment specifically. This was a warning to EVERYONE on this thread to move on.
June 12, 2023 @ 11:47 am
a family, culture and heritage that would disown someone over for that is well worth turning one’s back on. that ‘father’ can go get his and you can too.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:12 pm
kross[sic],
I see “Cast Iron Skillet” a little differently. This song is little more than communist, anti-rural-American bigotry and propaganda, written for the applause of the whitest of pasty, white people. The whole song is just one baseless anti-rural-American cliche after another.
I can’t take a position on the dad, because I have no idea what culture the black guy came from. Maybe where you and I disagree, is that I don’t assume that because someone is black, that they are from a different culture. That’s what the communist who wrote this song wants us all to assume. But if my daughter married one of my black neighbors, whose dad uses his tractor to plow snow off elderly people’s driveways, I’d be cool with it.
My wife is Hispanic. And most of the opposition I got was from my black coworkers who told me races shouldn’t mix.
My point is, Kross: don’t get sucked into the Communist’s race games. These games serve one purpose: to divide us up out here in flyover country.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:57 pm
I was waiting with bated breath for you to comment about the communists. Thanks for being consistent.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:12 pm
Hey ronnie[sic],
As long as they’re consistent, I have to be. When you get tired of masturbating to porn and watching the NFL, you should join me.
June 14, 2023 @ 6:04 am
Jokes on you, us communists never get get tired of masturbating to porn or the NFL….
July 20, 2023 @ 8:28 am
REAL communists watch soccer. Shows what you know Cracker.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:58 pm
Thank you for further cementing the low opinion I already have of you. Your ignorance is on full display.
I haven’t heard the word “communism” used as such a scare tactic since Archie Bunker.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:43 pm
Is there anything I can do to make it even lower? Please advise ASAP.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:28 pm
i hear ya, that goddamn communism overcooked my eggs this morning. i am livid!
June 12, 2023 @ 4:06 pm
Communism stole my girlfriend and made me not have a dad and wrote Appetite for Destruction and any other way that I can work it into every topic on a country music site.
June 13, 2023 @ 6:38 am
The communists put the fluoride in the water that stops my dick from working unless I picture Channing Tatum!
June 12, 2023 @ 5:33 pm
I worked at a job for a year and a half where I was far in the minority, most of my coworkers were black. They are far more openly obsessed about skin color than anyone with a ‘Hate has no home here’ yard sign would know. Light-skinned blacks receive the most ire. I guarantee most people wouldn’t believe me if I told them the things I heard.
June 13, 2023 @ 3:55 pm
Two amusing things about your posts … one is that you’re calling Isbell communist, when I literally cannot think of a SINGLE song that even tangentially bags on capitalism, even after 20 years counting DBT, and what is it, 8 solo albums? Not even one that criticizes the music industry. Having some generally-liberal views does not make one a ‘Communist’, dude. Also, people who are obsessed with ‘cultural heritage’ … are just trying to find a nicer way to express, at worst racism, and at best a form of classism. Also, you don’t know anything about the ‘dark skin’ kid. He could be Asian, Middle Eastern, he could be a Native American or Mestizo, etc, etc. But you’re sure he means ‘black kid’ and that he’s from a ‘different culture’. How about we’re all (in the US) human and specifically in most cases part of the AMERICAN CULTURE? That’s how people not obsessed with ‘differences’ (and controlling who their child dates/marries based on their prejudices)… actually think. BTW it’s just a single line, not some diatribe, but people like you are apparently … very easily triggered.
June 13, 2023 @ 5:17 pm
“…but people like you are apparently … very easily triggered.”
Almost as easily as leftists. ????
June 13, 2023 @ 10:10 pm
I lean left on a lot of issues, but I’m not easily triggered, and I’m not that PC. I see both sides to most issues and I think both ‘political sides’ are really overly sensitive, in the same exact ways. For every leftie melting down because OMG someone said the N-word you have your righties freaking over Bud Light. Same exact sh*t. We’re all being led by the nose by the powers that be, and being artificially divided as Americans. I have both liberal and conservative friends and family members and what I’ve found is … IRL we actually want mostly want and believe in the same things. Biggest difference I’ve noticed is that conservatives are REALLY prone to give credence to conspiracy theories that back their worldview, no matter how ridiculous it is as a practical matter, or how shady the source. I think that part is an actual difference in brain structure/chemistry or genetics or something. Still, we CAN all get along, I absolutely believe that.
July 20, 2023 @ 8:57 am
Hi Brett … all due respect, beg to differ. It’s usually implied by the storytelling versus being direct as in Petty’s “Last DJ” or RATM’s whole catalog LOL
“momma wants to change that Nashville sound but they’re never gonna let her”
“No more holes to fill and no more rocks to break / And no more loading boxes on the trucks for someone else’s sake”
“You see the hammer needs the nail / And the poor man’s up for sale / I guess I’m doin’ what I’m on this earth to do”
“It wasn’t my daddy’s way / He was down in the mines all day / I know he wanted more than mouths to feed and bills to pay”
June 18, 2023 @ 10:17 am
Somebody should try to write a song from the dad’s point of view. I don’t think it’s ever been done but I would like to see it. Not enough reactionary art out there. There’s probably a place for somebody who can do it well.. not like kid rock style or Arron Lewis cheap patriotic anthems but somebody with some talent and subtlety. Drive by Truckers at their best brushed up on this ability.. but ultimately the politics just consumed them and the quality of their output dropped off hard.
I do believe you can prefer your child to marry intra-culturally without being rAsCiSt. The immediate freak out and mau mauing in the comments speaks to the moral panic around this kind of stuff. Don’t police the man’s take on a song. Geesh. Everyone isn’t impressed by the Isbell’s sanctimony, but can still appreciate his ability to write a song.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:26 am
I absolutely love this album and right now Death Wish is my favorite track. The erratic percussion is so unique and I love.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:29 am
As for the review, more or less spot on. I can’t believe you didn’t pick up on the pretty blatant Neil Young ripoff/homage in the opening of Miles. I honestly kept waiting to hear “Southern man…” But overall I agree it’s a strange song.
This Ain’t It is an instant classic, even if thematically it sort of borrows from Death Cab From Cutie’s “Cath…”
Can’t wait to hear When We Were Close live.
Whether it’s him deciding to produce himself or simply writing different types of songs, this album does have a very different feel to it than what has come before.
BTW, for all the great songs Isbell has written, I’m still not sure he has topped Goddamn Lonely Love.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:44 am
Then again, Neil has admitted to a little borrowing himself. 😉
From “Borrowed Tune”:
I’m singin’ this borrowed tune
I took from the Rolling Stones
Alone in this empty room
Too wasted to write my own
Sounds like Lady Jane
June 12, 2023 @ 3:52 pm
Yes, but precisely the overt (and s/Stoned) pastiche is what makes “Borrowed Tune” such an unmistakeable “Youngian” original.
It’s interesting though that we heard borrowing from three different Young songs in “Miles”. Maybe Isbell’s instructions to some AI bot were: “Rip off generic Neil Young song.”
June 13, 2023 @ 10:16 am
Middle of the morning is also very reminiscent of “Into the Mystic” or “Midnight Rider.”
June 13, 2023 @ 2:46 pm
Perhaps more accurately, it’s like a mixture of the two. I thought of that like instantly. Still pretty great, as is all of it.
June 13, 2023 @ 2:51 pm
Goddamn Lonely Love was the first Truckers tune I ever heard (rec’d by a friend back in like 2007) and as much as I LOVE everything after … that one will always be my fave and def. one his best. Partly cause I heard it in the first year of (that) period of sobriety and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I learned to strum and sing it the minute I got home. I SOOOOO wish he would still play it live.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:51 am
It’s a masterpiece in every way. I can’t stop listening.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:55 am
Having Isbell mention the great state of Oklahoma just seems wrong.
“Cast Iron Skillet” is about 50 years too late to be controversial.
June 12, 2023 @ 9:25 am
Take a look at this comment section and you’ll see some contradictory evidence on ‘Cast Iron Skillet.’
Honestly, I think his use of a more settled issue helps his point. Society’s made progress, but dad lost his daughter because he held on too tightly to ideas his parents taught him.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:40 pm
In a very dark way Trigger; asking if it was still a controversy coupled with that comment is so funny.
June 12, 2023 @ 9:52 am
Open your eyes, hombre.
https://www.bet.com/article/65bt3a/father-allegedly-kills-daughter-s-black-boyfriend
June 12, 2023 @ 11:41 am
I have not been able to find a conviction date nor the sentence handed down for Mr. Quezada online. Do you have a link, or can you provide an update for this case?
June 12, 2023 @ 12:32 pm
Workign its way through things, here’s a federal grand jury indictment in 2021 (because of it happening on native land)
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/pr/federal-grand-jury-indictments-announced-december-2021
June 12, 2023 @ 12:48 pm
Thanks, I already read that; I was wondering if you or anyone had more up to date info. Almost four years later at this point, even with any complications of being on native land. Any idea if he has been incarcerated this entire time, or was he able to post bond until his trial?
June 12, 2023 @ 12:57 pm
What is your point? To acknowledge isolated incidents are still happening? Sure, they do.
The point is, in overall society and culture, interracial marriages are treated as commonplace. Go watch TV shows and commercials. It is mainstream.
When Merle Haggard released “Irma Jackson” in 1972 (it was written several years earlier), it came out five years after Loving vs. Virginia in 1967. It was a hot topic and could have wrecked his career. For Isbell, this song is just another way to pander to his base for brownie points and take a cheap shot at his cultural heritage.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:26 pm
CK,
You may have noticed, but the whole song is just a checklist of anti-rural-American cliches. He couldn’t have written a song like this without including the “Redneck-Dad-Disowns-Daughter-Because-He-Hates-Black-Skin” cliche. It would’ve been an incomplete song.
What’s really funny is, he presents “Don’t wash the cast iron skillet’ as an outdated idea from white hick granny, but anybody who cooks with cast iron frequently, knows you can’t wash it like you do other forms of cookware, or you’ll remove the seasoning and it’ll rust. And I’m surprised that he didn’t know this, since he writes for upper-middle-class white people who use cast iron ironically.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:58 pm
I did notice.
I wasn’t surprised at the inclusion. You would think that such a talented and accomplished songwriter wouldn’t indulge in a cheap cliché but agendas must be maintained.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:10 pm
I use cast iron every day and I wash it with soap and water. It’s very well seasoned with no rust. Your knowledge is outdated, Honky, but we all knew that.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:48 pm
Stop it with the strawmen. You all have got to make better arguments. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt one time, that you didn’t fully process what I wrote. Try reading it again.
June 13, 2023 @ 9:13 am
You clearly don’t know what a strawman is….
June 13, 2023 @ 10:51 am
he’s just jealous of scarecrows because he saw they can actually get brains.
June 13, 2023 @ 7:30 pm
@Adam S
Please stop; don’t do this to yourself publicly. I find myself almost feeling bad for you…which bothers me, because you’re vermin, and I don’t want to feel bad for vermin.
June 13, 2023 @ 8:01 pm
Move on folks. This is an album review. Leave a comment about the album or its content.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:30 pm
communists are using cookware ironically now? is nothing sacred?! will they stop at nothing?!
June 12, 2023 @ 1:45 pm
You definitely shouldn’t put the cast iron skillet in the dishwasher. Or let it soak. Those are actually true. I do wash mine with a drop of dish soap, but I dry it immediately and then coat it with oil.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:50 pm
Wilson,
You and I don’t agree on much, but I appreciate you not engaging in midwittery here. Seriously; thanks. Your reply was refreshing to read.
June 14, 2023 @ 4:32 am
I find your smugness at least at equal to Isbell’s that you are trying to knock down. Especially poignant is the fact that you have written how many good songs and received how many Grammy’s and have performed for how many people? Exactly. You might be bright for your tribe, but you would never fill Isbell’s shoes.
June 14, 2023 @ 7:48 pm
Amuzme,
My comments overwhelmingly have nothing to do with me. The “smugness” you believe you’re seeing is probably impatience. We’re in what is likely the last days of what we currently know as America. I don’t have patience for people who don’t get it.
Why on Earth would you imply that I’d want to “fill Isbell’s shoes”? The dude is an emotionally insane, exceptionally gifted lyricist, with an average, or slightly below average IQ. He’s scum as a person.
June 12, 2023 @ 2:26 pm
I use salt and half a lemon to scrub my cast irons, then wipe them clean with a dry towel.
I re-season them with oil in a heated oven set at 325 for half an hour maybe every 3 months.
June 12, 2023 @ 2:48 pm
Huh, I was always told not to cook tomatoes in cast iron because the acid in them was bad for the seasoning. Lemon juice has way more acid but maybe it’s the amount of time or being hot that makes the difference. Or maybe those people were full of shit and I didn’t have to get an enameled cast iron pot to make spaghetti sauce. That thing was expensive!
June 12, 2023 @ 3:09 pm
Plus, the acid in tomatoes will discolor the enameled cast iron.
An expensive enameled cast iron Cuisinart, for example.
Same with making a great roast with vegetables in tomato juice, in an enameled cast iron pot or dutch oven.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:57 am
I’m excited to give this a good listen.
I’m a little tired of people saying “He stole this from XYZ.” Everyone borrows inspiration from everyone, and if they aren’t stealing from songs they are stealing from Faulkner, William Gay, and Mark Twain.
Also, a guy like Jason is smart enough to know where the line is between inspiration and plagiarism.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:59 am
We need country singers to steal from Edmund Spenser.
June 12, 2023 @ 8:58 am
“I’m Just Saying” by Austin Moody is what “Save The World” wants to be.
June 12, 2023 @ 9:00 am
Mannn, this is what we get for lamenting “lack of Top tier releases” the week before this dropped.
Review was entirely spot on. Even made the same comment to my wife on ”Death Wish” being the worst song on the album – even though it was the lead single. I do think the way “Death Wish” baptizes you in the prevailing subject matter really helps the brilliance of “King of Oklahoma” shine though, so there’s probably some album planning to it.
I had to travel and work this weekend, so I’ll tell ya. If you haven’t hit the highway with “When We Were Close” cranked, you’re depriving yourself. Song hits like a half time “Never Gonna Change”. Just heavy as hell all around.
Overall, I think the prime Isbell depth and character development is what struck me the most about this album. Every song is a mile deep, and your appreciation for that grows with every listen. Even the more autobiographical/personal tracks like “Save The World” connect at a level that is undeniably raw.
I’m still wrestling with whether I think Weathervanes is better than Something More Than Free. It’s damn close. Isbell at that level is something few can measure up to, and it’s nice to get a reminder of that – even if it only comes around once or twice a decade.
June 12, 2023 @ 10:00 am
indeed a very good album. I’m happy about it.
June 12, 2023 @ 10:05 am
“is interracial marriage really the hot button cultural issue it once was?”
Well, when you have people like Kross in your comments saying “I feel sorry for the father in Cast Iron Skillet who had to disown his daughter because she turned her back on her own family, culture and heritage just to chase here own selfish, capricious, and carnal desires”, I think bigotry like that is still an issue.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:43 pm
Surely you realize there’s always a few idiots. That doesn’t make something a societal problem.
June 12, 2023 @ 1:00 pm
BINGO.
The basic point that the pearl-clutching crowd is ignoring.
June 12, 2023 @ 2:17 pm
I don’t believe they’re ignoring it. That implies innocence.
They’re using it. The lie is the point. The destruction is the point.
June 13, 2023 @ 9:01 am
Now so the same for all the deranged comments about communists in this thread.
June 13, 2023 @ 6:48 am
This song is pretty clearly not set in 2023, though.
Isbell’s 44 and grew up 1.5 hours west of Huntsville – do you think it all would have been sunshine and roses 20/25 years ago?
June 13, 2023 @ 1:44 pm
I dont. But thats the point. Isbell and his ilk say race relations in 2023 are worse than in any time in history. Thats a fallacy and clearly pandering to his anti rural and anti conservative audience who despise the fly over states and all they represent.
June 14, 2023 @ 5:38 am
I’d love a single source for that statement, other than the methane from your own ass, haha.
The mentality is very much “The fact that things were worse yesterday doesn’t make today perfect.”
Meanwhile, this comment section has folks warning of the dangers of miscegenation, haha!
June 13, 2023 @ 12:06 am
white people are the most accepting race as far as interracial marriage to blacks. Don’t ask Chinese, Italians, Mexicans, etc their opinions on this, you may be shocked.
June 13, 2023 @ 8:59 am
Thank you for proving my point with your fake claims. Clearly, bigotry like this is still a problem and worthy of commentary.
June 13, 2023 @ 9:57 am
You want there to be bigotry far more so than there is actual bigotry. I don’t believe your current worldview would handle the fact that most non-white races do not want to inter-marry with other races.
June 13, 2023 @ 11:09 am
It’s funny you think I’m only referring to bigotry from white people. Believe it or not, people of other races do in fact have the agency to also be bigots.
June 15, 2023 @ 8:53 am
Are Italians not white people?
June 12, 2023 @ 10:42 am
Great review Trigger. You’re just a hair higher on the album than I have been so far, but it’s been sounding better with each listen.
I especially agree with your assessments of “King of Oklahoma” being on the short list of the best songs he’s ever written, the drum work, and the new life breathed into the album by the new producer.
Honestly, after seeing the Max documentary I was concerned that the producer change was simply a sour grapes issue coming from Shires, who seemed critical of Cobb.
I’m a huge Isbell fan, but I’ve really appreciated your perspective on him–and I find your coverage even and fair.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:27 pm
Thanks for reading Anthony.
June 12, 2023 @ 11:04 am
I really like “The Nashville Sound” record but “Reunions” did nothing for me as much as I tried to give it multiple listens. I agree with your comment – after listening to this all weekend I know why Reunions never clicked with me. This one is brilliant and that one wasn’t. Now I really want to catch a show to hear this new stuff live.
June 12, 2023 @ 11:50 am
Agreed rich, I think Nashville Sound is the best isbell record since Southeastern. Haven’t decided if Weathervanes beats it yet but its definitely close
jpr
June 12, 2023 @ 11:50 am
i think this is a pretty great listen, and honestly i don’t really care for jason isbell’s albums overall. i like his songs and he and his band are incredible live, but something about this studio albums just never grabs me production-wise so i don’t listen to them often, but can still see that there is something there. this one is a bit different tho, although i must say, still falls a bit flat productionw-wise for me.
June 12, 2023 @ 12:39 pm
Great musician, tremendously dislikable human. I don’t begrudge those that live him, but I can’t get past the jerk factor.
June 13, 2023 @ 5:32 pm
Same here. When you go out of your way to call out half of the country as being outright nazis, call out Nashville as majority racists, and not give grace to others, somehow that makes me not want to listen to any of your music. Crazy me!
June 12, 2023 @ 12:43 pm
I’m a yuge Isbell fan and I think this album is pretty shit.
June 12, 2023 @ 2:04 pm
I gave it a listen. The only two bits of lyric on the entire album that rise above the level of pretty boring are:
I cried when I missed ’em, got lost in the system
foster homes passed me around
the last one was nice, but I ran away twice
and they gave up on tracking me down.
Pedestrian but it works well enough in a story song. The better piece is this:
I could lie to you all night
say I saw you in a dream
we don’t have to get to know each other better
let it be just how it seems
I won’t ask you for your number
don’t even need to know your name
I’m too tired to get excited
and I’m too old to be ashamed.
Those last two lines have the smell of a real person, so kudos there.
The rest of the writing on the album strikes me as meh. I don’t see any evidence that Isbell has a special songwriting talent. He has no gift for the telling detail, surprising turn of phrase, or suggestive metaphor. He has a sense of drama, but his lyrics are unemotional. His songs don’t communicate or emote, they simply sketch out things just enough for the song to exist, and no more.
Hank Williams Sr was a basket case wreck of a man, but at least it was clear from his writing that he had an obvious knack and a sense of humor.
Maybe what Isbell needs is a vacation.
June 12, 2023 @ 4:06 pm
Honest question for ya, Corn. Just out of curiosity.
Have you ever taken a liking to substance abuse and/or been close to those who have?
June 12, 2023 @ 5:14 pm
Yes, both. People close to me, family and extended family, have died painful deaths, cirrhosis, emphysema, painkillers, suicide. I like alcohol myself and have to watch it. So to me the subject matter is not itself enough to establish value.
June 12, 2023 @ 6:39 pm
Makes sense. I was just trying to understand the lack of connection to much of the album, and noticed you cited a few tracks that weren’t as heavy on the substance abuse piece.
Hearing “When We Were Close”, I had the same visceral reaction as the first time I heard “Super 8”. I just don’t think you can write songs like that without having lived it. And if you lived it, I don’t know how you don’t feel it.
June 12, 2023 @ 3:42 pm
What political views of his are controversial? I dont know all of them but two I completely agree with :
Ever since I was 7 years old and my favourite Beatle was shot down in cold blood (something that wouldnt have happened if hed stayed in England) Ive questioned why America doesnt do a damn thing about introducing gun control . Im sure every mother says the same thing after another mindless shooting of innocent children because somehow americans still have easy access to guns. Id have banned guns as soon as John Lennon got shot, 43 years later still nothing has been done.
2} Didnt he slag off Donald Trump? cant see a thing wrong with that ether and he wasnt the only american songwriter who did it as well.
Those two political views I can’t see a thing wrong with so please mention some of the ones that have upset you? I cant see anything wrong with the two above.
June 12, 2023 @ 4:56 pm
It’s more his manner of having those views and foisting them on others that riles people.
June 12, 2023 @ 5:46 pm
Yes, Euro South is right. Isbell seems especially pointed and combative when sharing his views, or assuming that people who he has any tacit online disagreement with must have different political views than him. I’ve experienced this first hand, and numerous times.
June 15, 2023 @ 7:59 am
That may be fairly accurate but fact is, this is not a preachy record. There’s a quip about a racist dad (without any call to action) and a song about being scared about random gun violence which could affect his daughter, and a vague call for ‘change’ in that regard. And some people are talking like the RECORD consists of JI shoving his ‘views’ down your throat. I think that insinuation is well off-base. As is people calling him ‘commie’ when I can’t recall a single song of his in 20 years that bags on Capitalism.
June 12, 2023 @ 4:59 pm
You don’t think that some people may have political views that are different than yours? You “can’t see a thing wrong with that” but clearly many people can.
June 13, 2023 @ 1:48 pm
You are implying several things, one that conservatives love people dying from guns. They don’t, thats a dishonest trope trotted out by the left like Isbell. Hope you aren’t implying that. Secondly, would you have a problem with Aaron Lewis, or Tritt, or Aldean, who are clear in their lyrics and persona about their distaste for political and cultural figures they dislike? Or do you just support Isbell because he spews ideas you already agree with? A huge part of the distaste for Isbell stems from how vile his social media takes are, he’s blatant and overboard in his stances that they border on sycophantic.
June 12, 2023 @ 5:17 pm
Jason Isbell is Dylan for music fans that don’t read. He’d have been pedestrian in the heyday of singer/songwriters in the 60s and 70s, but he is perfect for these times. I am just glad he’s trying to say SOMETHING of meaning and purpose in his lyrics. That’s more than most music artists are doing today.
June 12, 2023 @ 5:25 pm
I’m about halfway thru this album and I know it will take a few listens before I have a solid impression of it. Some songs sound like ‘About Schmidt’ with banjos.
June 12, 2023 @ 6:51 pm
Isbell is an insufferable prick, but he’s really good at what he does (maybe not as good as his biggest fan, himself, thinks, but he’s good). Southeastern was a master stroke, Something More Than Free was a solid follow up. That Nashville was another solid record (“If We Were Vampires” is a perfectly crafted song in my opinion). Reunions was weak. Hoping this review is a true refection of Weathervanes. Only way to find out is to give a spin, I guess. So off I go to listen.
Good piece Trigger.
June 12, 2023 @ 7:30 pm
Thank God there’s no screechy/scratchy fiddle on this! Smart move to keep Amanda off this, this time around. I don’t she’s a good fit for his current soundscape.
June 13, 2023 @ 2:40 am
Good Lord. How do you say you haven’t listened to the album without saying you haven’t listened the album?
June 13, 2023 @ 4:03 am
Very little, anyway. I was shocked how little of her there is on the record, and that’s a good thing. When I heard Isbell was producing I expected a Jason-Amanda duo record. Perhaps he has more balls to stand up to her than I gave him credit for, or at least a good enough ear to hear that she can’t hang with his talent.
June 13, 2023 @ 7:01 am
Didn’t Jason take issue with Amanda’s fiddle playing in the studio as captured on film and shown in the HBO documentary? Seems like they butted heads over it – but to be honest I don’t fully remember the whole scenario.
In any event, looks like producer Jason won out over potentially hen-pecked husband Jason.
June 13, 2023 @ 7:03 am
She’s not listed as a 400 Unit member in the credits this time. She’s the first listed under “Guest Musicians.”
June 12, 2023 @ 8:54 pm
Annoyed by Isbell’s constant virtue signaling, but holy crap, based on the amount of blatant racism in this comment section I’m a goddamn Maoist.
June 13, 2023 @ 5:21 pm
Only racism to people like you who see racism everywhere and in everything. People are sharing their points of views and how THEY interpret certain songs, it doesn’t make them racist. Give it a rest.
June 13, 2023 @ 2:55 am
He’s no Lightfoot.
In fact, I fond him quite heavy handed.
June 13, 2023 @ 5:01 am
Based on Weathervanes, I think it’s safe to say Jason Isbell is still the undefeated, undisputed Alpha-Male of Americana!
June 13, 2023 @ 5:27 am
“Miles” absolutely does not struggle to make its point. In fact, it nails it.
June 13, 2023 @ 9:12 am
This is his best since AT LEAST since the Southeastern/Something More than Free days. Maybe even his other solos before that. This could be tops for him. Pleased after what I thought was a pretty lackluster “Reunions” and a good but overrated “Nashville Sound.
June 13, 2023 @ 6:11 pm
It’s interesting that an “insufferable” “tremendously” and hyper-politicized “potentially hen-pecked” “heavy-handed,” combative” “prick” is also
“the alpha male of Americana.”
Maybe he’s, you know … not.
June 13, 2023 @ 7:00 pm
Finally had time to give the album a listen. I had high hopes given Trig’s solid review. For me the album doesn’t come close to touching Southeastern which, fair or not, will always be the benchmark. To my ears Weathervanes doesn’t even come close to Something More Than Free or even That Nashville Sound (my three favorite Isbell albums, in that order).
Unlike others here, I really liked “Death Wish.” The rest of the songs are good, but nothing really jumps out and grabs me like Southeastern. The production proves that Isbell still needs to find a producer that can capture the band’s live energy (self production works for some, I don’t think it does here). The album is way better than Reunions, which isn’t saying much.
I think Weathervanes would have made a good follow up to That Nashville Sound, but I can’t imagine listening to the album again. I’m sure there are many who will love it and, like Trigger, rank it right up there with Southeastern. That’s the great thing about music, it touches everyone differently.
June 13, 2023 @ 7:06 pm
Totally understand if folks feel differently about this album than I did. I will say though, this album is definitely being very well-received, even more so than Isbell albums normally are. It feels like another “Southeastern” moment for him, and I suspect it will rack up a lot of accolades as time goes on.
June 13, 2023 @ 9:03 pm
Taste is subjective, and my prejudice re modern Isbell are not to be discounted—but this album is just not grabbing me like it did Trigger or so many others.
I love Jason’s work from DBT through SMTF, and saw him live in WI and at the Opry, supporting SE and SMTF, I think—fantastic shows. When he started getting political I lost interest. We aren’t simpatico politically, and that’s fine, we’re both entitled to our opinions. In this recent era I’ve lost any patience for politically strident music—whether I agree with the artist or not. I’m just tired of it, and don’t find it compelling. Thus, most of his SMTF output has passed me by.
I was quite excited to read this review, and listen to the album. I’ve gone through it once, via two listening sessions while driving—and it just doesn’t do it for me overall. I enjoyed a few moments musically, but few of the tracks felt particularly powerful, personal, or memorable. It mostly felt airy, hollow, and a little bland. I’m not happy about my initial perspective, as I was looking forward to a new Isbell/400 Unit album that really grabbed me. I’ll give it another try, we shall see if it grows on me.
I
June 14, 2023 @ 6:48 am
I’m with you. I am pretty much in agreement with the Slant Magazine Review- “ As powerful a lyricist as anyone else in Nashville, Isbell has penned a compelling batch of stories for Weathervanes about wounds of the past that continue to fester. But musically, he can’t seem to break out of his usual midtempo wheelhouse often enough to let his band really take flight for more than a few passing moments at a time. At 13 tracks and over an hour of similar tempos and familiar-sounding melodies, the album often feels plodding and redundant, despite all the expert musical coloring.”
June 14, 2023 @ 3:23 pm
This basically applies to every Jason Isbell album, though. Personally I think it’s somewhat a function of the ordering of the tracks, which I’m not a huge fan of myself, hence my playlist for the record is different than Jason’s, which I think obviates this particular point at least somewhat and I think makes the album better. Mine goes like this:
This Ain’t It
Oklahoma
Strawberry
Vestavia
Middle Morning
Save the World
Insist
Cast Iron
Miles
Volunteer
Death Wish
Beretta
June 14, 2023 @ 4:48 pm
I agree with this, and it basically goes for ALL of Americana. It’s a songwriter-based art form, so you’re just not going to hear a lot of tempo changes. There’s more tempo changes than in country. That said, I think there was an elevated effort with the percussion and some of the unique instrumentation like accordion, harmonica, and saw/theremin (not sure which one) to separate these tracks from each other. I also agree that putting the two “rockers” at the end and another at the very beginning didn’t really serve the album’s best purposes. Ultimately though, I think there’s a lot of variety here to separate the respective tracks.
June 15, 2023 @ 1:09 pm
You nailed why I don’t like “Americana” but to each their own.
June 14, 2023 @ 5:25 am
Beautiful Jason album of the year
June 14, 2023 @ 5:43 am
Reading this album review got me looking back and rereading previous reviews of Jason Isbell. One of these was the song review for “Something More Than Free”. I remember reading essay when the song came out but hadn’t read it in years since. One of the best and coolest song reviews I’ve ever read.
I’m lucky to have found this website right as Jason Isbell’s solo career took off. And lucky to live in the streaming era where all of this music is easily accessible. Unlike other darlings of this website over the past decade (TT, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers), Jason Isbell and his band seems to have had to the most consistent output in terms of quality, quantity and timing. I’m excited to listen to this album for years to come.
June 14, 2023 @ 6:52 am
Great review but I’ll disagree with the shade on “Miles”. I think it’s a great album closer in the classic rock sense. Sort of has a feel of “Mary Janes Last Dance” at the beginning, and as a father of two the second verse sort of breaks my heart. I think any father of a 16 year old can relate to “she won’t acknowledge me at all”
June 14, 2023 @ 4:34 pm
Isbell is a boring douchebag. Same goes for his audience.
June 15, 2023 @ 12:05 pm
please point on the dolly where the jason isbell hurt your wittle feewings
June 16, 2023 @ 6:49 am
When I first heard the pre-release track “Death Wish”, I thought to myself that this would be the last Isbell release that I would be excited about IF the rest of the Album was similar. I’m glad that song, IMHO, is the worst on the Album. Because the rest of the Album is really, really good. To me, he takes the best themes of his post-DBT solo releases and his 400 unit work, and mixes them together masterfully. Overall, this Album is right up there with Southeastern and on any given day, either of these two albums could be my number 1. Southeastern was his self-redemption, recovery album, while Weathervanes is a built on a much broader scope of human experiences. Isbell burst on the Americana scene with Southeastern, an album that he could have lived on the rest of his days ( similar to many other artists), but Weathervanes is a wake-up call and an in your face reminder of how good of a songwriter and musician he really is. When the Americana Music Awards hosts its 2024 show (album was released too late for 2023), the other nominees for Album of the year should not worry about the path to the stage because they’ll stay in their seats.
June 18, 2023 @ 8:55 am
Sorry if someone has already brought this up (I didn’t read every comment)
But.. is Strawberry Woman about Shonna? Jason’s ex wife. Anybody got any speculation on that. Great song too btw.
July 14, 2023 @ 2:37 pm
My favorite Isbell song is “Tupelo.” Maybe because I’ve been exactly that guy, in a place not unlike those environs. But also because it’s a bittersweet song with a little bit of hope.
I finally listened to this album and what rubs me the wrong way is the monochrome desperation that runs through it. The songs about people overworked or strung out—or both—are portraits of hopeless, defeated, practically useless people. This isn’t really how most people are… and as much as I don’t want to continue the pile on Isbell for the politics, this relentlessly bleak perspective seems like a function of the twitter worldview he’s steeped himself in, which sees rural people of whatever background as disposable and on their way out.
Contrast that with Chris Knight, who sings about some of the same people, but as they are—sometimes down and out, but also defiant and dignified: “The bank’s looking for me.. gonna take back what they own / They can find their red Camaro on the Dixon road / in a flooded cornfield, layin on its side..”
Not a fair comparison, I know. But if we’re putting Isbell in some elite category, might as well compare him with the best.
People are tragic and funny and strange at the same time, to the point where it’s hard to tell the difference. And the south is especially like that. Isbell has apparently forgotten. There are a couple of songs here (“This ain’t it”, etc) that try to toe that line, but don’t really succeed.
Also man.. Vestavia Hills. Vestavia Hills is not a place that can carry a chorus by itself.
July 27, 2023 @ 11:17 am
I agree, the album theme seems to be dark hopelessness.
July 26, 2023 @ 7:36 am
Great Review, only disagreement i would have is “Death Wish”. First few listens to me were a little disappointing, but as i acknowledged the subject matter and listened more intently, the picture he paints is amazing, sad, frightening, but amazing.
Also, i guess to show how bad a reviewer i would be, when i look back at Reunions, i think it is a much stronger album than you suggest. Tracks Only Children, Be Afraid, It Get’s Easier, Dreamsicle are all strong songs in their own right. Yes Southeastern is amazing, but IMHO Reunions is very strong.
November 13, 2023 @ 6:10 pm
Watched the ACL episode and they were incredible. I love the “This Ain’t It” performance. Glad to see Jason put out an album of this caliber still.