Jason Isbell on Today’s Country: “It’s Just Real Bad Music to Me”
Jason Isbell is still riding high after hitting career marks for his recent album The Nashville Sound, which topped the Country Albums charts, as well as the Rock and Americana charts, and hit #4 on the all-genre Billboard 200 upon its debut, and made career numbers for Isbell with album sales for the first week. But if you expect the mainstream level of success of his career to change the songwriter, or his penchant to speak out, you’re sadly mistaken.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, when asked why he tweeted out during CMA Fest that he “didn’t want to do that,” Isbell responded, “I don’t like that kind of music at all. Sometimes I’ll hear a song that I really like that’s in that world. I like that song ‘Girl Crush.’ Some of Miranda Lambert’s songs are really well-written. Stapleton’s great. But most of that stuff is just real bad music to me. It also seems like a huge mess. I like Nashville when it’s just regular old Nashville and there’s not a whole lot going on.”
CMA Fest is corporate country music’s premier annual event held in Nashville every June, and televised every August, headlined by the biggest mainstream names.
So does that mean it’s awkward for Isbell to show his face in Nashville with such and outsider’s attitude?
“I don’t really get any shit from anybody,” he says. “I own my record label. I have my own publishing. I do what I want. Nobody is selling a ton of records. Yesterday, someone tweeted the Garth Brooks Chris Gaines album sold 2 million copies. At the time, that was considered a disaster. Now, everyone would kill for that disaster. I don’t even know if Chris Stapleton’s ‘Traveller’ is at 2 million yet. So we’re all in the same boat.”
Actually, Traveller has now sold just over 2 million albums. At last count, Traveller has moved 2,016,700 units, and Stapleton’s latest record From A Room: Vol. 1 became the first country record released in 2017 to go gold. And like Jason Isbell, he’s doing it with little help from the radio. They’re both part of the new Nashville insurgency that continues to take away market share from Music Row, and by doing it their own way.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:10 am
keep telling em Jason! soon enough country music will flip on it’s back…and Nashville will come begging for help…keep up the hard work man…maybe someday it would be an honor to grace your presence…see i live in a bush where music never comes…but Jason you and Sturgill made it back here in the rez…cause of Great Country Music you guys make…
July 28, 2017 @ 9:11 am
“I don’t like that kind of music at all.”
Agreed.
The problem is a bunch of bros and hos do like it … so it keeps getting played on the radio. As Don Trump would say: Sad.
July 28, 2017 @ 10:19 am
I saw Chris Stapleton last week on Long Island and the crowd was loaded with Bro-Country fans. Great set but the experience was ruined by the Bud Light and Twisted Tea crowd. Pop country is rock music for this generation. Crazy popular here with the younger crowd. They wouldn’t know a Merle Haggard song, well ever.
July 28, 2017 @ 1:07 pm
I like Bud Light, and I love Merle Haggard.
July 28, 2017 @ 2:09 pm
Hey I’m just a cranky old guy with good taste in beer and music! Now get off my lawn…
July 28, 2017 @ 2:16 pm
Chris has kind of blown up, and the only way to do that is to have a large number of fans who fall into the casual listener category (i.e. will listen to basically anything they see or hear on tv or the radio, or perceive as “hot”…..and they go to concerts for the party atmosphere). So, that crowd at his shows is to be expected.
July 31, 2017 @ 12:37 pm
I like Bud Heavy myself.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:15 am
See, I don’t get this attitude sometimes from him. He rails (rightly) against mainstream Nashville and is exactly right. But if he was given a chance to take the stage at either the CMA Festival or a mainstream awards show, why wouldn’t he take it? With his songwriting ability and talent, he would surely have a great ability to sway listeners a-la Stapleton. I love the arguments and comments made from Isbell and Sturgill, but why not take advantage to do something about it?
July 28, 2017 @ 1:42 pm
I don’t know if Jason will ever be on the CMA stage. I appreciate his talent, but I can’t listen to him all day either. He’s definitely an acquired taste. As for Sturgill, Music Row is just pissed that they missed him and got in on the bandwagon too late to take credit for him. And I’m a left-leaning girl myself, but I don’t how useful some of his comments about politics are right now. Honestly, if I’ve learned one thing from the election, it’s that insulting people just makes things worse.
August 1, 2017 @ 10:22 pm
I agree. My hobby is playing my guitar along with recordings and there’s 4 Isbell songs on my list and there’s an instrumental part on one of those I don’t like. The rest of his songs I don’t really care for. That said he’s one of the very few recent artists that I’ll play, Turnpike Troubadours being the other who have more than one or two songs that I like. Most all the rest are older artists and I’m close to 150 songs on my list.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:18 am
Isbell plays music? I thought he was a political commentator.
July 28, 2017 @ 10:09 am
Music is his favorite hobby!
July 28, 2017 @ 3:40 pm
Just let his slide guitar and poetic storytelling take you to your happy place
July 28, 2017 @ 8:58 pm
Everyone’s a political commentator these days. But only a few of them can speak intelligently about their opinions, and even fewer also have elite talent in another arena to boot.
Try to keep up.
July 29, 2017 @ 5:05 am
Gibberish but swinging.
July 29, 2017 @ 5:06 am
Nut swinging.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:21 am
Trying to always be nice but he came off like a jerk on that interview
July 28, 2017 @ 9:38 am
Really? It’s more likely that you disagree with his perspective (on Trump and Southern Christians, I’m guessing) and therefore translate that into being “a jerk.”
July 28, 2017 @ 9:56 am
Over generalizing on groups of people is the definition of a jerk
July 28, 2017 @ 10:46 am
Isbell is my favorite artist in the world, but I agree with Clint that he came off like a jerk when talking about that. He said, “I think the fact that so many people voted for him means that there aren’t that many good Christian people left in rural America. God is gone from those people.” To me that sounds like he’s saying if you voted for Trump you’re a bad Christian. That’s no different than someone calling a person a jerk just because they disagree. So everyone who thought Trump would be a better president than Hillary is a bad Christian? He’s normally very good at expressing his opinions without saying stuff like that, but he did come off like a jerk there. Maybe he didn’t mean it like that, but that’s what it sounds like.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:19 pm
About a year ago I unplugged my self from politics. Felt things were just too negative for my taste. When Obama was in office it was the Right making verbal attacks to the left and now that it’s Trump we see the left making the verbal attacks.
I wish Jason well but I have stopped following him. I think it’s ok to have your own views but I feel his views can sometimes be a personal attack. I still think he is a heck of songsmith though. I just don’t really have a desire to listen to his music like I did in the past.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:30 pm
Yeah I’m not into politics either, I’m not a huge Trump supporter or hater, I just stopped paying attention as much. So his comment on trump voters didn’t personally offend me, it just pisses me off when people categorize groups like that. There are a ton of really good people who voted for trump and there are a ton of really good people who voted for Hillary. Jason’s comment was disappointing to me, thought he was better than that.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:34 pm
Yeah, that’s completely unfair, unless he’s talking about people toting their Christianity as a reason to vote for Trump.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:49 pm
So everyone who thought Trump would be a better president than Hillary is a bad Christian?
No, I take it that Isbell is referring to those who voted for Trump because of their Christianity and on the basis of their Christian faith, as Cool Lester was indicating. Speaking for myself, my problem is not with those who voted for the lesser of two evils or those who thought Hillary was worse. I understand that, but what I loath is the exploitation of religion by Trump and far too many of his religious right supporters.
July 28, 2017 @ 2:44 pm
Thats my understanding of it. Lots of people vote republican because its the Christian thing to do. Have some in my own family but even the Pope has called un-christian because of his policies. Christians are supposed to love their fellow man, treat people with respect with kindness and thats not really something you associate with Trump.
July 28, 2017 @ 3:57 pm
If that is what he is referring to then I completely agree with that, but he did not word it very well if that is what he was trying to say
July 28, 2017 @ 7:10 pm
The other factor is that, if he has a view of Christianity akin to that of someone like Reinhold Niebuhr (which largely boils down to actually reading Jesus’s words, rather than blindly following the doctrines laid out by any denomination of “The Church”), supporting Trump and the policies he espouses is fundamentally antithetical to being a good Christian.
July 28, 2017 @ 11:44 pm
How are Trump’s policies, at all, “antithetical” to being a “good” Christian? The Democrats are the party that encourages baby murder (anti-biblical), promotes neo-Marxism (completely anti-biblical), wants to facilitate a command economy (anti-biblical, Jesus would be considered anarcho-capitalist today), encourages immoral actions of sexual deviants (anti-biblical), and, most importantly, they are the party that wants to UNDERMINE Christianity at every turn in America. Trump is no saint, but voting for Trump does NOT make me a “bad” Christian. If I’m a “bad” Christian for supporting Trump, then Hillary Clinton is Satan incarnate.
July 29, 2017 @ 12:03 am
…are you familiar with Reinhold Niebuhr’s theology?
(For the record, it’s hard to reconcile “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” with the idea that, in your words, “Jesus would have been considered an anarcho-capitalist today”).
That’s just me, though. I’ve got a weird habit of, you know, actually reading Jesus’s words, which makes it difficult to take the Jerry Falwells of the world seriously.
July 29, 2017 @ 8:55 pm
Nobody is supporting “baby murder.” Where do people come up with this nonsense?
July 28, 2017 @ 9:12 pm
I agree with that based upon the way it’s worded, but I wonder if the article RS posted was the entire transcript or if they clipped some of it for length/controversy. He usually is more articulate in his points, but we all get frustrated and say things more bluntly than we usually do once in a while.
I also agree with those who have stated that voting for Trump because Christianity is a joke.
July 29, 2017 @ 8:50 pm
In my neck of the woods, Jason Isbell gets airplay on the Adult Album Alternative station and not on its pop-country sister station. AAA listeners seem to be more politically liberal, and in light of that his comments are not surprising to me.
By the way, claiming that voting for Trump makes someone a bad Christian is no more ridiculous than the idea that voting for Hillary makes someone a bad Christian, but I certainly heard the latter argument plenty of times along with fear-mongering from the pulpits that anyone who voted for Hillary was going to hell. I know good Christians who voted both ways. The measure of a good Christian is not in the presidential candidate one votes for. I personally could not in good conscience vote for either one, as I found both untrustworthy although for different reasons.
By the way, the “poor persecuted Christians” routine is getting old. And that’s all I’ll say about that as this isn’t the place for it.
July 30, 2017 @ 1:41 pm
Actually, Christians are the most persecuted group in the world and during the previous century.
July 31, 2017 @ 9:15 am
Us Jews would like to have a word with you.
August 1, 2017 @ 11:43 am
so if Trump is a bad Christian, what does that make Hillary? Seriously? She lost at least in part because she is a horrible, corrupt person.
August 1, 2017 @ 12:18 pm
What does any of this have to do with Jason Isbell’s comments on country music?
Stop.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:24 am
I totally understand why Jason would not like mainstream country music . The guy writes ABOUT stuff …about REAL issues . Radio doesn’t want anything to do with REAL . They are marketing to kids and kid-like adults , for the most -part . They sell wallpaper……Jason is painting pictures .
Saying that ( and I’m ducking for cover as I say this ) , I find Jason’s arrangements to be a bit raw, maybe not as focused as they could be in terms of supporting the ‘ message’ , maybe too jammy or rough -around -the -edges sometimes ? I appreciate that these may be the very things that attract and endear the man to so many fans …..and that’s all good . Style counts .
July 28, 2017 @ 5:06 pm
Hmm, knowing jason I caught that from the start.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:44 am
Even if Jason were all over country radio, sales would still be down. The world has changed, as he recognizes.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:44 am
Wonder how he feels about “Ghost on the Car Radio?” one of my favorite albums in a long time so glad Trigger reviewed that album.
but honestly to say that “a lot” of Lambert’s marerial is well written is stretching a bit.
“some” is well written, I love Tin Man.
Weight of These Wings was above her average.
but most of her stuff is junk like everything else.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:43 pm
He does say “some” is well-written in the interview
July 28, 2017 @ 9:46 am
I bought all of Jason’s albums and saw him in concert several times. But in a recent interview, he basically said that anyone who voted for GW Bush was an idiot. WTH? I knew his politics leaned-left, but did he really need to insult (at least some portion of) his fans? If called out on it (which he won’t be), he’d probably play it off as people being over-sensitive. So be it. He has his success now, so I’m betting he no longer cares who he pisses off. Must be nice.
July 28, 2017 @ 10:48 am
can you post the link to that interview?
July 28, 2017 @ 11:14 am
http://www.rollingstone.com/country/features/jason-isbell-on-trump-modern-country-and-alienating-fans-w494566
July 28, 2017 @ 11:54 am
Nah I’m talking about the one where he supposedly said people who voted for Bush are idiots
July 28, 2017 @ 1:42 pm
Right, so much for the “High Road”
July 28, 2017 @ 4:44 pm
It is easy to sing about that.
Harder to actually live it.
It is like Leonardo DiCaprio and climate change. He preaches it well but he goes to those events in a pollution spewing jumbo jet. A lot of people don’t care about that. They just like the message. As for myself, I prefer people to practice what they preach.
July 28, 2017 @ 10:22 pm
I read almost every interview Isbell does, I’ve yet to find one where he says people that voted for Bush are idiots. Not gonna believe he said that until someone shows me otherwise.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:58 am
Name names if you have a problem with it…
July 28, 2017 @ 4:42 pm
Agreed. If you are going to call out an industry, man up and name some names. This is just empty red meat rhetoric to his base.
July 31, 2017 @ 2:26 pm
Except the “meat” is a Boca Burger….
July 28, 2017 @ 10:25 am
I went to CMA fest this year and had a great time. The stuff at the stadium was what you’d expect, but the smaller stages were good. Got to see Ryan Beaver do. Good set. Little Texas still sounds good. Hit a little Santa’s Pub.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
I had a great time at CMA, also. The stadium stuff was… Well, let’s just say I’m thinking about going to Nashville for CMA Fest again next year, but doing just the free stuff and Fan Fair X.
I spent a good bit of time at the Durango and Forever Country stages, both of which were very heavy on older, traditional country, but I also found some good bits at other venues (WMMorgan and Natalie Hemby at CMHOF,Ricky Skaggs and Charley Pride at CMA Up Close,etc).
July 28, 2017 @ 10:54 am
I could be reading what Jason said incorrectly, but I think he sees himself as just one artist trying to fight the Nashville status quo his own way, just like Chris Stapleton is doing HIS own way as well. He seems to understand that it’ll take much more than a handful of individualists to change things in an industry that has more or less attached itself to various fads over the last decade and a half.
July 28, 2017 @ 10:54 am
Tom Petty: “…but most of that music reminds me of rock in the middle 80s where it became incredibly generic and relied on videos.” & “…I hate to generalize on a whole genre of music, but it does seem to be missing that magic element that it used to have. I’m sure there are people playing country that are doing it well, but they’re just not getting the attention that the shittier stuff gets.
(Source is Rolling Stone, 2013)
2013…well…2017 is not better: Sam Hunt, Dylan Scott, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Dustin Lynch, Chris Lane, LoCash, Old Dominion, Michael Ray, Granger Smith & Trashvilles next big things Walker Hayes (“You Broke Up With Me”), Jordan Davis (“Singles You Up”) or faceless “country singers” like Morgan Wallen & Michael Tyler.
Margo Price released an EP (Weakness/4 tracks) yesterday.
July 28, 2017 @ 1:54 pm
How is the EP?
July 28, 2017 @ 2:20 pm
No time to listen to the full songs so far. But i think it will be not easy to beat Midwest Farmer’s Daughter.
July 28, 2017 @ 10:58 am
What we’re seeing very much parallels rock in the late 80s and early 90s. When Nirvana released Nevermind it flipped the cubicle sitting hair bad song writers/promoters on their ass. The same is slowly happening in country. Metamodern Sounds in Country Music is to country what Nevermind was to rock. Even the post menopausal grandmother of Bro Country, Keith Urban, tweeted out that the album would put your “dick in the dirt.” Good for Isbell, if Sturgill is country music’s Kurt Cobain, I would argue Isbell is country music’s Eddie Vedder (please stay away from covering evenflow Jason, your better than that). Also, just for the fuck of it, I’ll argue that Cody Jinks is country’s Chris Cornell.
July 28, 2017 @ 2:49 pm
” the post menopausal grandmother of Bro Country, Keith Urban……..” I choked.
July 28, 2017 @ 11:49 pm
Nirvana killed rock music. People always rip on hair metal like it was the worst thing ever but the truth is, the hair bands were on top for nearly a decade, grunge was popular for what, five years at most? It was even more of a passing fad than the hair bands were. I prefer my rock music to be lively and fun with a touch of melody, rather than depressing and edgy with self-hating lyrics.
July 28, 2017 @ 11:14 am
Want to hear a great fun summer drinking country song check out my brother’s (Ryan Trotti) new song that is hitting radio right now called TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THANG….now that is good country music!
July 28, 2017 @ 12:07 pm
This is a site dedicated to country music. I’m sure Ryan Trotti is a nice guy but country is something he is not. Hate I just wasted 3 minutes of my life on looking him up.
July 28, 2017 @ 2:37 pm
Good god. You can’t be serious. It sounds and looks like he was created in a lab by the same d-bag machine that cranked out Dylan Scott. Same beard and everything.
July 28, 2017 @ 6:05 pm
Wasted 76 seconds of my life listening to this. Just what we need in “country music.” More SEC frat boy wannabe tripe.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:15 pm
He speaks for those of us who are from those rural places and refuse to turn off our brains and fall in line. Not everyone who is rural or blue collar feels represented by the Toby Keith’s of the world.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:32 pm
Yeah and I love the way he speaks 90% of the time, but saying everyone who voted for trump is a bad Christian is way too far.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:39 pm
Maybe the issue is that he’s spent too much time reading the Bible, and thinks that Christianity is about, you know, following Jesus’s teachings, rather than the directions of modern Pharisees?
July 28, 2017 @ 12:40 pm
Ironically, Keith’s a pretty staunch Democrat, haha.
Dude just refuses to let principles stand in the way of making money.
July 29, 2017 @ 6:13 am
I think he’s actually a registered Independent now, but yeah, he used to be a Democrat, albeit one who was more willing to vote for GOP presidential candidates like Bush. He also endorsed his former Congressman Dan Boren (Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District) in 2004, who was BY FAR the most conservative Democrat in Congress when he was there.
July 29, 2017 @ 10:37 am
Yeah, he’s an unabashed FP hawk…who also thinks that culture wars are fucking stupid, and that we should have a Federally funded social safety net.
It just cracks me up when people use him as an ur-example of “Republicans in Country Music”
July 28, 2017 @ 4:39 pm
And not everyone is blue collar or rural likes it when he and Earle (for a prominent example) think they speak for us.
I, along with plenty of other rural and blue collar people, don’t like mainstream country music speaking for us either.
July 31, 2017 @ 1:09 pm
I’m rural, white, male, Southern Christian and older than middle age. That more often than not would mean I am also extremely conservative. Because I’m not extremely conservative I get called, as an insult, a “liberal” even though I would consider myself more of a moderate. It just seems that there is no middle ground. I’m grateful that Isbell speaks his mind, even if he might over step a bit from time to time. We are not a one size fits all group of people. There are a lot more far right conservatives amoung us but there are plenty more of us that aren’t of that mindset. I don’t think Isbell is speaking for, “us” but he and Patterson and Cooley do offer examples of those that don’t fit the stereotype Southern White male. I appreciate it.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:38 pm
He’s just mad because he’s not selling records. I think there are a few more artists trying to make it now than there was 20 years ago. Just because your idea of country music isn’t the way it used to be, doesn’t mean it’s bad. Many things have changed. Some for the good, somefor the bad. If you don’t like it, don’t listen. It REALLY is very simple.
July 28, 2017 @ 4:18 pm
But he IS selling records…
July 28, 2017 @ 4:47 pm
The hell are you talking about? He’s selling a ton of records.
July 28, 2017 @ 6:59 pm
Seriously. It cracks me up when people bust out this argument to try to discredit Isbell or JTE.
They do very well for themselves, besides being critical darlings.
July 28, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
What is it about success that makes singers and other celebrities think they automatically become experts on everything? It happens all the time. I don’t find his remarks offensive at all, but I also don’t find them particularly intelligent.
July 28, 2017 @ 1:26 pm
Maybe success has allowed other people to record and share his opinions.
We all have our opinions.
I wonder what I would say, or not say, in that situation.
July 28, 2017 @ 4:12 pm
Yeah, me too Benny. I like to think I’d keep my yap shut under that circumstance, but who knows. Just seems to me that once these people get rich and start farting through silk, they’ve go all mental.
July 28, 2017 @ 1:44 pm
This isn’t directed towards Mr Isbell as much as to entertainers in general…but, why the harsh opinionated political rhetoric? As an entertainer I would think the job would be to entertain as many as possible. Your career is dependent on a fan base. Why on earth would you purposely alienate half your possible fans? I get that ‘artist’ are people too and are entitled to opinions and such, but their job is dependent on fans spending money to be entertained. I know people that have thrown out cd’s and refuse to watch shows or movies with any of the celebrities that were more outspoken during this election, and I’m talking both sides. An opinion is one thing, but the majority of it has been vicious. Jason has every right to speak his mind, but in this day and age of the constant complaint of ‘nobody buys music anymore’, there may be a little more to it than streaming and torrents.
July 28, 2017 @ 1:47 pm
He pretty much said on the Daily Show that he’s an artist not an entertainer. The world could use more Woodie Guthrie’s.
July 28, 2017 @ 2:26 pm
Do you also feel the same about artists like Charlie Daniels, Trace Adkins, and Travis Tritt that are very open about their support for right-wing (in the case of Daniels, FAR RIGHT) ideals?
July 28, 2017 @ 3:00 pm
of course. I wasn’t commenting from one side or the other. I was questioning why celebrities would use their platform to purposely alienate possible fans. The venom spews from both sides and it sways public opinion. I have heard more than one artist state that if you voted for Trump don’t come to their show.,.? WTF. It’s one thing to have an honest response when asked, but the name calling of your fans if they have an opposing opinion.,?
July 28, 2017 @ 8:50 pm
I guess it depends on the artist in question. If the artists main goal is to make a ton of money, then yeah, it makes no sense to alienate a potential paying customer. If the artist doesn’t care about the money as much, then I find it hard to blame them for taking this stance. I mean, I will never go see a Ted Nugent or Charlie Daniels concert due to their crack pot social/political views, the same way I bet Alex Jones would never go see Jason Isbell.
July 30, 2017 @ 11:29 am
Personally I could give a rats ass about their opinions or political views. I listen to their music because I want to. There are plenty of songs I like that I disagree with the message of. I doesn’t make it a less well written song. If it has good structure, melody and etc., it’s still a good song.
July 28, 2017 @ 3:29 pm
*ducking* Pandering to the right is a path to commercial success (since many country music fans are conservative), and pandering to the left is a path to critical success (since most of the media is hard left).
July 28, 2017 @ 3:04 pm
over rated social justice warrior shud shut his pie hole an go by a nother prius
July 28, 2017 @ 3:34 pm
there are far more comments at this site, than there are at Rolling Stone. (one comment at Rolling Stone)
Most interesting thing from the interview, is that he is a Dylan fan.
July 28, 2017 @ 3:36 pm
oh yeah, Saw Bob Dylan a couple of weeks ago, two of his band members, are Texans,
guitar player and steel player.
July 28, 2017 @ 4:30 pm
First off, is he Christian? Because there is nothing that annoys me more than someone who isn’t Christian deciding what a true Christian is or isn’t based on their views.
So he knows what makes a good Christian? Apparently, it is voting according to his beliefs. OK, people on both sides do that and it is annoying.
I don’t vote Conservative because it was a Christian thing to do. I vote Conservative because it aligns with my political beliefs and also because the Conservative party right now is standing for most Christian causes (Sisters of the Poor, Hobby Lobby) which also tie with my Conservative values, i.e in that case, no government interference in healthcare.
I have plenty of Christian friends from University who are liberal. I never once told them that voting for Hillary is un-Christian. Never even crossed my mind. To suggest that someone’s faith is lesser than yours because of a vote is abhorrent.
According to Jesus, to be a Christian is to simply believe in Him. The Book of James reinforces that stance. Good works are welcomed and encouraged but faith in Christ alone will save you. To say that a group of people aren’t Christian because of their political beliefs, which may not have even been promoted by religious matters, is the highest form of arrogance and idiocy. Especially when you consider many of those same people that you are downgrading are out there helping in charities and relief missions.
But Isbell is “enlightened” compared to the hicks.
Take the high road, just make sure he agrees with the route.
An attitude like that is why I don’t listen to Isbell. I know I am missing out on good music. I don’t care if you disagree with me politically as a performer. Just don’t be a grade A jerk about it. His take on this was no different than an YouTube comment. It just had better grammar.
July 28, 2017 @ 4:34 pm
Also, I have to admit I find it interesting that he is basically saying that people need to insert their religious beliefs in voting, i.e in order to vote for the “correct” candidate.
Didn’t many people always say, “leave your faith out of the voting booth/politics?”
I guess the worm has turned.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:28 pm
I know several non-Christians who have a much better idea of what a Christian should be than most of the “Christians” I know. Just because you choose not to believe in something doesn’t mean you are uninformed. In some cases, it means exactly the opposite.
I understand voting Republican because of your beliefs. I don’t have issue with that, even though many times I wouldn’t necessarily agree. I don’t understand the people who threw out their back trying to stretch far enough to see Trump as a Christian candidate, and I saw plenty of that. There ain’t a damn shred of evidence that he’s a true Christian, but you have people finding ways to justify it. Vote the party if you feel it’s more aligned overall with your beliefs, fine. But don’t try to tell me that Trump was the more Christian of the candidates. Dude is the anti-Christ that all the extreme right nutjobs thought Obama was.
I hope that was the distinction he was trying to make, and either said it poorly or was edited poorly. But who knows. I think both parties stink; the Democrats just do a better job pretending to care about more groups of people right now.
July 29, 2017 @ 12:11 am
If someone tried to parse the beliefs that Jesus actually advanced (using the synoptic gospels as a basis) …they’d be hard-pressed to claim that Trump supported more of them than H-Reezy.
Honestly, Trump’s arguments are a caricature of Frederick Douglas’s caricature of Pauline Christianity,
July 29, 2017 @ 12:18 pm
Uh…sure…and I know a lot of morons that know more about brain surgery than actual brain surgeons…at least that’s what they say.
July 29, 2017 @ 3:07 pm
Hmm…is your argument here that a Biblical scholar of both Testaments, who happens to be Jewish, couldn’t possibly be as familiar with the teachings of Jesus as someone who goes to Church on Christmas and Easter?
July 29, 2017 @ 4:22 pm
No, my “argument” is that Christians don’t really need the opinion of non Christians on Christianity.
July 29, 2017 @ 4:25 pm
So…familiarity with Jesus’s words and teachings is less important to one’s ability to understand Christianity than whether you identify as a Christian?
July 29, 2017 @ 4:32 pm
…let me put it this way…there are a lot of folks who watch football on Sundays and think they know a lot about the game. Tom Brady doesn’t give a shit about any of their “expert” opinions.
July 29, 2017 @ 4:35 pm
And, in this example, a Biblical scholar who doesn’t happen to be Christian is the couch potato, and anyone who calls themselves a Christian, even if they only go to church on Christmas and Easter, is Tom Brady.
Right.
July 29, 2017 @ 4:37 pm
No…it isn’t some mentally challenged gay weirdo “identifying” as something, it’s about actually being.
July 29, 2017 @ 4:46 pm
…but Jon’s precise point is that lots of people who call themselves “Christians” don’t actually know anything about what Christianity means, and use it as a convenient label to cloak their own whims and prejudices in a heteronomous morality.
That’s functionally no different than if they called themselves a nonbinary panromantic otherkin.
July 29, 2017 @ 5:05 pm
Right…but it still doesn’t give any sort of authority to those who aren’t. It’s a very black and white world, really. Why would anybody start trying to present themselves as an authority on something they’re not a part of?
July 30, 2017 @ 11:51 am
Who said anything about being “an authority’?
If someone genuinely is a Biblical scholar, regardless of their religion, I’ll take their opinions on the contents of the Bible much more seriously than that of someone who likes to call themselves “a Christian” but has never read the Book.
July 30, 2017 @ 2:48 pm
Of course a Christian has to read the Bible…that’s a start, but they have to follow Jesus before their opinion on it matters to other Christians.
July 30, 2017 @ 9:20 pm
The issue is that lots of people who like to call themselves “Christians” haven’t read the Bible…and theirs are often the loudest voices in these conversations, haha (like the guy above claiming that “Jesus was an anarcho-capitalist”).
I think that men and women of other faiths can have great insight into the philosophical underpinnings of Christianity, in large part because they can examine it from a certain remove.
July 31, 2017 @ 7:13 am
So, let me get this straight, Jason Isbell is a Jewish, Old and New Testament Biblical scholar?
July 31, 2017 @ 8:10 am
No, he’s a Christian.
I’m just saying that his personal beliefs are entirely unrelated to the validity of his argument.
July 29, 2017 @ 6:05 pm
I once registered for an African-American history course in college. I dropped it after the first day of class when I learned that the professor was white. I mean, how could he know anything about African-American history?
July 29, 2017 @ 9:02 pm
I’m white, so I never took such a class but, sure…seems like they should have had a black dude teaching it.
July 29, 2017 @ 9:34 pm
Lol why would race give you an advantage in teaching a college history course?
Also, you’re white, so it should be assumed that you have no interest in African-American history? I hear ya on that. I was offered a minority scholarship to FAMU out of high school but I’m white so I had no interest. There’s no way a white man could pass a black man’s curriculum.
July 30, 2017 @ 1:43 am
Well, I’d say that my college level Sanish teacher (Carmen Gallarce from Chile) was definitely a lot better qualified than my High School Spanish teacher (Mrs
Kenworthy from Ohio) based on culture and familiarity. Maybe just me, but if I’m interested in a subject, I’d rather learn from the real thing.
July 31, 2017 @ 7:12 am
So, let me get this straight, Jason Isbell is a Jewish, Old and New Testament Biblical scholar?
July 31, 2017 @ 10:38 am
Where does he claim to be a Christian?
July 30, 2017 @ 1:39 pm
Eh, fair enough. But a non-Christian’s view of what a Christian should be is not necessarily what a Christian should be. Their own biases come into play. I just wish that argument would go both ways and for other religions. I often see people tell Christians that they will never be able to understand non-Christians. Of course, that could also go for anything. I may not like the Steelers but I would reckon I know of their pre 1970s history than their fans.
You kind of went off on a tangent in your second paragraph. I never defended Trump’s Christianity. I don’t think he is anywhere close the Anti-Christ and neither was Obama or Hillary. The Anti-Christ is supposed to be beloved by people. It has to be Taylor Swift. Haha.
Personally, considering Isbell’s history, I think he knew exactly what he was saying.
I do agree with your last sentence.
Good comment, Jon. I appreciated it.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:47 pm
Isbell’s comments seem pretty straightforward and reasonable to me. Trump is transparently not a good Christian man. He believes only in himself and his prosperity, and is quite possibly the nation’s first atheist commander in chief. it is damn near impossible to map any of his absurd behavior, bullying, lying, wealth-hoarding, philandering, etc onto the new testament teachings of Jesus. So it doesn’t seem crazy to wonder why 65% of white evangelicals (‘values voters’) pulled the lever for the guy. I’ve heard numerous interviews with pastors who have tried to justify/make sense of their Christian Trump-voting flock using scripture (i.e., a wall on the southern border makes sense because of the scriptural references to Jerusalem’s wall; or his boorish behavior is okay in light of the terrible sins of some of the Kings in the scripture who were nonetheless wise and important prophets).
But fuck it, there are all kinds of Christians. Let em vote how they will. Let em listen to what they will. It’s just shame to deprive yourself of good music because of a few politico-religious comments a guy made to a magazine. I’ll never stop listening to Arlo Guthrie (the very son of the man whose machine killed fascists) even though he has become a total wing nut.
July 29, 2017 @ 12:14 am
I feel that the best “litmus test” for a man’s soul is his interpretation of The Parable of the Faithful Servant.
July 29, 2017 @ 7:18 am
“…and is quite possibly the nation’s first atheist commander in chief.”
I’m not saying they’re lying but I don’t believe half these politicians when they try to appear to be Christians. They make the claim and talk the talk because they know it will get them votes and support. It fits perfectly into the exploitation in politics.
July 30, 2017 @ 1:50 pm
Like I said in my comment, I don’t give a darn about an entertainer’s political views, otherwise, I would be missing out on tons of good movies, shows and music.
But Isbell crossed a line when he stated those Christians lost God because of how they voted. I place my faith as the most important thing in my life. He has a right to his misinformed opinion and I have a right to boycott his music. If he left at it, “I can’t understand why they voted Trump” it would have been annoying but fine. But he went a bridge too far.
July 28, 2017 @ 4:50 pm
Damn this comment section turned into a shit show. While I didn’t like his comment about Christian Trump voters, he’s still my favorite artist along with Sturgill and I don’t respect him or his music any less.
July 28, 2017 @ 5:47 pm
Couldn’t agree more. I listen to the music I like regardless of the artist’s beliefs or opinions. I feel sorry for people who ride around all day pounding their fist against their dashboard listening to guys like Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh…. fuck politics; bunch of crooks on both sides of the aisle looking out for themselves if you ask me.
July 28, 2017 @ 6:16 pm
I think I liked him better when he was vacuuming rails, playing with fungo bats and not spewing the rhetoric of a knit pink pussy hatted fiddle player.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:19 pm
Go tell your mom, then. She might care.
July 28, 2017 @ 9:59 pm
What mother? He obviously never learned to respect a woman if he’s willing to talk about Amanda Fucking Shires that way. Buckle up D Wade. It’s going to be a long and lonely life.
July 28, 2017 @ 10:48 pm
You got that absolutely right.
July 29, 2017 @ 12:17 am
I was about to say…I’m planning to ask my little brother to kill me if I ever refer to Amanda Fucking Shires as “a knit pink pussy hatted fiddle player.”
Fucking disrespectful to a genuinely extraordinary musician.
July 29, 2017 @ 9:20 am
Get a grip dude. She’s an activist, plain and simple, and now he’s joined her in her SJW efforts. I sure hope your shoulders don’t give out from carrying all that water.
July 29, 2017 @ 10:29 am
…as opposed to when he was writing lyrics like “Thank God for the TVA” and “What did they say went they sent you away/To die in somebody’s Hollywood war?”
Isbell’s been very open about how his politics since the DBT days, and those politics haven’t changed.
July 29, 2017 @ 2:20 pm
It’s not ok, what you said about Amanda. I don’t care if you’re white or black or purple, if you’re a man or a woman, if you’re poor as dirt or rich as hell, if you’re from a big city or middle America or if you live off a dirt road in some holler in the middle of nowhere, if you’re a Democrat or a Republican or Independent or if you don’t give two shits about politics. You should know better, no excuses.
You excuse your disrespect by saying she’s an activist. And so what? Like that makes her somehow less worthy of basic respect? I happen to believe that a husband wanting what’s best for his wife and daughter, whether he’s a famous singer-songwriter talking to Rolling Stone or a bricklayer talking to his buddy at the bar, can only be a good thing. Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable or if it rains on your fungo bat parade, buddy.
July 31, 2017 @ 8:55 am
I actually think Amanda would be quite enamored with the way I portrayed her. In fact, I can just envision her and Jason, both, donning these hats and prancing around their living room brainstorming about what social justice challenges they should address in their next writing session. Will it be “Trans” issues…? Or maybe a song about white men (who had nothing to do with any of the social ills in our society because they were children of people raised during the Great Depression) being shoehorned into a generalized group merely for the color of their skin…no, wait a second, they’ve already done that one.
As for the rest of your hysterical comment, I have no idea what you’re talking about and I’m not certain you do either.
July 31, 2017 @ 10:05 am
I tried real hard to let your reply go but I just don’t have it in me to ignore you. I know exactly what I said, and I still mean every word of it.
My entire comment boils down to this, and it’s a pretty simple point: no matter who you are and no matter what your background is, what you said was incredibly disrespectful and there’s no excuse for it.
Calling out something that so obviously crosses the line of basic human decency isn’t hysterical in either sense of that word (i.e. hysterical=funny or hysterical=overemotional). If you don’t see where and how you’re wrong here, there’s not much else to say.
Moving on, though, I think we can all agree that the original point of this post, which has gotten lost in all these comments, is that Jason’s exactly right. Modern country music is indeed unspeakably awful. Have a great day.
July 31, 2017 @ 8:00 pm
Look, I think you’re probably…probably a really good person, at least as much as any person can be good. I didn’t murder a puppy on Jason Isbell’s front lawn, nor would I despite what Wicket and you think of me. What I posted was glib and flippant but it wasn’t nearly as derogatory as some folks have made it out to be.
The way I see it, Jason Isbell disrespected me long before I did him or his wife. As a white guy who voted for the lesser of two evils and happens to believe in the tenants of the Christian faith, he came swinging at me and I was a fan of his. It’s a betrayal to a lot of people, and I know several who’ve changed their view towards him but I guess that’s what happens when you choose sides.
And yes, you and I can certainly agree that what gets produced on Music Row, for the exception of Dave Cobb, is utter rubbish and no self-respecting musician should want to be a part of it as it is. You have a great evening/day as well.
July 29, 2017 @ 2:28 pm
D Wade,
Unfortunately I was pre-occupied with other stuff and just now caught this comment. Otherwise, I would have deleted it. Now, I’d rather leave it live to hopefully show just how far over the line this comment crossed.
I’m tired of folks turning every small thing into a political fight, and from now on comments are going to be severely moderated until people begin to respect the desire to keep this as a political free zone unless politics are specifically being broached in the article.
July 29, 2017 @ 9:11 pm
Help me understand, Trigger. So, because I inferred that Jason Isbell was taking his topical writing cues from his wife’s activist leanings, that somehow crosses the line?
RHETORIC > Effective or persuasive speech
KNIT PINK PUSSY HATS > Attention to women’s issues (Google it)
FIDDLE PLAYER > Amanda Shires
Had I said: “I think I liked him better when he was vacuuming rails, playing with fungo bats and not spewing persuasive speech that brings attention to women’s issues like his wife, Amanda…” would there be the same outrage?
Honestly, this entire thread is political…. and theological, yet I’m singled out. For god’s sake, you linked to the Rolling Stone article where Isbell is talking politics and yet, you demand a politics free zone.
I referenced his own lyrics in my comment. If anything, my criticism is of Jason and has nothing to do with his wife except for the fact that his writing has now been influenced by her world view.
I suppose you will ban me from posting on your site and that is certainly your prerogative. But I would hope that you could see the accuracy in my descriptive language without having a knee jerk reaction to the words in and of themselves. She wasn’t denigrated in the least and my female, heterosexual, non-trans wife agrees.
Before you pull the plug on me, was it the “colorful language”, the sentiment or both that crossed the line in your view? A sincere question.
BTW, I really appreciated your review of Zephaniah Ohora and bought his record for everyone in my family…so, thanks.
July 31, 2017 @ 10:06 am
BaHA! It almost seems like your feelings are hurt. Come on! Seriously? You get loud and proud making a comment that reduces Amanda to a stereotype, which you obviously have no respect for & expect a bunch of high fives? When you don’t get them you claim you were being respectful, all the while bitching she is brainwashing him, and then claim justification that your wife agrees with you! Of course she agrees with you!! You’d never let your wife have influence over your opinions, right? That would be weak, and you seem like a totally secure guy. Feminists with the simple mandate of equality doesn’t threaten a guy like you…with the exception that pink pussy hats. Which I guess proves they are working. Brainwashing through crochet. Who would have thought?
July 31, 2017 @ 7:22 pm
My wife said I should reply to you, so I guess I better do what she says. You know, I only keep her around to ease the loneliness, but sometimes, she does have a good idea or two.
Now, what’s with this effusive zeal to defend the honor of Jason Isbell’s spouse? Seems to me that the outrage is a little more than incongruous with a comment made on the interwebs. Have you ever been on the internet? It’s a comment.
I can assure you Amanda Shires couldn’t care less about the opinions of me, you or anyone else pontificating on these boards. After all, she has her hands full with a little one and god only knows how many social justice issues that need her attention. My observations won’t matter to her in the least, yet they matter to you… Why is that?
I will tell you that your ad hominem attacks on me are seriously lacking. You know nothing about me, other than a comment I made about someone I doubt you even know, and yet you’re wont to make any number of suppositions. What does this say about your character? I would also posit, that due to your neo-feminist fascistic leanings, you’d love nothing more than to silence anything that you’re offended by …and everything offends you. But enough about you…
You feminist want to be treated equally yet you conveniently utter “no respect for women” when there’s a perceived slight to one of your own as if you’re a protected class. Are you equal or a victim…which is it? You can’t have it both ways.
I’ve wasted all the time I’m going to on you. My wife wants me to sell our Isbell tickets and I need to get them posted to StubHub. Yeah, she really doesn’t have any respect for Jason after White Man’s World…and neither do I, thanks to her.
August 1, 2017 @ 8:39 pm
I’m flattered you are so curious about my character, so I’ll give you some perspective.
When I was a wee little Wicket I asked my father, (a kickass guy with a penchant for swearing), what feminist meant, & he explained simply, “a person who believes in equal rights for women.”
When I asked him if he was a Feminist he said, “Fuck yes I’m a feminist. You’re a feminist & your fucking brother is a feminist. What kind of asshole doesn’t believe in equal rights?”
I have found there to be a lot of assholes in the land of the free, especially in the comments section of this site. But at least there will be two less at the Isbell concert.
July 31, 2017 @ 10:21 am
Little credence should be given to the opinions of people who have been to rehab. They are, by definition, broken shells of a normal, healthy person. You can certainly enjoy their music, but their advice on life, politics, etc. should be taken with a grain of salt, and then that grain of salt should be thrown in the waste basket.
July 31, 2017 @ 11:04 am
There is no coming to consciousness unless through pain
— every religious leader ever
July 28, 2017 @ 6:24 pm
I played Jason’s latest album for my brother on a recent road trip, he didn’t like it — to southern & country for him (he doesn’t like any country). That’s the thing about music, we all have different tastes, and a huge variety exists, keeping us all happy. Which is what frustrates me when artists make comments about what is and isn’t good music, it’s ok for people to have different tastes.
As it pertains to CMA, yeah it’s the music industry’s big event, but it also showcases a ton of smaller name artists to fans. If you don’t want to participate that’s fine, but it strikes me as the wrong event to attack.
July 28, 2017 @ 10:28 pm
Nah, I can not like music because it’s not my style but still respect that it’s good. Pop country is simply bad music.
July 29, 2017 @ 8:55 am
Point is, that’s all in your opinion. What is bad to you, is good to someone else and vice versa – that’s how music works.
July 29, 2017 @ 10:29 pm
No, Jack got it right. Anyone who thinks that crap is good music is deaf. No way around it.
July 28, 2017 @ 8:18 pm
Jesus Christ, what’s with all this damn Christian talk?
July 29, 2017 @ 12:19 am
Apparently, in the interview linked to in the article, Isbell mentioned the fundamental conflict between everything Jesus argues in the synoptic gospels and everything Trump has espoused as a candidate and President.
Clearly, Isbell’s an Atheist Monster!!!!
July 29, 2017 @ 6:14 pm
Btw, how do you get the italicized font on here?
July 30, 2017 @ 7:34 am
It’s HTML. At the start of your text type and at the end typeh .
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2108318/css-html-what-is-the-correct-way-to-make-text-italic
July 30, 2017 @ 7:35 am
OK, some stuff got filtered out. Just see example in link.
July 31, 2017 @ 11:12 am
Awesome, thanks.
July 30, 2017 @ 1:45 pm
Because Isbell basically played the Pharisees card and condemned the faith of millions because of how they voted politically. While ignoring all nuance for they might have voted Red. Like maybe wanting to escape Obamacare which drastically hurt myself and others, for example.
He basically ignored the log and casted boulders.
July 29, 2017 @ 8:25 am
Wake up white people! Trump is a racist, narcissist and a bigot. Be sure and google those terms, think and then reply. Intolerance of any person is not Christian. Jason Isbell is a breath of fresh air not only for his comments but also for his music.
July 29, 2017 @ 11:34 am
Grant, a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
July 29, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
I suggest you stay indoors and away from windows on August 21st, Ms. Penny.
July 29, 2017 @ 8:34 am
As whitey Morgan said, I don’t care what you think of the state of the goddam world. You’re an entertainer fucking entertain me. Or something close to that.
July 29, 2017 @ 8:27 pm
Unless when the man explains he’s an artist. How spelled out does it have to be? Y’all do realize it’s a choice, right? Morgan chooses entertainer. Isbell chooses artist. Sway fascist all you like, it is still America & you still get to choose the way you want to earn a living.
July 29, 2017 @ 8:35 pm
Yeah no shit he gets to choose. Just like I get to choose. I love Isbell’s music and I listen to a lot of it. But him saying that there’s no Christianity left in the South because that’s where most of trump’s states came from is bullshit. Him thinking he speaks for every rural southerner is also bullshit.
July 29, 2017 @ 10:25 pm
Okay Colt, you chose. Time to move on and be quiet. The fact is a lot of people who spew about how religous they are often surprisingly at odds with what the bible actually teaches.
July 29, 2017 @ 10:32 pm
I never claimed to be very religious. I’m just tired of people attacking other people for their political or religious beliefs. I listen to liberal and conservative musicians. But don’t sit there and act like you’re taking the high road and turn around and bash people for who they voted for. Like it was stated above, everyone can choose what they want.
July 30, 2017 @ 1:27 pm
“Actually teaches” is often code for what I thinks the Bible says.
Both sides do it.
July 30, 2017 @ 11:48 am
So a musician who plays his songs and entertains people is just a lowly entertainer but one who also puts his opinions and politics out there is an artist?
July 31, 2017 @ 9:36 am
Most entertainers don’t write their own music, George Strait, Tom Jones etc. Whitey Morgan calls himself an entertainer so I imagine that’s what he aspires to be, and when he’s off the clock he can do as he pleases. Artists are the ones making music if there is an audience or not. Awards shows recognize the difference so I imagine both are valued equally.
July 29, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
Anyone who has a problem with Isbell using his platform to talk politics, you’re free to ignore him and stop buying his music if you are so inclined. He’ll still have plenty of fans after your departure. As for his take on current country music, I think we can all agree it is “just real bad music”, if you can even call it music.
July 30, 2017 @ 1:29 pm
I usually ignore his political rantings but he crossed a personal line with his latest comments. And most of Nashville is definitely bad music.
July 29, 2017 @ 1:26 pm
Honestly, his opinion on anything commands the same level of respect as Billy Ray Cyrus or Rhianna or whoever…it’s just one musician’s opinion…who cares?
July 29, 2017 @ 1:51 pm
I know you didn’t just group him in with those 2 jokers…
July 29, 2017 @ 2:35 pm
True. He doesn’t have their talent.
July 29, 2017 @ 3:02 pm
Hey, now. Rhianna’s got a hell of a voice, and she’s even recorded a few great songs with it.
July 29, 2017 @ 4:29 pm
Like Isbell’s music a little- great vocals, phrasing and writing.
Trump is a pompous, orange asshole who needs to be impeached. Trump and Christian is an oxymoron- how could one possibly be Christian and vote for this fucker amazes me. Even my evangelical church has few Trump supporters
July 29, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
Pretty much everyone I know voted for the current POTUS. Most of those are Christians. A lot less are Jason Isbell fans…just the natural pecking order I assume.
July 30, 2017 @ 7:48 am
Most of those are Christians. A lot less are Jason Isbell fans
Well, sure. Everybody has heard of Jesus.
July 29, 2017 @ 10:37 pm
I like country music and no country has not been the same for the last several years. (Nashville) Mainstream country is not the same anymore for the last 10 years.
July 29, 2017 @ 10:39 pm
I don’t mean Nashville but I mean today’s country music hasn’t been the same for the last 10 years.
July 30, 2017 @ 7:12 pm
Ok – everyone calling Trump names and stating how flabbergasted with everything that is wrong with world because he won, ought to consider the parallel universe that they could be experiencing right now if the other person won. How wonderful would it have been to have a woman president? Maybe country radio would be representing the other half of the population a little better if we had the first woman president in the office right now instead of the man.
I would’ve bet my right ear that Hillary would have won, convince we weren’t that crazy. I would be without my music listening ear right now if I had made that bet.
The problem was that Hill ran a clean and civilized election. No mud slinging – perhaps because of all the whining that goes along with how mean politics gets. It looks like she should have taken off the gloves and thrown the dirt clods. The Russian Wife – why wasn’t she accused of being a spy in the beginning. I know it’s harsh, but now Trump’s in office, it might have been worth it to start punching over the 5 bankruptcies, or drag out the Marla Maples incident again. Weird stuff all over the place that wasn’t rehashed, like everyone forgot. But I’m glad and more patriotic than ever. If he can win with all that, so can anyone. Used to say you can run, but you can’t win – now hell, anyone can win. It’s only 4-8 years. Time flies he has to get to moving. The best part of the whole show was him firing the FBI Director. The best! He’s president for 4 or 8 years get to moving on the change we need. I don’t want to know what’s on the otherside of the wall that he’s protecting us from. I’ve only seen Cabo. Heard some scorpion like behavior and minds can exist over there. Get that wall up and whatever else is needed. Get rid of health care put up neighborhood doctors offices and clinics. We don’t need to pay $30K if we break a bone, whether insurance pays for it or not. It’s stupid. Thank god, someone without political experience is leading America, makes great sense to me! Fire them all, start over, finally! 4 to 8 years is nothing, stop complaining, please. When was the last time you considered you could actually be the president? It’s the best country ever, it has to be protected. Build the wall. I love Cabo and San Jose they are allowed in, free pass. That’s all I want to know, please. thank you.
July 31, 2017 @ 12:47 pm
I don’t think someone like Isbell is the complete example of a fix to country music. I’d be a lot more into his stuff if it had stronger hooks and melodies along with the lyrics which he is great at. It doesn’t have to be pop, but to me it’s always about the whole package with a song…multiple components, not just 1 thing.
It’s good for country music because he’s not part of the incredible mainstream crap, but he’s halfway there to the really good stuff for me.
Plus, I’m starting to feel like he’s getting drunk on himself a bit after all this success. I really appreciate artists with a self-deflating head control on them. ; ) Stay humble, it goes a long way.
July 31, 2017 @ 1:41 pm
Just an observation but Jason Isbell has always reminded me of a Southern Baptist Youth Minister, both in appearance and in demeanor. (that is a good thing)
August 2, 2017 @ 12:49 am
Nice of Jason’s wife to give him his balls back for a few minutes.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:21 pm
I am near tears. For real. I just “tried” to watch a televised show entitled, loosely, 2017 Country Music Fest. After skipping through the first four songs, beginning with Sam Hunt and then… I don’t know. It’s all a hellish blur after that. I was shocked back into reality when I heard them announcing the performance of co-host Kelsie Ballawhatever and the announcer said Billboard Magazine had proclaimed her “the next Queen of Country Music”. I stopped the DVR and deleted the entire show. Maybe, just maybe, someone I really enjoy and respect was on later in the show, but I doubt it. Then I realized… We’re F*CKED.
September 23, 2019 @ 6:39 am
For the record, a person who is an Athiest simply lacks a belief in a God or Gods. “Nones”, those who don’t ascribe to any organized God belief, are ~ 25% of the U.S. population now. They are among us and fully capable of living wonderful lives without a belief in the supernatural. These folks, by virtue of being and Atheist, also lack a belief in Thor, Zeus, Muhammad, the god of the Mormans, The God of the 7th day Adventists, Hera, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Cronus, and all the other Gods ever made up over the years. Hypothetically, if Jason Isbell turns out to be an Atheist, i could care less. He has every right to believe or not believe what he wants. If he doesn’t believe in the Christian God or any other God, then he simply lacks a belief in one more God than those who do. My 2 cents.