5 songs in, and it's waaay stronger than Here We Rest (which I never got into).

Spotify

http://www.avclub.com/articles/jason-is ... ern,98806/
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/r ... s_greenman

He was also featured on All Things Considered. Check it out HERE.

Also, The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/magaz ... d=all&_r=0


Haven't heard it yet but am pretty stoked. Heard a couple of the new songs live a few weeks ago and they sounded great.

Maybe it's the media coverage this go 'round but this record release feels different. This may put him on a whole new level if the record is as good as people are saying.

File this under useless opinions based on one listen but I completely disagree. Nothing really grabbed me here and I think Here We Rest is fantastic. It was a real grower though so maybe this will be too.

I think living in Nashville now he's going to get a little bigger push. I'm friends with the guy who road manages Blackberry Smoke and used to road manage the Truckers and he's pretty sure Jason is on the precipice of Real Big things. Or as big as an artist like him can be.

"Super 8" sounds like it should be a Mike Cooley song.

love that track

I liked Here We Rest (particularly "Codeine") quite a bit, and this one's in the queue.

It feels disjointed

Maybe still in the afterglow of seeing him last Saturday but I now think this is his best work to date and a Top 5 record for me this year.

Not sure if it's him getting sober, falling in love, or what but his writing is razor sharp on this one.

"Super 8" feels tacked on though. Like, "guess I need a upbeat number to go with these love songs and slit your wrist songs".

Anybody else watch the live stream on You Tube last night of his Austin City Limits taping? I thought it was great, Air Played it up on the big screen, cranked up the speakers and had a little Monday night living room concert. Closed with a cover of "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'?"

Oh cool, didn't know about the album. Listening now.

That thing last night was a like a commercial for his Duesenberg guitar...a clinic in tearin' it up.

I'll try to catch it.

Not sure when it will actually air...this was the taping so they played about 90 minutes that will be edited for a future episode.

I should have recorded the audio *kicks self*

"Songs That She Sang In The Shower" is a slice of brilliance.

I'm starting to agree with Stu in that he may have now surpassed Hood/Cooley as refined songwriters.

I'm 3/4 of the way through it, and I can already tell (my radar is notoriously slow on this stuff, I take 400 listens to have any perspective) that this is a big leap. So far very very good.

I agree with that. That said, I still don't like this one as much as the last album but that's only based on a few listens. I need to revisit it.

Glad you remember your first Ryman show.

As you know, I'm with you on Super 8. It's a B-side to a single, not an album track.

Concur on Super 8. Album has a nice pace to it and a good cohesive sound. And then that song just sorta spills a drink in your lap.

Re: "Super 8" -- I think you guys are forgetting that this is someone who played in a band with PATTERSON HOOD aka Rock's Greatest Self Saboteur. It's in his DNA.

I'm actually relieved that "Super 8" is on the album. There's so much solemnity on this record that a Skynrd-y skank isn't a bad thing. Plus the lyrics are great--Who hasn't had a jealous boyfriend bust in your motel room with a Fungo bat.

I like Southeastern a lot, one of my favorites of 2013 but my two favorite song are rockier, "Stockholm" and "Flying Over Water"

I don't feel all that strongly about it, but who he's been in bands with has nothing to do with that song sticking out oddly in that album sequence. Why it's wierd is a different discussion. But it's wierd.

Saw Jason Isbell last week at a sold out show in a slightly bigger venue in town than he usually plays and I really dug it. If barely being able to see him in a venue where I can almost always get within 20 feet from the stage is any indication, he's on the verge of big things.

When the Boss name drops you as one of his favorite records of 2013, expect big things.