One Jason ISBELL, country singer from Red Alabama, "Jesus wouldn't have voted for" SHITLER

[UTUSN]

He was featured on Lawrence's show, turned my head with his level headed Democratic talking, honeybadger attitude about alienating wingnut ex-fans, especially on the point that his influences in music didn't hold back about their political/social convictions for the sake of audiences.

**********QUOTE********

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/29/jason-isbell-interview-live-from-ryman-trump

Jason Isbell: 'Jesus would not have voted for Donald Trump'

.... But some of Isbell’s fans were not so happy to see this white southern man – he was brought up in deep red Republican Alabama – outing himself as a Democrat last year by stumping for surprise winner Doug Jones in his Senate race against Roy Moore, the Republican accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls. ....

As campaigning for November’s midterm elections gathered pace, Isbell was recently branded part of the “unhinged left” by the Republican party after playing at a rally in support of Phil Bredesen, a Democratic candidate hoping to win a tight Senate race in Tennessee. ....

Yet for those who have been paying attention, Isbell’s work grew notably more political after Trump won in 2016, and after becoming the father of a little girl.

Hope the High Road, with its “There can’t be more of them than us” rallying cry, is a candidate for the best protest song of the Trump moment – pissed off without being too obvious – a call, as he puts it, “to fight as hard as you can possibly fight, without losing your dignity”. ....

***********UNQUOTE*********

[Cha]

1. KR!

[lunasun]

2. There are a lot of good protest songs and comments being made at concerts but yes this is a greatone

https://m.

[ProudLib72]

8. KnR for the vid

I usually eschew country music, but now I'm glad I listened to this.

[zooks]

43. If you like this then you have got to watch Some Humans Aint Humans

John Prine song. You Tube by Professor MacPhisto. You'll be hopping!

[ProudLib72]

44. I wouldn't call it "hopping", but it was good!

[Judi Lynn]

17. Never heard of this man 'til tonight.This's a big surprise to hear from a country singer.Thanks.n/t

[Grassy Knoll]

3. He Said He Wasn't Speaking For Jesus..

..But According To The Good Book, Sure To Piss Off The Fundies.

[Hoyt]

4. I know a GOPer who is a huge Isbell fan, like traveling far to see him.

Wonder what he thinks?

[Roland99]

5. Wouldn't call him country. Americana? Roots rock?

[sweetloukillbot]

7. He's been slowly moving closer to country

His Drive-By Truckers stuff was straight southern rock, but I wouldn't argue with some of his newer stuff being called country.

[blitzen]

13. It's country...Real country...Call it Outlaw if you want...

There is tons of it, mostly leftists, Austin is ground zero but plenty of great stuff coming out of Nashville and elsewhere. I am (not meaning to boast) pretty much a walking encyclopedia of the history of country music, and a practitioner myself. There is currently more great country than ever. If you want to hear, for instance, the Drive-By Truckers (Jason Isbell's band before he went solo), you'll find them on Sirius Outlaw Country (Channel 60). Sure, there are about 37 subgenres of Country (Alt-Country, Americana, Stoner Country, and more traditional subgenres like Trucker, Western Swing, Country Rock, Hard Country, Swamp Rock--RIP, Tony Joe White, who died today). Lots of genre-bending (Daniel Romano) and highly literate songwriting (James McMurtry, Robbie Fulks, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Steve Earle), hippies like Todd Snider, sublime mystics like Jimmie Dale Gilmore....well, the list could go on and on and on--but it's all country. Was Gram Parsons (the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, then solo, and hanging out with the Rolling Stones in France--not a healthy choice for him--when they were recording Exile on Main Street) country? Of course he was. Was Michael Nesmith (the musical genius of the Monkees--whose mom, incidentally, invented Liquid Paper) country when he recorded three of the greatest ever country rock albums in the early 70s? Yes, of course. Is Chip Taylor, who wrote "Wild Thing," got rich, spent decades as a legendarily successful horseracing handicapper (brother of Jon Voight and uncle of Angelina Jolie), returned to making music in Austin in the early 2000s (two incredible albums with Carrie Rodriguez) and still, aged 78, is cranking out album after album of the most moving, quiet, self-reflective music that you can imagine, Country? Yes. Is Terry Allen, acclaimed sculptor and one of the most cynically ironic hilarious bastards in the history of the world, country? Yes. Lucinda Williams?


Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm ranting. It's just that the superficial and truly abominable crappy pop confection known as "Country Music" that bears no relation to the transcendentally brilliant real country that thrives now more than ever should not have a monopoly on the name "country"--and so great artists such as Jason Isbell should be encouraged to reclaim that name.

[mr_lebowski]

14. I love this post, man ...

Not ranting to me ... so many peeps I love in this post ... I know every word to Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

But I'd rather call 'em all Americana or Alt-Country, as opposed to just 'Country'. Sorry

I saw Jason on Southeastern tour, 2 months after album came out, stood 5 feet away from him at a very small club in Phoenix, for 25 bucks ... it was total hero worship for me ... singing along to every song ... he threw his pick at the end straight at me and my wife ... she still has it ... seen Steve a few times (first time on Copperhead Road), even have a signed copy of Jerusalem from when he played at Amoeba Records on Haight Street (near Ashbury) in 2001 ...

This post really is only missing 'Uncle Tupelo' and 'Lyle Lovett' (edit: Oh, and Townes)

[Roland99]

24. That's why I was saying I wouldn't consider him country.

Take any “country music” “artist” today. You could swap any backing band for another and they’d all still sound the same. Don’t write their own songs. Rip off pop or rock songs constantly. Over produced, cliched bs is what it all is today

[Docreed2003]

29. Preach!!! Love this post so much!

[sweetloukillbot]

6. Jason's music has kept me going

He's frank, funny and one of the best songwriters out there. The Nashville Sound is nakedly political and it's amusing that his right-wing fans never noticed.
He also suffers no fools on Twitter.
He had my favorite tweet when Doug Jones won in Alabama - paraphrasing him,"Roll Tide. War Eagle. And Thank God."

And "Hope The High Road" is the best expression of my life under Trump that I've seen:
"I used to think that this was my town
What a stupid thing to think
I hear you're fighting off a breakdown
I myself am on the brink
I used to want to be a real man
I don't know what that even means
Now I just want you in my arms again
And we can search each other's dreams

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again

I've heard enough of the white man's blues
I've sang enough about myself
So if you're looking for some bad news
You can find it somewhere else
Last year was a son of a bitch
For nearly everyone we know
But I ain't fighting with you down in the ditch
I'll meet you up here on the road

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again
To a world you want to live in

We'll ride the ship down
Dumping buckets overboard
There can't be more of them than us
There can't be more

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again
To a world you want to live in"

[mr_lebowski]

22. I love the lyrics of that song ... but ... there's always been something just a little jarring about

that song to me ... like the lyrics and melody were meant for different music, and that the two were sorta shoved together at the last minute. I want to love the overall song ... more than I do, put it like that.

Sadly I feel that way about a number of songs on Nashville Sound ... after digesting it for awhile, the only tracks I REALLY LOVE ... are the opener, and Tupelo (which is the kinda perfection I suppose I hope for everytime from Jason lol). And the Vampire song is great, too ... but everything else ranges from 'good' to 'really good' ... which after the previous two records which had Zero songs < 'really good' ... was a little disappointing to me. Felt Nashville was a slight step back (albeit from an outrageously high standard) ... kinda like Jerusalem was after the mindblowingly good five Steve Earle records that came before ...

I hope the next record is a rebound, TBH. And not I'm craving a 'The Revolution Starts Now' kinda record out of Jason.

Though I DO LOVE THAT SONG lol ...

[Docreed2003]

28. I felt the same way about "Nashville Sound" initially

But the last year I've changed my mind considerably. As they have gelled on the songs and perfected the arrangements on tour, I grown to love the album.

I've seen him twice so far this week here in Nashville, both nights had completely different feels with Tuesday being blow your hair back southern rock ending with a Hendrix cover and Wed night feeling much more laid back Americana. It's been almost exactly a year since I saw them here and they've clearly settled into the tracks on the new album.

FYI, I felt exactly the "jarring" of some of the tracks, and I think that's intentional.

[mr_lebowski]

34. I've enjoyed the live versions of the songs I've heard ...

I'll give it a few more spins on your rec, it's been a bit now since I listened to it ...

In any case it's Jason, so ... better than 95% of anything out there ...

BTW ... LUCKY!!! Twice in a week!?!

[Docreed2003]

35. Yeah, we live in the Nashville area

So it's easy to catch him when they play here. We're fortunate enough to have connections to getting tickets.

The newest "Live at the Ryman" release is a great collection from last years Ryman shows.

[mr_lebowski]

38. Oh I've watched it ... a few times ;)

Keep on keepin' on Doc

[Docreed2003]

39. So it's actually a live album bro...

Taking songs from each of the five nights he played there last Oct. You'll love it

[mr_lebowski]

40. I've definitely watched a 'Live at The Ryman' video of Jason ...

Maybe a different show/tour than you meant though

Edit: This One ...

Takes a bit to start ...

[Docreed2003]

41. Yeah that's the show from 10/13/17

They actually live-streamed that show. The album just came out last week and it takes selections from all of the nights from that residency. If you're into vinyl the wax is orange.

[sweetloukillbot]

45. I can see that

Most of it is unconventionally syncopated. And it did take me a few spins to really wrap my head around it. It's not as good as Southeastern, which I think is his masterpiece, but it is the right album for now.

[fishwax]

9. He's great. His work has pretty much always had political subtext, but it became much more overt on

his most recent record, Nashville Sound, which came out last year. He's said that the disappointment over the 2016 election and developments that followed made him feel the need to be a bit more direct in his music.

White Man's World is an example:

[Norbert]

11. This is one of my favorite songs on the entire album

I understand it all too well growing up.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Very evolved "country music." He has a conscience. His voice reminds me of Neil Young on this song.

Have never heard a country song with such depth.

Thank you.

[redstateblues]

10. Isbell has never bowed down to corporate radio, but he can sell out the Opry House here in

Nashville three nights in a row, something a lot of country artists with radio hits can’t do. He’s the real deal. One of the greatest lyricists in the country.

[Docreed2003]

26. FYI...

He'll have a total of six sold out shows at the Ryman this week..the only reason it's not six in a row is because last night was "Country Classics" at the Ryman.

I agree whole heartedly that he's one of the best lyricists in any genre today...

[Norbert]

12. Saw him & the 400 Unit last Summer.

He can flat out put on a show. I only wish the fiddle player was touring with them but she has her own gig going.

[mr_lebowski]

15. I'm neutral on whether Mrs. Isbell is there or not ... I like if she is ... and I like if she isn't

She opened for him when I saw him on the Southeastern Tour, then joined for a number of songs during his show.

Certain rocking songs of his, I actually kinda prefer w/o the fiddle, but then it's key for certain songs ... Cover Me Up could never feel quite the same w/o her there ...

[Norbert]

23. One song, If We Were Vampires

I wish she was there for that. But the song was done superbly anyway.

[Docreed2003]

27. Amanda is a phenomenal artist in her own right

During part of the summer, she was on tour promoting her new album. I love when she she plays with him in concert, because his interactions with her on stage bring out the passion in his songs.

[Judi Lynn]

16. I saw him, too. Unexpectedly very impressive. Thank you, so much, for this thread. n/t

[mr_lebowski]

19. The Most GodHead Isbell Show was House of Blues Boston ... it's frickin' incredible ...

Last edited Fri Oct 26, 2018, 04:09 AM - Edit history (1)

It maybe takes a LITTLE bit to catch fire, but not long ... Decoration Day really gets it going ... and then from Never Gonna Change (and KILLER follow-ups Cover Me Up and Children Of Children) onward is just ... phenomenal ... love, love, love this show ...

If you're a Jason fan and you've not watched ... you've seriously missed out ... SO SO SO GOOD.

I dunno what it is about the song Alabama Pines, but singin' along ... almost always makes my eyes well up ...

[sweetloukillbot]

46. Love that Palmetto Rose opener...

[mr_lebowski]

49. 'Tis indeed great ... (nt)

[blitzen]

20. I have a feeling y'all might like this one..."We Can't Make it Here Anymore"

James McMurtry, son of Lonesome Dove author Larry M...His most overtly political song.

[mr_lebowski]

21. I, for one, most definitely do ... never heard that (though, I sorta have, if you know what I mean)

Insofar as the 'melody' ... is extremely reminiscent of ... earlier songs ... but ... I like what he did with it ... and I like the Steve Earle & the Dukes tone of the band ... Good stuff, thx for sharing!

[Roland99]

25. Love that song!

[Docreed2003]

30. I have a totally biased opinion

But I can't say enough great things about Isbell and his music. But, like I said, I'm totally biased...I've seen him two nights this week and was on the front row at the Bredesen rally, lol.

[backtoblue]

33. How is his dad?

I used to clean house for his dad here in Arkansas. He was in pretty bad health, but I haven't heard from them in a while.

[Docreed2003]

42. So to clarify my post a bit...

Isbell and the 400 Unit are playing six shows at the Ryman Auditorium here in Nashville this week. So, although I did interact briefly with him one of the nights, when I said I saw him twice this week, I meant in concert. As far as I know, his father is doing well.

[peekaloo]

31. formerly of the Drive By Truckers

he's been putting out great music for years.

not afraid to speak his mind.

[mr_lebowski]

36. First song I heard by Jason was Goddamn Lonely Love from one of the DBT albums

A friend who knew I loved Americana turned me onto it (an ex-GF actually) and I fell in love with DBT & after I listened to a couple of their albums that day I quickly determined there was three singers ... and Jason's songs were ... pretty much the one's I liked best.

I still don't think Jason's wrote a BETTER song than that first one I heard, but he's got plenty that are equally good. But GDLL will always be special to me. I can sing and play a decent cover of it, too

[peekaloo]

37. Yes!

He's had issues in the past yet has rebounded beautifully.



I'm lucky to have a community sponsored radio station in my area which regularly feature both DBT and Mr. Isbell. Most people that I talk to have absolutely no idea about either. Their loss.

[sweetloukillbot]

47. I love DBT but they were extra special when he was with them

The 10 or so songs he wrote for them are among their best. And that's saying something because Patterson Hood is a DAMN good songwriter as well. Cooley aint too bad either...

[mr_lebowski]

48. Agreed :)

Cooley's Zip City was another early fave of mine ... in particular I always loved this verse ... takes me back to my teenage heartbreakin' days lol ...

Maybe it's the twenty-six mile drive from Zip City to Colbert Heights
Keeps my mind clean, gets me through the night
Maybe you're just a destination, a place for me to go
A way to keep from having to deal with my seventeen-year-old mind all alone
So keep your drawers on, girl, it ain't worth the fight
By the time you drop 'em I'll be gone
And you'll be right where they fall
... the rest of your life

[sweetloukillbot]

50. Cottonseed has always been my favorite from Cooley

I’ll agree on Goddamn Lonely Love from Isbell, although Decoration Day, Danko/Manuel and TVA are strong contenders as well.
Goddamn “The Dirty South” is an amazing album.

[backtoblue]

32. K&R nt

[struggle4progress]

51. Something more than free

When I get home from work I'll call up all my friends
and we'll go bust up something beautiful we'll have to build again ...

When I get my reward, my work will all be done
and I will sit back in my chair beside the Father and the Son:
no more holes to fill and no more rocks to break
and no more loading boxes onto trucks for someone else's sake ...