458. Jason Isbell, "Southeastern"

 


Everybody's getting sober! Well, not me. But Jason Isbell is! Or was, right before he made this album. After flaming out of the Drive-By Truckers for drinking too much and then putting out a couple of mostly forgettable solo albums, Jason went into rehab (encouraged, it is said, by none other than Ryan Adams, who has since developed his own problems that we might address later if, as I suspect, one or more of his records lands on our list) and came out sober and ready to record this striking, powerful album

Isbell worked with producer Dave Cobb who was then mostly unknown but who has gone on to become the hot producer du jour due to his work with artists like Sturgill Simpson, Ashley Monroe, and especially Chris Stapleton.  Cobb is an expert at getting to the heart of a song, and a lot of the songs on this album are pure and honest and stripped of any ornamentation or pretention.

"Cover Me Up," the opener, has become so well-known that now it gets covered by better-known artists (Morgan Wallen cover - 25 M views; Jason original - 2 M). But for my money, the real standout on the album is "Elephant," a heartbreaking tale of watching someone you're close to die of cancer. 

Jason also has a vibrant Twitter presence and isn't shy about talking about his sobriety and his alcohol-sodden past.  He's a good follow.  Remember the "40 feral hogs" thing a couple of years ago?  That got started on his Twitter feed. He seems like a solid dude.

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