Apparently!
“It’s giving Goodnight Moon” was honestly kind of funny
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Dr. Suess who got into YA lit also made me chuckle
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They are gonna lose their shit when they hear True Believer (which i believe he is now playing in some settings).
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One of them said this is Amanda’s redemption era and Isbell would be opening for her. I think I’ll take their opinions with a mouthful of salt.
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I think Amanda is a good songwriter, an amazing fiddle player, and I love The Highwomen record. But she is not a good singer or performer — sorry, those are just facts — and so I don’t think this glow up they’re looking for is happening. It’s clear his meteoric rise bugged her on some level, and while he may be a dick and a bad husband (no idea, seems very possible) she is not on his level as an artist and I think that was probably his greatest sin in her eyes, ultimately. He betrayed their unspoken pack of being progressive-American middle class poets. Maybe he’s having a mid-life crisis. Shit happens. I hope they both make good art, but I honestly think I could give fuck all about her solo stuff going forward.
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I like Amanda, but don’t love her. I do think To the Sunset is really good and probably the best record she’ll ever make. “Swimmers” is a great song, for example. As a singer, she’s fine (in my best British sarcasm). I agree with you, though. Having seen her play solo sets at Newport Folk and opening for him at The Ryman, it’s obvious that she’s not on the same level.
Being a big fan and observer of both of them – granted, through the content they’ve allowed into the world – it feels like Isbell finally figured out who he wanted to be in his success, and that success probably made whatever insecurities she had that much more magnified. She seemed like a hard person to live with, but given how regimented Isbell probably became in his sobriety, he was probably just as difficult. Then again, I don’t really know either of them.
Albums are, for sure, mile markers in an artist’s career. The fact that Isbell is releasing literally a solo record is sort of an added metaphor to his post-divorce life. He’s on his own now, navigating. I’ll take your word for it that the rest of the album is as good as you say. Looking forward to hearing it.
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Seeing JI in a couple weeks at the Warner in DC. Knew the show was solo when I bought the tix and was hoping for a lot of the Southeastern material, not knowing that he had an acoustic album coming out. Looking forward to hearing the new record, as Southeastern is in my top 10 all time.
Amanda has never done much for me, but I will always appreciate that she was there to help JI get his life back on line. I have little doubt that he is a handful to deal with on a long-term basis.
@KVV on the off-chance you’re making the trek down for the Friday night show, I’d love to buy you a beer.
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I’m sure he’ll “shut up and play the hits,” to borrow a title from LCD Soundsystem. At least a few SE faves.
Live Oak would be a sick solo show song. Live Oak > Different Days would be super sick.
Here’s a thicc-er Isbell kicking off a solo performance with Different Days
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Will report back tomorrow night. Going to see his first US solo show.
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Song slaps
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New stuff is great as expected. Seeing him solo was even better than I could have imagined.
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Am I the only one picturing Wright Thompson on horseback handing it off?
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Relationships end, doesn’t necessarily mean either party is good or bad. Shit happens.
I think we can take solace in the great art their love story provided the inspiration for at the beginning, throughout, and also at the end.
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He’s lost like 80 pounds so this is more realistic that you imagine.
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Damn, good for him. For all of Wright’s work that I love, the first thing I always think about when he comes up is him saying on the NLU pod that he doesn’t actually golf much, and the last three courses he had played were Augusta, The Old Course, and like PV/Cypress/Pebble
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Another divorce banger/bang-her
His mani is looking fresh
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I can’t get into the new songs yet - the writing just isn’t there for me. I’ve loved everything he’s put out for 12+ years but these songs feel “off” so far. Curious to hear the rest of the record, though - I remain open to conversion
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Eileen is an early highlight on first listen.
And now Gravelweed. “I’m sorry all the love songs mean different things today” is very good.
Channeling John Prine in Don’t be tough.
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Started my day off with a listen of the new album and read this article
http://www.wsj.com/articles/WP-WSJ-0002442170?st=LnTjXH&reflink=article_copyURL_share
Been a longtime fan of Isbell ever since I saw him on Austin City Limits in 2013 (or 14). Southeastern is what made me a fan.
A few years ago, while separated from my ex wife I met someone and introduced her to Isbell, we’ve been to 7 shows since. You can’t tell our story without his music. I remember telling her that when I would hear “Cover Me Up” or “If We Were Vampires” I would wish I felt that way about someone. Turns out that someone is her.
I remember watching “Running With Out Eyes Closed” and we were both taken aback, so much so that we broke up a week later (mainly for other reasons). We got back together after a few painful weeks then went to a number of shows including 2 of the Ryman shows which were Amanda’s last run with him and the 400 Unit. We were also at the Radio City Music hall shown referenced in the article above.
No real point to this other than sharing how much his music has meant and does mean to me.
New album is tough, anyone who’s been through the end a marriage can probably relate to it. Gravelweed is a standout IMO.
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