Jason Isbell has quietly become one of the most reliable and talented singer-songwriters working today. For two decades, the native Alabaman has filtered his highs and lows through his distinctly southern perspective and set them to heart-tugging melodies.
His latest album, Foxes in the Snow, is his tenth. Every one of those solo studio releases is somewhere between great and excellent. If you’ve never heard him, start from the beginning and work your way through. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Given Isbell’s remarkable talent, and the fact that I’ve barely scratched the surface of his output on this blog, I’ve decided I’ll dedicate a deep dive to him in the coming months. Ten albums, two weeks, perfect.
With that in mind, I won’t get too far into this new album today, except to note that it is a fully acoustic effort — just him and a single guitar — and that it finds him contemplating his recent divorce from fellow musician Amanda Shires.
Today’s song is a moving confessional in which Isbell explores how his recovery from addiction and subsequent commercial success caused friction in their marriage.
I wish that I could be angry
Punch a hole in the wall
Drink a fifth of cheap whiskey
And call and call and call
[Verse 2]
But that ain’t me anymore, baby
Never was, to tell the truth
I just saw it in a movie and thought
That’s what I was supposed to do
[Chorus]
I was a gravelweed and I needed you to raise me
I’m sorry the day came when I felt like I was raised
And now that I live to see my melodies betray me
I’m sorry the love songs all mean different things today
[Verse 3]
I wish that I could be angry
I wish I didn’t understand
I said your skin was like water
And let you flow right through my hands
[Verse 4]
Is there a love that’s not crazy?
Is there a life that’s not a lie?
All I know is that I had to go
You know why, why, why
[Chorus]
I was a gravelweed and I needed you to raise me
And you couldn’t reach me once I felt like I was raised
And now that I live to see my melodies betray me
I’m sorry the love songs all mean different things today
[Chorus]
I was a gravelweed and I needed you to raise me
And you couldn’t reach me once I felt like I was raised
And now that I live to see my melodies betray me
I’m sorry the love songs all mean different things today
Meet Me In Montauk 
I didn’t know he’d been making music for decades, as he really only recently came onto my radar. I know that Daniel is a big fan and he has hooked Amy in. I suppose I need to get on the bandwagon. Seems like a two week deep dive is a great way to become initiated, so I look forward to that.
I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve heard from Jason Isbell! Very excited for the deep dive 🙂
I’m so excited for an upcoming deep dive.
This track is a perfect demonstration of everything about Isabell’s songwriting and delivery that immediately enraptured me when I first heard this album a couple of months ago.
Just listen to that chorus… gorgeous and heartbreaking. I am such a fan. Who’s joining me at the Ryman in Nashville this fall?
I absolutely can’t wait for the deep dive! Jason Isbell got on my radar as I’m sure he did a lot of people’s with “If We Were Vampires” back in 2017. That absolutely gorgeous ode to love with its delicate fingerpicking and heart-aching lyrics captivated me and brought me into his world. From there I picked up ‘The Nashville Sound’, on that album “Last of My Kind” became a new favorite. I’ve been following his sound since then and was so taken aback when I heard he had gone through divorce since as you said Amanda Shires seemed to be an integral part of his musical journey.
But, like all divorces for great singer-songwriters it turned into a fantastic album! I’ve had tracks like “Ride to Robert’s” and “Good While It Lasted” on repeat since its release. His acoustic playing is out of this world and, of course, his ability to turn a phrase is exceptional. Can’t wait for the full deep dive!