Jason Isbell kept up his pattern of releasing a new album every two years, dropping Something More Than Free in 2015. It was his second straight record without the 400 Unit backing him.
This album finds Isbell in the same sweet spot as Here We Rest and Southeastern. All of his releases are good to great, but these three form the Jason Isbell Holy Trinity.
Something More Than Free has a lighter touch than its predecessor. Now a few years sober, he seems more at peace than on Southeastern and the result is a buoyant album that still feels substantial.
This is a song cycle about working hard, building relationships, finding the bright side. It also finds Isbell looking back, writing poignantly about his mother on a couple of tracks.
Today’s SOTD finds him bemoaning the arrival of a woman from his past dredging up bad memories. The whole album feels like a statement from a man determined to live life better.
In the final track, ‘To a Band That I Loved,’ he sings the praises of a group he toured with when he was young. “And somehow you put down my fears on a page,” he sings, “when I still had nothing to say.” It’s a lovely reminiscence from a man who is doing the same for a growing fan base.
Give her space, give her speed
Give her anything she needs
Get her out of here
Give her weed, give her wine
Give her anything but time
Get her out of here
She won’t stop telling stories, and most of them are true
She knew me back before I fell for you
[Verse 2]
I was strained, I was sad, didn’t realize what I had
It was years ago
I was sick, I was scared, I was socially impaired
It was years ago
My past’s a scary movie, I watched and fell asleep
Now I’m dreaming up these creatures from the deep
[Chorus]
Teach me how to forget, replace the character set
Teach me how to unlearn a lesson
Teach me how to forget, cause I ain’t sorry just yet
Teach me how to unlearn a lesson
[Verse 3]
Have a seat, have a drink, tell the jury what you think
Was I good to you?
Was it hell, was it fun, did you think I was the one
Was I good to you?
Now that I found someone who makes me wanna live
Does that make my leaving harder to forgive?
[Chorus]
Teach me how to forget, replace the character set
Teach me how to unlearn a lesson
Teach me how to forget, cause I ain’t sorry just yet
Teach me how to unlearn a lesson
Teach me how to forget, replace the character set
Teach me how to unlearn a lesson
Teach me how to forget, cause I ain’t sorry just yet
Teach me how to unlearn a lesson
Meet Me In Montauk 
Another good one, though I think “Unlearn a Lesson” might have been a better title.
I haven’t listened to this album yet, though I’ve heard many of the tracks from it.
Still, in my short stint as a fan, I’ve realized that his songs are best appreciated in the context of the whole album, so this will be my next full listen.
If these three are the Holy Trinity, I’m very curious to learn where you place his newest album. Next week…
Spoiler: It’s in the bottom five. But that’s entirely due to how much I love the ones above it.