Jason Isbell’s most recent album, released earlier this year, is a solo acoustic effort recorded in the aftermath of his divorce from Amanda Shires and a new romance with Canadian artist Anna Weyant.
Like so many heartbroken artists before him, Isbell turned his breakup into meaningful, melancholy art. Even the songs about new love, like today’s SOTD, are tinged with sadness. He knows that some of his greatest love songs were written about a romance that didn’t last.
The “guy in a room with his guitar” set-up calls to mind Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, but the works this one reminds me of the most are the pair of traditional folk cover albums Bob Dylan released in the early 90s (Good As I Been To You and World Gone Wrong). For me, Isbell’s acoustic guitar playing and the simple song structures put this album very much in conversation with those.
Now it’s time for my ranking of every album in the deep dive. This one started easy then got very hard. I knew the top three and the bottom three right out of the gate, but finding the right order for numbers four through seven was a chore.
The important thing is that every one of these records is a gem. Start at the top, the bottom, or somewhere in between… I guarantee you’ll be rewarded.
1. Here We Rest
2. Southeastern
3. Something More Than Free
4. Reunions
5. Weathervanes
6. The Nashville Sound
7. Foxes in the Snow
8. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
9. Sirens of the Ditch
10. Georgia Blue
Everything’s green right now
Tennessee at the end of June
You get a day to come down
We’ll ride to Robert’s in the afternoonBefore the room gets packed
We’ll claim a table at the upstairs bar
And count the cowboy hats
And bachelorettes that don’t know where they are
[Chorus]
And I don’t say things that I don’t mean
And you’re the best thing I’ve ever seen
You can have my money if you spend your own
Well, I’m still running but I’m not alone
[Verse 2]
We all get lost out here
The deepest ditches line the righteous path
God said, “hold my beer”
And He made a man so He could watch and laugh
But everything’s good these days
We’ll ride to Robert’s on a Friday night
And hear Don Kelley play
And I’ll catch you dreamin’ in the neon light
[Chorus]
‘Cause I don’t say things that I don’t mean
And you’re the best thing I’ve ever seen
You can have my closet and my herringbone
Well, I ain’t lost yet, I’m headed home
[Verse 3]
Everything’s green right now
Tennessee’s looking after you
You get a year to come down
And I’ll put an easel in the empty room
And you can dream all day
We’ll ride to Robert’s when we crave a steel
We’ll find some peace that way
And give your heart a little time to heal
[Chorus]
And I don’t say things that I don’t mean
And you’re the best thing I’ve ever seen
You can have my closet for your fancy shoes
Well, I ain’t lost yet, so much to lose
Meet Me In Montauk 
This is the album Amy fell in love with – her entry point to Isbell’s music and the inspiration for our upcoming pilgrimage to Nashville. I’ve heard about half of the album so far, and today’s song in particular quite a few times, including on our car ride from Cracker Barrell just yesterday.
This is a great song, and I’m enjoying the rest of the album and the samplings of his other albums. I’m looking forward to becoming more familiar with Isbell’s discography.
Thanks for the deep dive!
I can attest to the truth of your advice. My “gateway album” is your #7, so it is no surprise it is at the top of my still developing list.
We will certainly spend some time at Robert’s on this Nashville trip.
Still, in the months since first falling in love with today’s album, I’ve found myself utterly taken with several others, especially those in your top tier.
Such a special artist – thank you for the deep dive!
wonderful deep dive 👏👏