Graham Reid | | <1 min read
Jason Isbell: Children of Children
When he left country-rockers Drive-By Truckers in 07, songwriter Isbell was damaged by alcohol and a painful separation, but since then has steadily built a platform as a literate, heartfelt songwriter whose albums have penetrating narratives alongside nakedly soul-baring lyrics and aching songs about hard truths like cancer, abuse, family or a friend killed in Iraq.
Like some country-raised Paul Simon, Isbell can command a memorable phrase which resonates and marry it to a melody that sticks.
His previous album Southeastern was inspired by sobriety and his new love Amanda Shires (fiddle player in his band), this excellent outing finds him in a state of settled unease, he's in a safer place but acknowledges the uncertainties of this world (the pull of alcoholism), especially now that he's married and a father.
If that sounds drearily domestic it isn't.
These songs sear or soar (the epic Children of Children managing both), that unease is at heart of things (“Are you living the life you chose, or are you living the life that chose you?”), Speed Trap Town finds a damaged man desperate to escape his past . . .
His best yet.
There is an in-depth interview from 2014 with Jason Isbell here.
Loretta Bush - Aug 4, 2015
Will have to get his new album. Didn't know about it until reading it here, so thanks. Love his other ones, and have seem him play a couple of times. Really excellent.
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