This is the third time in a row that we are welcoming Jason Isbell's new album in the middle of the uneven year. This tradition was initiated with Southeastern in 2013, continued with Something More Than Free in 2015, and this year we are getting Nashville Sound. If all that I have said so far raises a doubt in you that Isbell is falling into routine - your skepticism is justified.
From all of the mentioned records, Nashville Sound leaves the weakest impression. That does not mean it's bad, rather that the songs as Anxiety (this vocal melody is not the most original in the world) and White Man's World (resembles a similarly titled song by Michael Kiwanuka and not in a good way) would not be chosen for the final songlist on the predecessors. And this is a huge problem for Isbell. To someone else, these would be a pinnacle, but to super talented Jason Isbell they come as a let down. On Nashville Sound, these songs are only fillers. With that being said, there are some great tunes to be found here.
Isbell is a top-notch artist and a troubadour. He is also a soft flower who wouldn't accept my criticism very well, so I will be gentle and talk about his talents as well. Lyrics are still pretty dope, even when you are just reading them. This is a true band record where everyone plays and feels, so it makes sense that both Isbell and supporting collective The 400 Unit are signing it (the name of the band is a reference to one psychiatric institution). Backup vocals are discreet and convincing. Producer David Cobb gave musicians enough space to spread their wings and that worked in their advantage.
Standard country rock plays while Isbell moans like a real country singer. The 400 Unit play like they are a grunge band, which is primarily to be felt on Springsteen-like Cumberland Gap, the best track on the album. Other standouts include Tupelo and a song that unites love and fear of death titled If We Were Vampires. The later on sounds like a message parents left to their children and it's quite impressive how something like that can be turned into melody and lyrics. Isbell sounds less convincing in socio-political context, but he is equally brilliant in acoustic and rock jams.
It will still be interested to follow Isbell, maybe less religiously than until now, but I am confident he still has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
