Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound (June 16, 2017) Album • Page 20

My favorites are "Last of my Kind", "Cumberland Gap", and "Something to Love" right now.

 

is it weird that Chaos and Clothes is my favorite? it definitely is.

 

Yep. That's weird. ;)

 

I like this less than the last two so far, but it's early.

I'm not sure I like "Last of My Kind" as the opener--the song is fine, but it feels more like mid-record material to me, and overall I think it's one of the weaker tracks here. I probably would've put "Hope the High Road" in that spot, if it were me.

Things don't really kick into gear for me until "Tupelo," but from then on it's all pretty great. I'm hoping I come around a bit on the opening tracks.

 

yeah this isnt immediate to me, and i find myself not really wanting to spin it back to back, but i was the same way with southeastern. Im sure itll grow, ive liked it more each time ive listened.

 

100% agree.

 

"High Road" is perfect where it is, y'all are crazy

 

Genuinely think putting "Hope the High Road" as the opener would be a terrible idea. The whole point of the song is that it's the uplift after a dark journey.

 

Well, these ARE first impressions, guys.

 

I think the only other option for the opener is "Cumberland Gap," but I kind of like that kicking in after the slow-burn opening more than I would like it if those two tracks were reversed.

 

I'm just not particularly taken with either song so far, but maybe with time...

 

I will say that this record doesn't really strike me as a "journey" or an album with any real thematic coherence to it so far. Maybe that will reveal itself after a few more passes, but to me it feels less connected than Southeastern.

 

"Chaos and Clothes" is probably my favorite, weirdly enough.

 

I think it's more thematic and cohesive than Southeastern, but I think Southeastern has a stronger set of songs.

 

I don't have a problem with "Last of My Kind" as an opener per se, but the whole beginning of the album doesn't flow well to me even though I like all the songs. It's the sequencing of "Last of My Kind" - "Cumberland Gap" - "Tupelo" that throws off the flow to me.

This is a phenomenal collection of songs, but I kinda wish there was one of two more heavy hitters on here where the band really cuts loose. I've been consistently blasting "Cumberland Gap" and "Hope The High Road" in the car on my way to and from work even though I would have said I liked other songs on here much more if you asked me.

 

The feeling I keep having is that I'm starting the album a quarter of the way through. Like I missed a few songs. I don't think the sequencing works well at all.

 

When I listen to the album in the car, I like to feel like Last of My Kind is the final song and Cumberland Gap is the first.

 

It is kind of interesting that he starts with 3 songs that are clearly character stories and then tracks 4-10 are all very personal tracks ("Chaos and Clothes" isn't necessarily about him but he seems to be the narrator of the song speaking to a friend, most likely Ryan Adams). But I think thematically it still flows pretty nicely. All three of the "characters" in those first 3 tracks are dealing with a discomfort with their surroundings, and that is what he's dealing with on the personal tracks that make up the rest of the album. Then the last two songs are like a bittersweet ending: he has his doubts about the world around him but he's hopeful that his daughter will still have the life she wants.

 

I think the flow of this record is kind of out of whack in general, after listening again. He did the DBT thing where he tried to pair songs together that have thematic ties, which I like in concept, but the problem is that they don't always mesh well musically.

 

I definitely like this album more than SMTF

 

I wouldn't touch the tracklist.

 

Preach

 

Isbell was on Colbert last night.

 

Opened a new tab and forgot I was listening to a live track until the solo kicked in, damn they sound GREAT.

 

Loved the interview last night. First time I could stand listening to Trevor Noah as well!