Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Weathervanes (June 9, 2023) Album • Page 11

I really came around on how "Be Afraid" sounds. There's a creeping sense of dread to that song that really falls away on that big, glorious pop chorus.

Of all the songs I was less sold on from Isbell's last 10 years, "To a Band I Loved" is the one that never really grew on me. I just think it's a pretty melodically inert song that ends that album on complete whimper. I often just skip that song and end it with "Palmetto Rose," which I agree is a masterwork, but don't think really works as a closer. That album ends up feeling a little incomplete to me as a result.

Comparatively, I absolutely adore the songs about his daughter that end The Nashville Sound and Reunions. Just perfect country songs. Neither is "Relatively Easy," but that's honestly probably a top 15-20 all-time closing track for me at this point.

 

same here. Amazed to see people putting Reunions so high. My least fave of the post-Southeastern albums. To me Nashville Sound is much better!

 

Reunions for me has like five or six perfect songs, and I resonate so deeply with the themes he was exploring. Also a total "got me through some real bad times during COVID" album. Huge fan of The Nashville Sound too (was my album of the year in 2017, and Reunions was not my album of the year in 2020), but I definitely prefer the latter.

(As far as my music writing goes, I also think my Reunions review is maybe the best thing I've ever written.)

 

dreamsicle, only children, overseas (one of his best), running with our eyes closed, st. peter's autograph, it gets easier and letting you go are all great great songs

 

king

 

Yeah tracks 2-6 of Reunions are all at least 4.5/5 star songs and a couple (Only Children, Overseas) are on the shortlist of his best. Like a very very short list with only Relatively Easy, Cover Me Up, and 1-2 DBT songs also in that echelon. (Although I’m about ready to put When We Were Close and Cast Iron Skillet alongside them)

 

I'm gonna have to go listen to "Be Afraid" later today with this in mind. I've never thought it was a bad song or anything like that, I've just never loved it as much as some of the other songs on the album. I've grown to like "To A Band That I Loved" a little more over the years, but it is far and away my least favorite song on that album too, which is kind of a bummer of a way to end such a strong album.

 

I think I just like it better an album track than as a lead single. I understand why it was the single, but I think it works really well pretty deep into the album as a big, dark anthem. I also just really love the "You're making a choice to sing a cover when we need a battle cry" line.

 

The only song I would consider skipping on here is 'Middle of the Morning' - Strays too close to 'Free Fallin' for me

 

christ

 

1. No it does not
2. Free Fallin rules

 

There's a whole shitload of Tom Petty on this album, and that is not a complaint in the slightest.

 

imagine a comparison to one of the greatest artists of all time being a bad thing, i cannot

 

Some sensitive souls in here!

Sorry for mentioning the slightest thing which personally irks me about this otherwise great album

 

Your take didn’t bother me, I just wanted to take the opportunity to praise Tom Petty/the clear Petty influence here.

 

It definitely is noticeable in that song in a way that I think must have been intentional, so it doesn't bother me, kind of felt like it was a cool easter egg type thing when I heard it.

 

“Middle of the Morning” does not sound like “Free Fallin” what are y’all on

 

It's the vocal inflection he does in the verses that sound like the chorus to Free Fallin

 

I don’t hear much “Free Fallin’” in that song either. I do hear a lot of Damn the Torpedos in “When We Were Close” though.

 

I'm not even going to mention what that song reminds me of!

 

“Wildflowers” clearly

 

What, holding a note?

 

Okay I am finished being an ass, we all love this record and can talk about that ha

speaking of:

there’s one at least (not surprised at all) @phaynes12

 

didn't he get essentially a replica of the redeye made? i feel like he says that in a rig rundown or something somewhere but i also might just be making it up. i wouldn't take that joker out of my house ever lol