Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Reunions (May 15, 2020) Album • Page 18

Side A of Here We Rest is as good as anything he's done since

 

I think it might be better than SMTF and SE both, honestly. But they’re all basically perfect records so it’s hard to quibble with any ranking, I think.

 

I honestly like Here We Rest as much as the albums considered classics by everyone. For me, Isbell became ISBELL on that album, not Southeastern.

Also, the Magician, Dress Blues, and the Blue are all as good as anything he’s ever written (and are on his first two albums).

 

eh, i’ll give it to dress blues but that’s about it

 

Facts. Second half is good too, but it definitely falls off a bit.

 

The Magician!

 

I agree that that record is where his solo career truly hit its stride but my dude burst onto the scene locked and loaded from the opening chords of "Outfit" if you ask me

Yeah it's hard to come up with a better stretch of songs than those five on any record though to be fair

 

Where is David Crosby on this? I haven't processed it enough to notice.

 

I would also add that I love me some If It takes a Lifetime. A few pages back somebody was not a fan. Whooooo that is maybe a top 15 Isbell song for me.

top 15 would be hard. Especially if you include his DBT songs.

 

backing vocals on the opener

 

I think he’s also singing a faint harmony part on “Only Children”

 

I've not spent much time with his first 3 albums. I've been trying to change that this week, but I just keep going back to Reunions. It's so good.

Spinning Here We Rest this morning though, and you guys were right about this first set of songs. Just a perfect stretch.

 

This might sound kinda weird but “What’ve I Done to Help” reminds me of “I Shot the Sheriff.” It’s kinda of like reggae-ish? In the way the rhythm section stays going but the song flips b/w these A/B parts, repetitive chorus/melodic verse.

I know people say it’s too long but there’s something about it that kind of puts me in a trance.

 

I dunno about reaggae-ish but it's got a groove to it for sure, and it definitely is a little hypnotic in a good way

 

Happy Decoration Day y'all

 

I didn’t realize St Peter’s Autograph is about Neal Casal, but that makes a lot of sense. Sad stuff.

 

Holy shit

 

wait. so it debuted +100, went to 9 last week, and is now #1?

 

I think it was at 149 based on the indie record store sales, then jumped to number 9 overall. This is probably just pure album sales. Future topped the actual Billboard 200.

 

Still awesome though!

 

Yeah that's the chart that doesn't have streaming included I think

 

My dude has come a long way since Here We Rest regardless. Always happily surprised at how many people love his music these days every time he puts out a new record

 

Does your heart rest easy where you are?
And do they treat you like a star?
Or do they call you "refugee"
From overseas?

I can't stop thinking about this line.

 

bodied.