Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Reunions (May 15, 2020) Album • Page 2

didnt see it posted but a few pre-0rder options here. The red vinyl is nice lookin'

 

New song up. Not big on this one, so repetitive.

 

It's fine, definitely too repetitive and too long even though I like how the instrumentals build. Still waiting for a song from this to blow me away.

 

I'd like if it were like 3 and a half minutes shorter. What a bizzare choice for an opener.

 

This sounds like it'll rip live

 

Production's interesting. He's really pushing most of the instruments back on both of these songs.

 

Really weird as an opener yea. Reminds me a lot of Anxiety.

 

really hoping the June 5th show in NYC doesn't sell out before my tax return blesses me, really want to go to that.

 

My expectations for this album have officially been downgraded. I think both of these songs are weaker than just about everything off the last three albums. He just seems in a really repetitive lyrical mode, and his political commentary seems weirdly self-conscious, not something I ever would have said about him in the past. This song is a truly bizarre choice for an opener, and I really think it was time to move on from Dave Cobb. Feel like the producer should have told him this should be half as long as it is.

 

I get what he's going for...kind of a Sly & the Family Stone/What's Going On-era Marvin Gaye hypnotic groove. I just wish the song had more meat to it lyrically.

 

I liked this song a lot better on second listen, knowing more of what to expect and what the song is trying to do. The verses and the progression of the narrative are really interesting. I still wish the refrain had a bit more punch, but I’m definitely feeling better about it.

 

I’ve found myself feeling this way about most Isbell songs. With a few exceptions, his whole discography has taken me a second listen to have it sink in. It’s not my favorite quality of his stuff, but once it does sink in, it’s almost always better than anything else I’m listening to.

 

I think it was Steven Hyden who called this the Tom Petty effect. The songs are okay the first time you hear them, and incredible the 10th/100th/1,000th.

I also have a theory that Dave Cobb’s works really don’t sound good if you’re not playing them loud. I like every album he’s produced way more on vinyl, played through good speakers at excessive volume.

 

Big Isbell fan, but he’s losing me on these two so far. I can definitely see he captured that live room sound here, which is probably what he was going for. I’d like a return to the Southeastern/24 Frames stuff though, even it was just a stripped down live set or something. He’s so so so good in that space.

 

Yeah I’m not panicking or anything (especially because I know there’s at least one great, lyrically-rich song on this album in ‘Overseas’) but both of these songs do nothing for me.

I like the verses of Be Afraid but I really dislike the chorus melody; What’ve I Done to Help is worse. The choruses are just so repetitive and frankly, kind of irritating — which I can’t say for any songs on his last three records. Even the meh deep cuts on JI& the 400 Unit and Here We Rest are at least smooth listens; I really struggle to make it through this latest single. Like, it annoys me.

It’s Isbell though, I have no concerns that he’s “lost it” and I’m sure there will be lyrical gems and great songs on the record. But I’m someone who beats myself up for over-playing the singles of my favorite artists before the album release, so it’s not great that I have felt zero urge to listen to these songs since they’ve come out.

 

Finally listened to "What I've Done" and while I get some folks' negative reaction to the song, can't say I agree. Apart from the fact that the verse melodies are a bit too much like "Anxiety," I think it's a solid tune and is a nice slow-burning opener. Jimbo and Chad really really groove on the song too

 

I don't know if it is just because people on here warned me that the opener can be a little bit repetitive, but I love both of these songs. I suppose the chorus gets a tiny bit repetitive by the end of the song, but I think the music and the awesome groove completely makes up for it. I am still extremely excited for this album.

 

I unfortunately haven’t been much of a fan of either song, especially What’ve I Done to Help.

 

Yeah this is really really good

 

Springsteen reference @Craig Manning

 

OK all my worries about this album have subsided. What a song.

 

It's the song before "Overseas" on the album too, my GOD what a heavy 1-2