Customer Reviews

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jason Isbell, that's who. This album is a ridiculously polished follow up to Sirens of the Ditch. If you like straightforward Rock with Soul, then this album is for you. After the first few listens, Sirens was still a notch ahead of this record. Songs like "Dress Blues" and "In A Razor Town" will probably never be topped, but this album as a whole has since gone on to suprass Sirens by leaps and bounds. This album has some nice familiarity in it with guitar driven songs like "Good" but also has some unique melodic moments with "Soldiers Get Strange" and "Streetlights". This record has a lot of layers and textures from the intro percussion and dobro-esque acoustic slide guitar of Seven Mile Island" to the horn and soul drenched "No Choice In The Matter". I have been spinning this disc since before it was released and will probably remain a mainstay in my repertoire for years to come. Enjoy.

I also saw the 400 Unit last week for the third time, and they DO NOT disappoint.

A solid effort. I don't know if its because I've been clamoring for more music after "Sirens of the Ditch" release, or that its that good a record. I got it Tuesday, it hasn't left my CD player yet. From "Seven Mile Island," to "However Long," to "Streetlights," this is no DBT sounding album. Pure, Southern Soul and solid Rock music. Not guitar driven, as the Drive-By records were, but each song has its own strong point. I like the addition of horns and keys from time to time.

One of my favorite bands for a long time was the Drive-By Truckers and I had the priviledge of seeing them live many times. I always loved Jason in that band. When he decided to go solo I was deservedly concerned. His first cd, Sirens of the Ditch, wasn't one of my favorites at all but now with the 400 Unit I am extremely happy.
He has gone back to the type of music he wrote while he was in the truckers but I'd say with way more emotion and maturity.

This is a fantastic cd and I'd recommend it to anyone. You can truly listen to it from one end to the other, over and over.

I heard Jason's song on a local station in North Alabama and was really impressed with his soulful sound. I purchase the CD "Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit" and I love it! He is truly a performer...singing with heart and soul.

I am a huge fan of Jason Isbell's work in the Drive-By Truckers and was very disappointed to hear that he was leaving the band. But then his solo works started coming out. Jason's songs sound naturally musical. His songs can be viewed as simple, but they are simply brilliant in their simplicity and execution. Cigarettes and Wine is fantastic composition, among the best he's ever written, with great lyrics and tones of emotion and an innate musical sensibility (check out the video on youtube). It only has two chords, with a third thrown in for the chorus, but excellent in it's conception and performance. There are many more note worthy songs on this album, Sunstroke, However Long, The Blue, No Choice in the Matter, Soldiers get Strange, to name a few. This is a very strong album all the way through. It ranges from rockers to soulful R&B to classic country. The variety is refreshing and welcome. I am now glad that Jason has left DBT because now we fans get to hear the true voice of Jason Isbell as well and the good ol' DBT music (Cooley ROCKS).

One criticism though, In my opinion the album is a bit too polished. The polish seems to cover up the brilliant musicianship that he and the band posses. BTW, the 400 Unit is a super talented and soulful band. If you get the chance to see Jason and the band live you must go, rare is the oportunity to see such a tallented group of musicians live.

I can't wait to hear the next album, in the meantime Jason's current offerings will be a joy to absorb.

This is simply an inspiring step forward in Jason's musical trek. It's genuine, soulful, and reflects the rich Muscle Shoals sound. Jason is just Jason. I have no comparisons. The 400 Unit is a talented ensemble who augment the skills of Jason. This is a must have for those who want a return to music which comes from the heart.

An eponymous title for a second album may be unusual but for fans of Jason Isbell the progress from his first "Sirens of the Ditch" will be clear. A variety of different styles, some bluesy, some "Southern Rock", one very reminiscent of early Free (never a bad thing!) Excellent musicianship and obvious confidence without being complacent make this a very enjoyable listen indeed.

I must say I am very pleased with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit on this one. I think this album is a step above Sirens Of The Ditch. This is a nice smooth ride from start to finish, Southern Soul meets Rock n Roll. Isbell's song writing shines in songs like Cigarettes And Wine, The Blue, and No Choice In The Matter. The Horn section found in several tracks is well done and a nice addition to the overall mood of the album. We'll always miss Jason in DBT, but no complaints here with a stellar second album! You won't be let down with this one.

There's no denying that Jason Isbell is extraordinarily talented and has a beautiful voice. The first two times I listened to this album, I thought I was hearing brilliance. However, after about three or four listens, some songs remain good, but others begin to go stale: "Seven-Mile Island," "Soldiers Get Strange," and "Streetlights" retain their magic, but the beautiful "Sunstroke" begins to buckle under the weight of Isbell's melancholia and too-earnest poeticism (For instance, in what ways, exactly, do we go to sleep and make little fools of ourselves? What does that have to do with the soldiers sent abroad?). In addition, the most energetic rocker on the album, "Good," is pleasant enough, but it is also dull and personality-less, a packaged product heard hundreds of times on mainstream rock radio, no matter what South-specific wisdom Isbell is attempting to impart.

Some reviews I've read elsewhere argue that Isbell has more emotional depth than singers ten years his senior: that might be true, but he does not have anywhere near their breadth. Instead, Isbell opts for one mood and beats that drum across all eleven tracks.

In short, this album shows that Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have a lot of potential to become a superb band, but for the moment, let's not confuse a keen pop sensibility (which Isbell & co. indeed do have) with excellence.