Comments on: JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT – JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:11:39 +0000

I am a huge fan of DBT and have followed Jason’s career also. There were a few gems on Sirens, but it wasn’t that great. Of course I was comparing it to his songs with DBT. This new record blows away Sirens. I’ve played it several times all the way through and love just about every song on it. No Choice in the Matter is an amazing tune. Coda does have a little Derek and the Dominos feel. But that’s never a bad thing. I just hope they play within a couple hours of my town so I can witness the live rocking!

By: TheOtherBrit

TheOtherBrit — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:39:53 +0000

You have to hear it live to really feel this album. I had mixed feelings about it originally (more Outfit and Hurricanes, please) but when I saw it live they changed my mind. I think this album is to finally start distancing himself from the DBT comparisons.

And they still rock out on the old stuff, and Browan’s killer cover of Psycho Killer.

By: Noah

Noah — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:12:11 +0000

AIV, I really like the tracks you posted. In fact, I probably wouldn’t buy this if it sounded like Sirens, and now I will. That’s not really meant as a knock on Sirens. It’s just that, for me, that record felt like a more commercial version of DBT. Now it seems more like it was leading someplace, and that’s kind of exciting.

I agree that he has to keep bring the rock at his live shows. I’ve seen him with The Unit twice now, and the harder they rock the better they are.

By: Autopsy IV

Autopsy IV — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:08:46 +0000

I dunno. Parts of that song feel as though it’s about the DBT split and perhaps Shonna as well.

ergo:

“answer these questions for everyone so maybe they’ll stop asking me”

By: Shwa

Shwa — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:56:20 +0000

It’s always tough to separate new efforts from the previous, especially if you have that music fresh in your mind. I love the 400 Unit album, and the three songs that started as the center for me are “Sunstroke”, “Coda” and “However Long”. Everything radiated out from there, and “Coda” really reminds me of Derek & The Dominoes for some reason. There’s more of a coherent feel with the band setting, but also because Isbell wasn’t recording it piecemeal over a few years.

Whose “masterpiece” is he referring to in “Sunstroke”?

By: Shwa

Shwa — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:56:14 +0000

Who’s “masterpiece” is he referring to in “Sunstroke”?

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:49:41 +0000

I really wanted to like this record but I can’t get into it. I’m going to try and listen to it again and maybe it’ll change.

By: Adam Fenwick

Adam Fenwick — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:05:09 +0000

I agree on that very last sentence from Autopsy, I like his slower stuff just fine, but I really think he need a little bit of rock on his records. Doesn’t have to be a ton, but more then we are currently seeing.

By: Autopsy IV

Autopsy IV — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:45:14 +0000

Interesting theory about his DBT catalog counting as his first album….I am about to assemble them all on my ipod as a playlist.

Sirens did feel disjointed at times but it had some damned fine songs on it.

My only fear is that the “rocking” Jason is gone forever.

By: simon2307

simon2307 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:22:48 +0000

Really enjoying this album, a definite step up from Sirens of the Ditch in the quality of the writing, a nice layering of styles, the more soulful sound works, liking the brass on No Choice In This Matter, the other stand out tracks for me are, Cigarettes & Wine, The Blue and However Long (which wouldn’t have been out of place on Brighter Than..