Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
7 May 2010 by Ross Scarano in Music
Leaving a successful band to pursue a solo career is a risky gamble that often fails (David Lee Roth, anyone?). For six years and three albums, Jason Isbell was the third (!) singer/songwriter in the critically acclaimed Southern rock outfit Drive-By Truckers. Thus, his decision to leave the band in 2007 was met with little surprise.
Three years after the fact, everything seems to have worked out well. Drive-By Truckers continue to put out winning records and Isbell is quietly garnering the attention he deserves. The break-up was amicable for both parties, so amicable that some of the Truckers helped Isbell record his first album, Sirens of the Ditch.
Sirens of the Ditch is the record everyone expected Isbell to make. It showcases all his qualities: the spotless baritone, the accomplished guitar playing, and the very writerly lyrics, all detail and authenticity. The album also reveals facets of Isbell’s artistry that the overall sound of the Drive-By Truckers obscured. Nothing in the Drive-By Trucker’s rough and rugged catalog hinted at the buoyant pop Isbell crafts on some of the album’s loveliest tracks.
After the release of Sirens of the Ditch, Isbell scoured the South to put together his backing band, the 400 Unit. After handpicking his 4 accomplices, he stole to the studio to record Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, an album even more distinct than his first. This album finds Isbell and crew touching other Southern musical styles, soul especially. “No Choice in the Matter” steps out with a horn section worthy of Al Green.
Still, rock remains the order of the day on …and the 400 Unit. Coupling a classic rock sound with urgent lyrics about a soldier trying to adjust to civilian life, “Soldiers Get Strange” captures all of Isbell’s special qualities. “You wish you could spend more time/towing civilian lines,” he sings, “but they’re all scared of you.” The line is poignant, heartbreaking. It feels true, and for a rock ‘n’ roll song, this is an invaluable quality. So often song lyrics fail, either falling prey to cliché or sentimentality. Jason Isbell writes with a wisdom and range of experience that does not quite jibe with his 31 years of age. Chalk it up to talent, a writer’s eye for authentic detail.
Quitting a band like Drive-By Truckers does not make for the easiest road. Jason Isbell, though, is trouncing the odds with his gifts as a guitarist, singer and songwriter. With his 400 Unit behind him, he cannot fail. Witness the early stages of a rare talent at the 2010 Three Rivers Arts Festival. Chances like this are seldom.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
7:30pm, Tuesday, June 8
Dollar Bank Stage at Point State Park