Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit – Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit (2009)
When the ex Drive-By Trucker released Sirens Of The Ditch in 2007, I was seriously disappointed. Admittedly, I had unfairly high expectations considering it was Isbell’s first solo effort since leaving DBT. But considering this was the man that penned the eternally brilliant “Decoration Day,” “Danko/Manuel,” “God Damn Lonely Love,” “Never Gonna Change,” and “Outfit” (and others), Sirens just seemed like a half-hearted bore. Not so with his new (self titled) release. Isbell’s songwriting and soulful, southern voice shines through brilliantly throughout most of the disc. He still hasn’t quite rediscovered the near-perfection he had with DBT, but he is certainly on the right track and maturing nicely. And at only 30 years of age, we’ll hopefully be seeing a lot more from him in the next decade.
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Mark Olson & Gary Louris – Ready For The Flood (2009)
Yawn. I liked this group better when it was called Simon & Garfunkel (and way better when it was called the Jayhawks). I think it’s time to retire, gentlemen.
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Country Devils – A Shotgun Named Lucy (2009)
This album is one of those random “New Releases” that I find on Napster from time to time. The only difference being that this random album happens to be the best goddamn collection of country songs I’ve heard since Uncle Tupelo disbanded. On their website, the Country Devils proclaim to be the “world’s laziest band,” and it must be true because it’s the only way they’d still be unknown. My advice to the band: call Osi Umenyiora and get some 5-hour Energy because gentlemen, your spotlight awaits.
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Neko Case – Middle Cyclone (2009)
Oh Neko… how I just want you to live in my bedroom and sing me to sleep at night with your fanciful songs. You’re so darn lovable that I can’t really find it in my cold bitter heart to critique your music – not in the traditional sense, anyway. So let’s just be honest with ourselves and admit that Fox Confessor Brings The Flood was your crowning acheivement. As such, while I can’t rate Middle Cyclone on the Martz(TM) scale, I can rate it on a scale of zero to five Fox Confessors (whatever the hell that means). Unfortunately, Middle Cyclone is no Fox Confessor. I’m giving it 3/5 Fox Confessors even though that bit about Killer Whales eating my legs treads dangerously close to 2/5 range. But I will give you props for “next time you say ‘forever’ I will punch you in your face.” In any event, you’re getting too goddamn whimsical for your own good, missy. Pull it back a notch and get back to your country roots before you start bouncing around the room and yelling “snark!” for fun. And seriously – a 32 minute ambient cricket jam session? Really?
3 Comments
March 27, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I might be in Maryland for a few months so I might have to check out the Country Devils. That stuff sounded good although the album you listed shows a 2002 release in iTunes with “40 Miles Outside the City” being released in 2009.
March 27, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I’m actually not sure about the release dates for any Country Devils albums. Both Napster and Amazon show THREE studio albums all having a release date on or around 02/2009 (including ASNL). It’s quite possible – likely even – that all three albums are older but have only recently been released in widespread production. Even their lame website is sans a discography… guess you’ll have to ask them yourself in Maryland!
March 28, 2009 at 10:41 am
Check out iTunes…it has ASNL as 2002, self titled album as 2004 and 40 Days as 2009.