"Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound" Better Than You'd Think

 


    Shoutout white folks or something I guess. Look, I've listened to exactly one Jason Isbell album, and then never again, but to be honest, it was pretty good while it lasted, it wasn't offensively country, and I actually quite enjoyed the storytelling. While I still would not say that country music is something I would willingly listen to, the reviews of this album seem to be good, and from what little country music discourse I've seen online, Jason Isbell doesn't seem to be the hilariously corny/racist kind of country singer, though I'll reserve my judgements until after the track mysteriously titled White Man's World. Anyways, enough rambling, because I'm mildly interested to see what The Nashville Sound has in store for me, and to see if country music might grow on me a little bit more.

The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Last of My Kind - 60/100 Breaking news: man discovers homelessness is real when he moved to a city. This will certainly be a much more different experience than what I'm used to that's all I'll say. While I do sympathize with the moving pains, especially when the setting you're in changes so drastically, I am laughing a little bit at him feeling as if he was too backwards for college.

Cumberland Gap - 80/100 Woah this song sounds mildly fast, my interest is piqued. This song is pretty lively, and I suppose it does bring up a real issue which is the rapid degradation of rural life. While the chorus is short and repetitive the song overall is well done, albeit simple. Good job Mr. Isbell, this sounds like something I'd actually be willing to listen to. 

Tupelo - 50/100 I don't know this song is almost kind of too slow? Like I'm reading the lyrics and registering everything but I'm just not that interested in this song. There's nothing wrong with it it sounds fine, but like I do not care about Tupelo.

White Man's World - 70/100 Who knew that the country song called White Man's World would actually be a call for unity and for people to take up arms in order to fight for equality for all. I mean I don't think I'd ever actually really listen to this song or put it on a playlist. Being caught with a song called White Man's World would make me look racist. 

If We Were Vampires - 85/100 I really love this tune this song is quite cute I can see why it's one of his most popular songs. It's cute, and unlike many of his songs isn't really filled with too many of those country tropes that can sometimes make you groan a little bit. 

Anxiety -  75/100 I quite like the strings in this song, it makes it sound much more grand than the rest of the songs on this album. Kind of disappointed that they just disappear, but this is one of the better songs on this album. Wait never mind the strings return at the very end, I still think it should have been more prominent in the song but it's cool while it lasts.

Molotov - 77/100 A decent little tune. It's not catchy enough nor interesting enough to warrant a much higher score for me, but like the last album of his I reviewed, where Mr. Isbell manages to shine is his consistency. I'd like to retract that statement after re-listening to the song it is indeed catchy enough to warrant a higher school it's slowly wriggling its way into my ear.

Chaos and Clothes - 50/100 What's with this weird piano effect at the very end of the song? It just sounds very out of place and frankly kind of ends on a weird note? Once again an unremarkable yet inoffensive song.

Hope the High Road - 80/100 Like I've said I think I prefer Isbell whenever he's on a more upbeat song with some sort of kick to it I find that his songs are pretty good whenever that happens. While unlike the last album I listened to from him I don't think the stories are as strong, I'd say the tunes still are so it kind of makes up for it.

Something to Love - 45/100 Kind of a weak closer, I didn't really remember much and immediately went to go listen to more Alvvays right after. Shoutout them they're a great band too.

Final Score: 70/100

    I mean if you're looking at me for country music opinions I don't know what to tell you. If you're not very well-versed with country music what I will say is that really the only off-putting thing is that at times the lyrics can sound kind of stereotypically country in a way that might make you laugh. Overall though, instrumentally there really isn't much I see that might offend you, unless you really hate the guitar for some reason? As previously stated I think the storytelling is weaker in this album than previous ones of his I listened to, but by that same token, there are also less corny country tropes that you'd expect, so I suppose that's a tradeoff you have to decide upon yourself.


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