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Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, and Other Good Stuff


Seasick Sailor

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On 2/26/2024 at 7:22 AM, hullabelew said:
On 2/24/2024 at 5:06 PM, bluto said:
Agreed. Took the wife to his show recently, her take away “good lord he’s way too young to be that dark, get him a therapist”… couldn’t but both laugh and agree. 

They are both funny guys but not the happiest songs come out. Bruce said he writes sad songs and slightly faster sad songs.

the first song townes ever wrote when he first got married was "waitin around to die".  i'm sure fran loved that.

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17, Flowers, Lonely Girl, Alabama, Brooklyn Kid.

He's not on the level of Evan Felker or the guys in this thread title, but I've always enjoyed his music and have real good memories of Ragweed playing in Ames when I was in college.

Edited by Al_4_ISU
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Good deal.  I'm not motivated enough to seek those out, but I know I heard very little CCW that ever moved my needle (oh dear lord), and none of his solo stuff.  Then again, all I ever heard was on the radio, because I wasn't buying it or going to shows.

I'll back out, it's not really my intention to shit on someone's taste in an artist, especially when that artist has clearly done the work.

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2 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

17, Flowers, Lonely Girl, Alabama, Brooklyn Kid.

He's not on the level of Evan Felker or the guys in this thread title, but I've always enjoyed his music and have real good memories of Ragweed playing in Ames when I was in college.

I’ll sit and work the gate, or I can guess your weight.  I’ll even sell the corn dogs- I don’t care.  

 

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3 minutes ago, Kennythetiger said:

I’ll sit and work the gate, or I can guess your weight.  I’ll even sell the corn dogs- I don’t care.  

 

I enjoy that one as well, but probably not using it as an example of great songwriting.

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10 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

I enjoy that one as well, but probably not using it as an example of great songwriting.

Well, I consider it a lyrical masterpiece and it brings back fond memories of how I met my college girlfriend. Convinced her not to go to the next town. 

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33 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

I enjoy that one as well, but probably not using it as an example of great songwriting.

Carney Man was completely tongue-in-cheek for me, but since Surly loves tangents, I appreciate “Ringling Road” more and more each time I listen to it. 

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3 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

17, Flowers, Lonely Girl, Alabama, Brooklyn Kid.

He's not on the level of Evan Felker or the guys in this thread title, but I've always enjoyed his music and have real good memories of Ragweed playing in Ames when I was in college.

Constantly, Broken, Fighting for. 

I'm not sure what he's been up to lately but I enjoyed CCW. If he played the old stuff it would definitely be worth the time.

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16 hours ago, Post Oak said:

Constantly, Broken, Fighting for. 

I'm not sure what he's been up to lately but I enjoyed CCW. If he played the old stuff it would definitely be worth the time.

In addition to what's already been mentioned, Sick and Tired isn't breaking any new ground, but it always worked for me for some reason.

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On 2/29/2024 at 6:57 PM, Post Oak said:

Constantly, Broken, Fighting for. 

I'm not sure what he's been up to lately but I enjoyed CCW. If he played the old stuff it would definitely be worth the time.

Yes, he mostly plays the old stuff these days.  He was never a great singer but he had a stretch where his voice was pretty bad.  Last May at the annual Americana Jam in Gruene (RIP) he sounded pretty good though.  I won't ever complain drinking Lone Star and hearing Ragweed songs live.

 

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My wife just had her Spotify station playing and this song came on.   Right from the beginning, I was like, "Wait, did he just say fentanyl?"  Yes, he did.  

 

"He bet I couldn't take them all, And if I did and didn't die,

He'd teach me how to fall, 'cause he can't teach me how to fly."

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Been a bit. I’ve been way into Neal Francis. Dude was born in the wrong era. What he coulda done with the swampers would be classic. 

Time to listen to cuttin grass for the first time in a couple years 

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Is this the thread where we've talked about Old 97s a bit?

 

On first listen I like this one more than the first single from the new album. More old school classic rocking 97s as opposed to a Rhett song.

The Old 97s are an all time favorite band of mine and I feel like i always complain about them when they come up. Today I'm going to complain about how dumb their artwork has been on every record since Fight Songs. I know they're past the GAF stage and maybe I missed my calling as an asshole A&R guy (and probably they got fucked up by asshole A&R guys earlier in their career) but goddamn have a little bit of consistency and then choose art that matches your vibe. Did Rhett's wife paint this?

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I happened to get on instagram about an hour ago, and John Moreland was live streaming. He played a new song from his new album; the album dropped during his live stream.

The song he played was the title track, visitor, on the new album.

I downloaded the album, and it’s damn good.

It’s all really good but a few standouts are

The more you say, the less it means

Will the heavens catch us

Blue dream carolina
 

 

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Justin Townes Earle's widow isn't too happy about Jason writing and playing When We Were Close.

Quote

Thoughts on a "tribute song" and suggestions as to what should be considered.
We understand that Jason Isbell's song "When We Were Close" may have not been intended to be a tribute song, per se, but I (Jenn Marie Earle, Justin's widow) want to offer my thoughts on what I feel, personally - since both myself, and mine and Justin's daughter, Etta, were both mentioned/referenced in the song - it is our right to share our insight and feelings about it.  I also feel that, as the keeper and protector of Justin's legacy, that it is my responsibility.  
During an interview this week, Jason shared why he wrote the song (this is, to our knowledge the first time he has addressed it publicly).  Here is what he said: “When We Were Close, that song was one of those where I had to say, how many victims [will there be] if I tell the truth, how many victims if I don’t. And then you make that choice. You know, because the song has to exist, you know I don’t know why but I decided on that a long time ago because that’s what I do, that’s who I am. So you know, usually if you tell the truth, you make less victims than if you don’t."
Being the said "victims" he is speaking of, I felt that in response, it is time to share my feelings on this song, the impact it has had on us, and why we had such a strong, visceral, and extremely painful reaction to it that has continued now, almost a year later since it's release last June.
If you are not familiar, here are the specific lyrics to the song that were the most painful (for obvious reasons):
“I saw a picture of you laughing with your child, and I hope she will remember how you smiled. But she probably wasn't old enough, the night somebody sold you stuff that left you on the bathroom tiles. Got a picture of you dying in my mind with some ghosts you couldn't bear to leave behind...It's not up to me to forgive you for the nights that your love had to live through, now you'll never need to look me in the eye."
It is important to me for everyone to understand, that Justin and Jason were estranged (after a difficult falling out) for years before he died.  Jason stating that the song "had to exist" seems very inappropriate and hard to comprehend from my viewpoint when you take that into account.  Especially mentioning our daughter (a complete gut punch, something Justin would have no doubt been extremely upset about)...and then immediately following Etta's mention with grotesque graphic details of his death that 1. were absolutely unnecessary  2.  were not released to the public (and the details were incorrect) 3. that it is not "his truth" to share, being completely removed from the situation for years up to Justin's death.  It was really no one's right except for mine, which I did share immediately following the dreadful news, at a time when I could barely think, much less handle the public, but I knew it had to be done. For his fans, and as a warning to others so that he did not pass in vain. 
Not only did we not receive a compassionate warning ahead of the song's release (we found out about the song, when this page was tagged in posts about it the day it came out).  While it's not mandatory that he give me a heads up, considering it's about my husband and mentions myself, and especially my daughter, it would have been a respectful thing to do, so that we weren't completely blown apart when we heard it as it was celebrated as a new release.
Soon after, he was made aware that the song was extremely painful (an absolute trauma trigger) and we hoped the message was taken to heart (although he did not acknowledge it) and we hoped to move on and try to forget about it.  However, we learned (due to being tagged in posts, etc) that he was opening most shows with it, and then to our complete shock he chose it as the song to play on Jimmy Kimmel on the first show back after the writer's strike, undoubtedly to a massive audience - putting the song front and center.  ‹That was one of the most painful moments following, because it was clear then that he did not care that this song was traumatizing to Justin's loved ones and was actually pushing the song above all of the others on the album.  He could have chosen any other song. 
Also, on top of this, he is profiting off of it which I don’t think I need to go into why I have such strong negative feelings about that.  
Since that time, I, as well as others have reached out to him personally, in an emotional plea to try to make him understand the trauma it has forced on our daughter (she has asked to hear it and it has lead to moments that I can't bear to share), something she will deal with for the rest of her life.  He has not responded, and then made the aforementioned statement, making it clear that he understands there are living, breathing victims. One of which is our innocent daughter. 
Also, I want to take this opportunity to thank the many people all around the world that have shared their tribute songs to Justin with us.  There have been such beautiful, heart-felt songs created in his honor, so we know the difference between what Jason wrote and what a real tribute looks like, because none of the others have kept us up at night or sent our daughter into tears.  He did not have to write this song, it did not have to exist, but if he really felt that it was necessary, a heads up beforehand would have been greatly appreciated.  Also, even though he has finally acknowledged that there are “victims,” he has still not so much as texted me an apology and I just can't wrap my head around why someone wouldn't extend that simple and small act of kindness.  We deserve that at the very least.  We've been through the unimaginable and certainly didn't need this on top of it, but an apology would have been some sort of consolation at least. 
- Jenn Marie Earle

 

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I would have to know the first thing about their relationship to comment on how they should talk. Or at least to do so with any real conviction. In her quote she describes the line  “left you on the bathroom tiles” as grotesque and graphic and then claims that only she has the right to share “Justin’s truth”. I’m pausing because I don’t want to just defend the guitar hero guy who is printed on my underpants by calling the woman hysterical but I don’t think her perspective is tethered in reality and because of that I don’t trust her description of what happened.

addict dies from doing addict things and the loved ones who let him go couldn’t possibly have a perspective or a stake or a right. Nope. Honestly I never took the tiles line as literal either.
 

 

 

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3 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

We Will Never Wake You Up In the Morning?

Yes. 

You drift into narcotic splendor of your never-ending bender
Eyes glazed but somehow smiling like a haze across the skyline
You down another glass then drift off from our grasp

Buenas noches, sweet prince behind the eight balland your rent
Eviction notice on your door and all your money spent
Hearts broken by your actions but you had the best intentions
There were bottles in your bedroom and nothing in the kitchen

And the last time we ever saw you
You were clinging to the barroom
Days on end we tried to call you
Bells were ringing, tears were falling
The door was opened by the cops but you were up above the treetops

Edited by 4th&Five
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