Drive-By Truckers/Jason Isbell Appreciation Thread

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by TheWampa, Nov 3, 2010.

  1. Clown Baby

    Clown Baby Daddy’s #1 Candy Baby
    Donor

    What are your overall thoughts so far?

    It's interesting to get someone in here that hasn't been following Isbell as closely as we have the past several years, and also lends insight into what some these new audiences he's being exposed to now think of him.
     
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  2. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
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    Auburn Tigers

    I like it a lot, but it's much different than what I was expecting. The songwriting is exceptional...which is my highest priority. I appreciate that he enunciates as that's one of my frequent pet peeves, but his voice is rather nondescript(not that that's a bad thing necessarily). It grows on me more and more with each listen. Not a criticism...but I was expecting a heavier sound and would very much enjoy a heavier album of his.
     
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  3. joe-

    joe- yesterday is a hard word for me
    Donor TMB OG
    Kansas City RoyalsDSA

    For those of you who have seen Isbell live - how big of venues is he playing and how full are they? I just submitted an offer to his booking agent and am hoping I don't lose a ton of money here
     
  4. jltperson

    jltperson Making The Mainboard Great Again
    Donor

    I saw him about 4 years ago at a beach bar in destin with about 20 people in attendance.

    Saw him 2 years ago at a festival in dallas that had maybe 100-200 people watching his stage

    Saw him last year at a pretty small bar in okc that was jam packed. But he was supposed to be playing at an ampitheatre opening for woody nelson that night until that show got canceled the day of. He sent out a tweet that he would be playing at a bar about 3 hours before the show and played for about 2 straight hours, it was amazing.
     
  5. SC

    SC I’m boring and I’m bored
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    Where's the venue at?
     
  6. joe-

    joe- yesterday is a hard word for me
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    Kansas City RoyalsDSA

    Omaha
     
  7. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    St. Louis CardinalsTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsMiddle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

    Sells out three straight nights at the Ryman in Nashville on a fairly routine basis.
     
  8. joe-

    joe- yesterday is a hard word for me
    Donor TMB OG
    Kansas City RoyalsDSA

    Alright well I offered $15,000 so I'm gonna need to sell at least 550 or so tickets
     
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  9. Duval

    Duval On a gravy train with biscuit wheels
    Donor TMB OG

    Saw him a couple months ago in Clearwater at a venue that held 750 and it was either sold out or close to it. Think the venues vary drastically depending on location, but would imagine he sells out most of them.
     
  10. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    I doubt you'll have a problem with that.
     
  11. SC

    SC I’m boring and I’m bored
    Donor TMB OG
    Atlanta BravesTennisMississippi Rebels

    You should be safe there.
     
  12. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
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    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    I saw him at a beer festival outside of Chicago in June. Wasn't packed at all but they did 0 promotion on it. I was one of the few people that were there to see Isbell and most didn't know who he was.
     
  13. Napoleon Bonerfart

    Napoleon Bonerfart Well-Known Member
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    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesChicago BlackhawksGrateful Dead

    I'm likely alone in this but I absolutely love We've Met.
     
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  14. Joe Withabee

    Joe Withabee PS I have sifulus
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    Great song
     
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  15. Joe Withabee

    Joe Withabee PS I have sifulus
    Donor
    Texas RangersDallas MavericksDallas CowboysChelseaTiger WoodsBarAndGrillFormula 1

    The ST album is my jam
     
  16. Joe Withabee

    Joe Withabee PS I have sifulus
    Donor
    Texas RangersDallas MavericksDallas CowboysChelseaTiger WoodsBarAndGrillFormula 1

    Cigarettes and Wine <3
     
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  17. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
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    Auburn Tigers

    In re Southeastern...the album would've been damn near flawless had it ended after the 8th track(Songs That She Sang in the Shower). I enjoy New South Wales and Relatively Easy in their own right but they are somewhat out of place with the first eight songs. I thought Super 8 was relative shit and Yvette was forgettable as well.

    I was curious about how big Isbell is these days...I was compelled to buy Southeastern because there was a five foot promo for the new album right when I walked in a New Jersey record store. Several songs seem like they could have a pretty mainstream appeal.
     
  18. TheWampa

    TheWampa A Real Hoth Mess
    Clemson TigersOrlando CityAtlanta Braves

    Going to have to disagree on Super 8. I'll concede it doesn't fit well with the album, but I think it's a perfect song for the drug/alcohol issues he had on the road. Same with New South Wales.
     
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  19. Pancho

    Pancho Emptyin’ my bladder on a twenty foot ladder
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    Yvette is one of the best songs on the album imo
     
  20. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
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    Auburn Tigers

    I don't dislike Super 8, i think it's relatively weak compared to the rest of the album
     
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  21. dawgonit

    dawgonit Like James Brown only white and taller
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    The subject matter is groundbreaking and storytelling in Yvette is damn near perfect IMO.
     
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  22. Napoleon Bonerfart

    Napoleon Bonerfart Well-Known Member
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    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesChicago BlackhawksGrateful Dead

    Yeah. I agree with nutbag. Yvette is awesome.
     
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  23. SC

    SC I’m boring and I’m bored
    Donor TMB OG
    Atlanta BravesTennisMississippi Rebels

    I thought the opposite of Yvette. That's some haunting and heavy shit, and that's a song that sticks with you after a listen. Damn strong song.
     
  24. gilstein21

    gilstein21 Tight Rip 26 Seal Right
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    Auburn TigersSt. Louis CardinalsGreen Bay PackersWyoming Cowboys

    First listen it didn't grab me, but ya that song is pretty good. Great fit on the album
     
  25. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    Just my :twocents: on Yvette

    I like the song...imo it was far less thoughtful than the rest of the album though
     
  26. Clown Baby

    Clown Baby Daddy’s #1 Candy Baby
    Donor

    I think Isbell is about as big as you can get before being considered a mainstream success. Which is a pretty big feat considering he gets zero radio airplay. SMTF probably won't go Gold just because most of his fans bought the album the week it was released (the reason for its success on the billboard charts). And it won't get any Grammy nominations either because those are a joke now. But he's respect by literally everyone in the industry and draws huge crowds so he's got it pretty good.
     
  27. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    Yea I assumed he was doing well and knew he was respected...I was surprised to see a prominent promo, but I guess he appeals to people who still go to record stores. I don't understand why he doesn't get any radio play. I guess there's a lot of politicking by labels who push those god awful songs even though many of his songs have broad appeal.
     
  28. Norm Peterson

    Norm Peterson I never met a beer I didn't drink.
    Donor
    Florida State Seminoles

    Super 8 was a song that grew on me. My first thought was that the beginning is so obnoxious, but the more I think about the context of that song and how it relates to Isbell's past, the more I like the song.
     
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  29. Murtaugh

    Murtaugh Fan of: A Softball School
    Missouri TigersSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Blues

    the version of The Blue on Live From Alabama is amazing
     
  30. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    I liked it upon the first listen...I still like it, don't get me wrong, but it's definitely out of place and the songwriting just isn't near as nuanced as the rest of the album imo
     
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  31. Bo Pelinis

    Donor TMB OG
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsBig 8 Conference

    Super 8 sticks out like a sore thumb on Southeastern. I don't mind the song but I also don't love it and it doesn't fit the masterpiece that is the rest of the album :twocents:
     
  32. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    That lack of depth is a similar criticism I have for Yvette
     
  33. dawgonit

    dawgonit Like James Brown only white and taller
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    in what sense?

    I get it with super 8 - its a hangover/party song but Yvette goes into a fair amount of detail
     
  34. Bo Pelinis

    Donor TMB OG
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsBig 8 Conference

    It's a song about a high school kid finding out his classmate is being sexually abused by her father by witnessing it through the shades of her bedroom. That's pretty deep imo
     
  35. Bo Pelinis

    Donor TMB OG
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsBig 8 Conference

    Srs if this gets done post here because I will be there
     
  36. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    Yea I got that...the rest of the album is just so much more interesting and heartfelt to me
     
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  37. Bo Pelinis

    Donor TMB OG
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsBig 8 Conference

    I'm on board with it not connecting to Isbell's life as much as the rest. I love it but the rest kind of has a part of his life where Yvette does not (I don't believe) so I can see what you're saying.
     
  38. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    I just feel like it's contrived
     
  39. Clown Baby

    Clown Baby Daddy’s #1 Candy Baby
    Donor

    Are we talking Super 8 or Yvette
     
  40. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    I thought Yvette was contrived but I don't think it's a bad song
     
  41. dawgonit

    dawgonit Like James Brown only white and taller
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    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsAtlanta United

    This was in a response about his song "Daisy Mae", but obviously applies here:

     
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  42. Clown Baby

    Clown Baby Daddy’s #1 Candy Baby
    Donor

    I think we all know that Daisy Mae is a sexy song but it doesn't have near the chub-factor of The Deeper In
     
  43. joe-

    joe- yesterday is a hard word for me
    Donor TMB OG
    Kansas City RoyalsDSA

    cum to justin townes earle on 9/27
     
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  44. dawgonit

    dawgonit Like James Brown only white and taller
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    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsAtlanta United

    I use that song to set the mood on friday nights
     
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  45. Clown Baby

    Clown Baby Daddy’s #1 Candy Baby
    Donor

    I lean in and whisper, "girl, is your vagina named Michigan" because I'm about to spend seven years in it.
     
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  46. Teflon Queen

    Teflon Queen The mentally ill sit perfectly still
    Donor
    Auburn Tigers

    The subject matter doesn't have much bearing on the quality of a song...at least for me...the serious plot doesn't make it a great song per se...Desperados Under the Eaves is about as banal as it gets, but it's one of the more brilliant songs ever made imo.
     
  47. dawgonit

    dawgonit Like James Brown only white and taller
    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsAtlanta United

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    ... seven years in Michigan
     
  48. HOOSINSC

    HOOSINSC You're with me leather
    Donor

    Yvette is awesome imo. as time goes by relatively easy is my favorite on Southeastern. To a Band that I loved is my favorite on the new album followed by Hudson Commodore
     
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  49. Clown Baby

    Clown Baby Daddy’s #1 Candy Baby
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    Hudson Commodore has probably grown on me more than any song on SMTF.