Jason Isbell Live In Alabama

No autumn would be complete without a healthy dose of Jason Isbell tunes. Fresh off well deserved recognition for his beautiful tune "Alabama Pines" and his recent album 'Here We Rest' at the Americana Music Awards, Isbell and the 400 Unit are releasing a live album and a tour. While live albums don't usually excite enough for a full post, this collectionLive From Alabama (Nov 20) plays like a Jason Isbell greatest hits collection featuring his best songs from DBT and his solo career. Not to mention Isbell and the 400 Unit are deft live performers. Tracklisting and tour dates after the jump!

Bring Me Home Through Those Alabama Pines

[mp3] Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: "When My Baby's Beside Me (Big Star Cover)

Maybe it's that new record smell -- those excited first listens when you're just happy to be hearing new music from one of your favorites, but damn we've been enjoying the hell out of Jason Isbell's new album 'Here We Rest' on what's been a bleak and snow-bound day in New York. Perhaps it's the weather, but there's seems to be a melancholy inherent through this new set of tracks, a tension, a resolution, and a sadness that hasn't been in every Isbell album we've heard. Of course, the production here is impeccable. That full-bodied Muscle Shoals sound rounds out every track with swelling organs, warm bass, and ringing guitars. Again, maybe it's too early to say, but these tracks seem to be some of the best Jason Isbell has composed in years. If they're enough to be counted with "Dress Blues", "Godamn Lonely Love", "Seven Mile Island", "Decoration Day" and "The Day John Henry Died" remains to be seen.

'Here We Rest' comes out April 12th on Lightning Rod Records. Jason Isbell and his band The 400 Unit have also just announced a slew of tour dates, including a run with the excellent Hayes Carll.

Tour Dates: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

[MP3] Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit- "Seven-Mile Island"

What more can we say about Isbell & Co.? Their newest record was sub-par, but we have a saying here: "Let there be rock!" Though he left DBT, Isbell will always have a place in our hearts as that baby-faced, co-DBT-frontman bringing us joy in the form of "Daylight," "Outfit," and more. Isbell will always have a home on this blog, and that being said, please find his upcoming tour dates after the jump.

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit

Sat-Sep-12 Augusta, GA Sky City
Thu-Sep 17 Nashville, TN Americana Music Assoc. Awards Show (Ryman Auditorium)
Fri-Sep-18 Bristol, VA Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion(2 sets)
Thu-Sep-24 Cincinnati, OH MidPoint Music Festival
Fri-Sep-25 Columbus, OH The Rumba Cafe
Sat-Sep-26 DeKalb, IL The House Cafe
Sun-Sep-27 Carbondale, IL The Sky Bar
Thu-Oct-08 Morgantown, WV 123 Pleasant Street
Fri-Oct-09 Harrisburg, PA The Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Company
Sat-Oct-10 Norfolk, VA Discovery Music Series at Attucks Theatre
Sat-Oct-31 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge(special Halloween show!)
Sun-Nov-01 Salt Lake City, UT The State Room
Thu-Nov-05 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
Fri-Nov-06 Portland, OR The Doug Fir
Sat-Nov-07 Sacramento, CA The Blue Lamp
Sun-Nov-08 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Mon-Nov-09 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex
Thu-Nov-12 Paris, TX Buffalo Joes
Sat-Nov-14 Austin, TX Antone's

Short Takes: Auerbach, Isbell, Superdrag

Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
Release Date: Feb. 10
Label: Nonesuch
Rating: 90
________
This is not a Black Keys sound-alike. On this solo debut, Auerbach's lack of a cohesive sound is the most surprisingly enjoyable part of this record. Country ballads give way to tremolo guitar fuzz, while elements of southern soul/R&B come and go. The album has a Muscle Shoals feel, with a modern punch; it's full of appetizers and entrees: one song wouldn't be the same without the other.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - S/T
Release Date: Feb.17
Label: Lightning Rod
MP3: "Seven-Mile Island"
Rating: 80

_______
It seems Isbell fell off pace with this release. Where Sirens of the Ditch succeeded à la lyrical storytelling and hook-laden choruses, this latest release falls short. The album struggles to find itself, floating between crooning balladry, straight 90s-style, vamped-guitar rock, and pure Isbell classics (See "Grown," "Chicago Promenade," and "Daylight (w/DBT)" for reference. ) Here, the Isbell gem is "Seven-Mile Island," but the album fails to follow its creatively crafted and repeatable sound style.

Superdrag - Industry Giants
Release Date: March 17
Label: Thirty Tigers
MP3: "Everything Will Be Made Right"
Rating: 92
_______
Tennessee's power poppers revert back to a sound reminiscent of early Foo Fighters and Oasis. Each song brings back memories of 90s-era MTV classics, back when cool things were cool. There is something so comforting about this album's sound which seems to span generations. Superdrag doesn't sacrifice pop for power -- they just combine the two magically as their aforementioned genre classification suggests. The record stays with you and you wonder why, until you listen again and again.

Tour Alert: Chairlift, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

[MP3]

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - "Seven Mile Island"

Still reeling from the Apple commercial = success of their 2008 release, Does You Inspire You, Brooklyn's dreamy Chairlift are set to embark on a North American tour. Chairlift join YACHT, PB&J and Sebastian Tellier on this tour.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are gearing up to release their newest self-titled record Feb. 17 on Lightning Rod. In support of the LP, the band is heading out on a massive tour.

Dates for both artists after the jump.


Chairlift Tour Dates:
Sat. Feb. 7 - Miami, FL - White Room
Fri. Feb. 13 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Academy of Music w/Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Sat. Mar. 7 - New York, NY - Santos Partyhouse
Fri. Mar. 13 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop w/YACHT
Sat. Mar. 14 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's w/YACHT
Mon. Mar. 16 - St. Louis, MO - Gargoyle Club w/YACHT
Tues. Mar. 17 - Lawrence, KS - The Jackpot Saloon w/YACHT
Wed. Mar. 18 - Norman, OK - Opolis w/YACHT
Thurs. Mar. 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW
Fri. Mar. 20 - Austin, TX - SXSW
Sun. Mar. 22 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues Pontiac Garage w/YACHT
Mon. Mar. 23 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live w/YACHT
Tues. Mar. 24 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon w/YACHT
Wed. Mar. 25 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues Parish w/YACHT
Thurs. Mar. 26 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder w/YACHT
Fri. Mar. 27 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club w/YACHT, Kuroma
Sat. Mar. 28 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In w/Kuroma
Mon. April 13 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey w/Sebastian Tellier
Tues. April 14 - Vancouver, BC - Richards On Richards w/Sebastian Tellier
Wed. April 15 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge w/Sebastian Tellier
Fri. April 17 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent w/Sebastian Tellier
Sun. April 19 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
Tues. April 21 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Café w/Peter Bjorn & John
Wed. April 22 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre w/Peter Bjorn & John
Thurs. April 23 - Chicago, IL - Metro w/Peter Bjorn & John
Fri. April 24 - Newport, KY - Southgate House w/Peter Bjorn & John
Sat. April 25 - Toronto, ONT - Phoenix Theatre w/Peter Bjorn & John

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Previously announced dates:
Thu-Feb-12 Birmingham, AL Workplay
Sat-Feb-14 Florence, AL Shoals Theater
Tue-Feb-17 Athens, GA Georgia Theatre
Wed-Feb-18 Atlanta, GA The Earl
Fri-Feb-20 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
Sat-Feb-21 Richmond, VA The National
Sun-Feb-22 Harrisonburg, VA The Pub
Tue-Feb-24 Boston, MA TT the Bears
Thu-Feb-26 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Fri-Feb-27 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
Sat-Feb-28 Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe
Sun-Mar-01 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Mon-Mar-02 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
Wed-Mar-04 Toronto, ONT Horseshoe Tavern
Thu-Mar-05 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place
Fri-Mar-06 Columbus, OH The Rumba Café
Sat-Mar-07 Cincinnati, OH Southgate House
Sun-Mar-08 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
Fri-Mar-13 Louisville, KY Headliner's
Sat-Mar-14 Nashville, TN The Mercy Lounge
Mar 18 - 22 Austin, TX SXSW

Sons of Roswell support 2/12 and 2/14
Benji Hughes supports 2/17 - 2/ 22 and 3/8
Deer Tick supports 2/24, 2/27 - 3/14

NEW TOUR DATES:
Tue-Mar-24 Memphis, TN The Hi-Tone
Wed-Mar-25 Little Rock, AR Sticky Fingerz
Thu-Mar-26 Oklahoma City, OK Wormy Dog Saloon
Sat-Mar-28 Telluride, CO Sheridan Opera House
Mon-Mar-30 Flagstaff, AZ Green Room
Tue-Mar-31 Tucson, AZ Club Congress
Thu-Apr-02 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland
Fri-Apr-03 San Francisco, CA The Independent
Sat-Apr-04 Sacramento, CA Blue Lamp
Sun-Apr-05 Portland, OR Doug Fir
Mon-Apr-06 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
Wed-Apr-08 TBD
Thu-Apr-09 Aspen, CO Belly Up
Fri-Apr-10 Vail, CO The Sand Bar
Sat-Apr-11 Denver, CO The Bluebird
Sun-Apr-12 Kansas City, MO Knuckleheads
Tue-Apr-14 Lincoln, NE Knickerbockers
Wed-Apr-15 St. Paul, MN The Turf Club
Thu-Apr-16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
Fri-Apr-17 Chicago, IL Double Door
Fri-Apr-24 Auburn, AL Strutting Duck (Outdoors)
Sat-Apr-25 Oxford, MS Double Decker Arts Festival (3:30PM)

3/24 - 4/17 Justin Townes Earle supports