The 25 Best Jason Isbell Songs – Part 1

…I didn’t grow up wanting to be a country singer, and I still don’t really see myself as one,… I mean, I don’t feel like I have much in common with those folks. Their job is to sell out arenas. Mine is to make art. Big difference.
-Jason Isbell (Men’s Journal interview)

I don’t believe in writer’s block. I think that’s laziness.
-Jason Isbell (musicradar.com, 2016)

This is the first of five posts on Jason Isbell’s 25 best songs (in BTL’s humble opinion). We do (how can one not?) include his work together with the brilliant Drive-by Truckers.

Here are the first 5 songs (25-21 on our list).

25. Palmetto Rose

From the album “Something More Than Free” (2015).

Palmetto rose in the AC vent
Cross-stitched pillow where the head rest went
He said his cab was his orneriest friend
Left him jumping like trees in the wind

Live at House of Blues Boston, MA. – February 27, 2016

..a swampy, swinging rocker that takes an anthemic turn during every chorus. A tribute to Charleston, South Carolina — where, coincidentally, 400 Unit guitarist Sadler Vaden lived before relocating to Nashville in 2011 — the song has since become a staple of Isbell’s shows, even serving as the opening number during a recent show at the House of Blues in Boston. Slightly slower in tempo, “Palmetto Rose” takes on new life during the Boston performance, with Isbell and his five-piece band moving between the loose blues-rock of the song’s verses to a taut refrain.
rollingstone.com

This war that I wage to get up every day
It’s a fiberglass boat, it’s azaleas in May
It’s the women I love and the law that I hate
Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
Lord, let me die in the Iodine State

Live at Peacemaker Music Fest 2015

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March 24: Drive-by Truckers released their debut, Gangstabilly in 1998

Gangstabilly, DBT’s debut, was largely overlooked when first released.  It is a good straight rock album with some classic songs. The Living Bubba, 18 wheels of love and Buttholeville are still favourites at their live shows.

18 Wheels of love, live:

The album was recorded “live in the studio” over the course of two days and was produced by Andy Baker and Andy LeMaster. The album’s cover art was created by Jim Stacy. The album was rereleased in 2005 by New West Records along with the band’s second studio effort, Pizza Deliverance.

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August 24: Drive-By Truckers released The Dirty South in 2004

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]You can throw me in the Colbert County jailhouse.
You can throw me off the Wilson Dam
but there ain’t much difference in the man I wanna be and the man I really am.

We ain’t never gonna change.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The Dirty South is the fifth album by Alabamian alternative country/Southern rock group Drive-By Truckers, released in 2004. The Dirty South is Drive-By Truckers’ third concept album. Like its two predecessors, the album examines the state of the South, and unveils the hypocrisy, irony, and tragedy that continues to exist.

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10 Great Americana / Alt. Country songs

There are so MANY great songs to choose from… here are 10 great that´s on my mind today.

Hank Williams – Lost Highway

I’m a rollin’ stone all alone and lost
For a life of sin I have paid the cost
When I pass by all the people say
Just another guy on the lost highway

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Best Albums 2016 – Lists from Rolling Stone & Paste Magazine

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More Year-end lists, this time from two american magazines: Rolling Stone mag & Paste. Relevant videos are bundled inbetween.

Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2016

Check out the post @ Rolling Stone site

Beyoncé – Hold Up:

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Best Albums 2016 – Lists from Uncut & MOJO

best-albums-2016

It´s that time of year, the Year-end lists are rolling in.

This post includes 2 UK based magazines: UNCUT & MOJO. My favourite magazine among them is UNCUT Magazine. So I´ll start there.. and also throw some videos in between.

Uncut’s Top 75 Albums of 2016

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David Bowie – Lazarus:

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