At AUK we are on a quest to find the ‘Top 10 Americana Albums Ever’. Over the last few weeks our writers have been going through the mental anguish of trying to narrow the whole history of Americana down to just ten albums. When every writer has had their say, a shortlist of the most frequently chosen albums will be drawn up and voted on, in order to generate the definitive AUK writers top ten. This week’s tortured soul is Andrew Frolish. Continue reading “AUK’s top 10 americana albums ever: Andrew Frolish”
Tag: Jason Isbell
AmericanA to Z: Jason Isbell
In Nik Cohn’s history of pop and rock Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom, his chapter on The Beatles opens “Next come the Fab Four, the Moptop Mersey Marvels, and this is the bit I’ve been dreading. I mean what is there possibly left to say about them?” And in Americana, these days, it’s easy to feel the same way when writing about Jason Isbell. Continue reading “AmericanA to Z: Jason Isbell”
Something for the weekend: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit “Overseas”
So here we are again as Cher said in 1989. If you really do want to be distracted from the absolute state of things for 5 minutes (and who could blame you now we have the homegrown toe-curling embarrassment of Dominic Raab’s ‘Game of Thrones’ comments yesterday) can we suggest taking some time out dear reader to watch this clip which we leave you with this week of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Isbell and his band performed an impassioned version of ‘Overseas’ earlier this week as part of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’s ongoing #PlayAtHomeSeries. The song appears on Isbell’s most recent album, ‘Reunions’ which was released last month. Have a good one.
AUK’s Top 10 Americana albums ever: Peter Churchill
At AUK we are now well into our quest to find the ‘Top 10 Americana Albums Ever’. Over the coming weeks and months each AUK writer will in turn, present their own personal selections. When each writer has had their say, a shortlist of the most frequently chosen albums will be drawn up and voted on, in order to generate the definitive AUK writers top ten. So whilst we put ourselves through this hell, you get to sit back and admire or despair as suits your own tastes. This week’s tortured soul is Peter Churchill. Continue reading “AUK’s Top 10 Americana albums ever: Peter Churchill”
Isbell: “Getting sober made me more aware”
Looking through Billboard’s Country chart at the moment is like perusing a “greatest drinking songs” feature. In the top 30 right now are the songs: ‘After a Few, Beer Can’t Fix, One Margarita, Drinking Alone, Why We Drink, One Beer, Champagne Night’ and ‘No I in Beer’ – and that’s just one week, so it’s fair to say it’s a genre well versed with the art of inebriation which our recent feature looked at too. Continue reading “Isbell: “Getting sober made me more aware””
Jason Isbell & 400 Unit to stream live Rough Trade show tonight
Following on from the release of his new album ‘Reunions’ last week which we described as having “sharp songwriting and excellent production which make this a great addition to his stellar catalogue”, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit have announced they will play an exclusive Instagram TV Transmission to fans on the @roughtrade & @roughtradenyc Instagram TV feeds tonight (Wednesday 20th May) at 18.00 UK time. And if you are otherwise engaged, here’s a superb stream of Isbell with wife Amanda Shires last week at the as yet unopened Brooklyn Bowl Nashville.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit “Reunions” (Thirty Tigers, 2020)
Jason Isbell is the kind of artist who can always be relied on to draw from experience and speak the truth exactly as he sees it, so it’s good to see he’s sticking to what makes him stand out from his contemporaries on ‘Reunions’. But there is a different kind of introspection too, one that meditates on his current relationships – be it as a husband, father, or friend – and looks back fondly on childhood memories. Continue reading “Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit “Reunions” (Thirty Tigers, 2020)”
Jason Isbell to play livestream gig for album release day
Jason Isbell’s new album ‘Reunions’ is out on Friday – our review should be landing with you tomorrow – and in celebration of its release, he’s announced a live performance of it from the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville. The acoustic livestream concert, will air free via fans.com at 8 p.m ET in the US (so basically the middle of the night here but hey, it’s a Friday). Viewers will be encouraged to make a donation in support of both Isbell’s crew and the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. Continue reading “Jason Isbell to play livestream gig for album release day”
Amanda Shires: “I’m just going to play music every day”
RS Country has a nice feature up at the moment on Amanda Shires’ fundraising ‘I So Lounging’ shows which have been broadcast live each evening over the last month and which feature her other half Jason Isbell, and Seth Plemmons among others. Continue reading “Amanda Shires: “I’m just going to play music every day””
Something for the weekend: Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit “Dreamsicle”
Another week done then in this crazy new world of ours dear reader – whatever a week is – and it’s been a good one for AUK at least as we had the most visitors we’ve ever had. Welcome if you’re reading us for the first time. We leave you until Monday with another track from the forthcoming new album from Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit ‘Reunions’ which is due out 15th May in the UK. Of ‘Dreamsicle’ Isbell says: “I was thinking a lot about myself and my wife because we were both very young when our parents split up. I was blending our two stories. It’s not exactly a heartbreaking song, it’s just sort of a picture of a kid’s life. I wanted to keep the voice of the child-narrator but also retain a retrospective to show it’s something the child survived.” Have a good one and take care.