Search - Jason Isbell :: Sirens Of The Ditch

A Solid First Effort, but Not Quite Up to His DBT Songs

ReviewingChris | Houston, TX | 08/16/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Jason Isbell spent several years as the third guitarist/singer/songwriter with modern-day southern rock stalwarts The Drive-By Truckers. He was well-liked by his fellow band members and the songs he contributed to the Truckers last three albums were nearly all excellent. But the dreaded "creative differences" have reared their heads and Isbell has officially left the band to go it alone. This isn't a huge shock, as the band's other two guitarists had been playing together for 15 years before Isbell joined. There just wasn't a lot of room for Jason's songs between two other prolific songwriters, and, being so much younger, his own style was still developing. And it was beginning to develop in different directions than the rest of The Drive-By Truckers.



The parting between the band and Isbell was amicable, as 3/4ths of the remaining Truckers show up on Sirens of the Ditch, serving as his backing band on most of the songs. As someone who loved all of Isbell's previous material, my expectations for an entire album of his songs were pretty darn high. Maybe a little too high. Sirens of the Ditch is a perfect example of what can happen when a songwriter strikes out on his own for the first time. When you only have room for 2-3 songs per album, only the absolute best make the cut. Given a little space to breathe and write a full collection of songs, Isbell manages a good, solid effort. But it's not brilliant from start to finish.



When the Truckers rock out, they tend to do it down and dirty, with dark, meaty riffs and a thick layer of fuzzy guitars. Isbell's rock songs tend to have a catchier, brighter feel to them, and that's encapsulated in the album-opening "Brand New Kind of Actress" and later on in "Shotgun Wedding." Both songs are big and bright, but missing that hook that keeps a song lodged in your brain for days. He has a little more luck with the dancelike "Chicago Promenade," a mid-tempo tune that sounds pretty fresh. Isbell's true strength as a songwriter seems to be with heartfelt ballads, though, and he proves it again here with the album's shining moment, "Dress Blues." It's a story song (like almost all of his songs) that relates the true events of an acquaintance from his Alabama hometown. This young man went off to fight in Iraq and was a week away from coming home for the birth of his first child was when he was killed. The song doesn't take an overtly political stance, instead focusing on the feelings of the town and the funeral and wake. It does a pretty amazing job of bringing out the sorts of emotions the death of a soldier from a small town can have on its residents. Sirens of the Ditch is a worthwhile album, especially with the inclusion of "Dress Blues." Here's hoping that Isbell continues to grow as a songwriter and that his next effort lives up to his full potential."

Great Debut!!!!!

Erin Taylor | 08/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jason Isbell's debut solo cd "Sirens of the Ditch" proves he has got no problem being the front man. After serving 5 years with the Drive By Truckers and penning great songs such as "Outfit", "Decoration Day" and "Never Gonna Change", Jason steps out on his own and puts out an amazing work of art.



The cd kicks off with the rockin' "Brand New Kind of Actress". "Chicago Promenade" is a great slow tempo song that pays tribute to Isbell's grandfather. "Dress Blues" is probably the best song on the cd. It's about a Marine from Jason's hometown who was killed overseas.



"Sirens of the Ditch" is a cd that any Drive By Truckers fan will love it's full of great Southern rock, smart song writing and great guitar work."