In Brian Williams terms, Jason Isbell and I are old buddies, ergo, he let me take a selfie with him at Governors Ball last year. Yeah, I’m a fanboy I admit it and I like his wife, fiddler Amanda Shire as well. 2013’s Dow Fell The Doves was pretty darn good.
But together? I am a lot less convinced. An atrocious take on Bruce’s “Born In The USA” last year has just been followed by a equally appalling take on Saint Warren Zevon’s “Mutineer”, a song so lovely even Dylan could sing it in tune. Cmon guys, sing the fucking melody already.
I can’t say I much care for “I Follow Seas” either and I just hope and pray they are not working on an album together. The couple bring out the worst in each other. It’s all so dark and lovely… The fiddle is dusky and not cool and the dup harmonizing is grating in its tastefulness. It sounds like the definition of middle class. If there is something behind the “Sea Songs” besides motion sickness, I don’t know what it is.
That’s the bad news, here is the good news. If, like me, you have a ticket to see Lee Ann Womack at City Winery you are in for a real treat. Amanda Shire is opening. That’s the April 20 gig and an absolute must see. What a great mix of artists, country folks like me are salivating.
Sea Songs – C-