#1 - JASON ISBELL - SOMETHING MORE THAN FREE (RJ'S TOP 10 AMERICANA/COUNTRY ALBUMS OF THE YEAR)

Producer - Dave Cobb

Released - July 17, 2015

Something More Than Free is Jason Isbell's follow up to the unbelievable album from 2013, Southeastern. Before I go any further, let me say that if you consider yourself a fan of Americana music and you have not heard that album, you should correct that oversight right now. It is one of the darkest, most brilliant things I've ever heard. Something like that is very hard to follow up. Do you continue with really dark songs, or do you change it up completely? Well, Isbell changed it up a bit, at least for the most part. And in my opinion, he hit yet another home run.

There has been a lot of talk about how other artists have stolen the Americana spotlight from Isbell. Maybe so, but I personally do not think that is the case. The only artist otherwise that has been heard of from a contemporary standpoint is Chris Stapleton (see my number three album). But Isbell debuted at number one on both the Billboard Country Albums chart and on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. That occurred despite country radio's total lack of airplay. He also spent many, many weeks on top of the Americana chart.

Basically, you just have to listen to see what I'm talking about. Isbell writes and tells a story like nobody else at this time. Songs like Flagship, How To Forget, The Life You Chose, the title track, Speed Trap Town and To A Band That I Loved are so well written, they keep my full attention and I'm constantly wanting to hear that next lyric. 24 Frames is undeniable and absolutely should have been a hit. A major one at that. But nope, no contemporary country stations will play him. Such a shame.

One other song I want to mention is Children of Children. What an amazing piece of work. Isbell and his wife were both born to very young mothers, and he put those experiences down on paper to share with everyone who has been in that situation. The couple is expecting a child in middle age, which is exactly the opposite of the song's purpose, and he covers that in the song as well. And it's not just the lyrics that get you. This song's arrangement is very similar to something The Allman Brothers Band may have done way back when. I just love it. I think it's probably the best song released this year.

So there you have it. My take on Americana music in 2015. There were many terrific albums released, but none better than Something More Than Free by Jason Isbell. Please take the time and check this guy out, you will not be sorry.

Tracks:

1. If It Takes A Lifetime

2. 24 Frames

3. Flagship

4. How To Forget

5. Children of Children

6. The Life You Chose

7. Something More Than Free

8. Speed Trap Town

9. Hudson Commodore

10. Palmetto Rose

11. To A Band That I Loved