Notice how every time Jason plays this live he gets a giant cheer when he says "I sobered up, and swore off that stuff. Forever this time." I adore that. If you know his history he struggled a lot with addiction and was in a seriously awful place. It's down right beautiful that people would get so excited about a guy who manages to miraculously fight off the demons and get to a better place.
Most people cheer when someone sings about drinking, it's so cool that they do the opposite bc he wouldn't be able to do what he does if he wasn't sober. It also shows how loyal his fans are and how he connects with them through his songs about his life.
Watching people discover Jason Isbell is my favorite thing in the world. Best songwriter in the game. I just subscribed to your channel on the assumption you're about to do a big run of his stuff once you start listening to his catalog. Welcome to Isbell experience. Enjoy!
Absolutely agree. Jason came into my ears at exactly the moment I needed him 3 years ago, I've loved the dive into his catalog and I'm sure everyone around me is sick of my obsession with his songs but he speaks directly to many of us and I saw instantly he spoke to Michael.
@@annmarie3573 unfortunately, it's not about Amanda. The song is about a crime and recovery. Go to Jason's twitter. He finally told us the meaning last year... Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) Tweeted: The narrator in Cover Me Up is a crime there I’ve said it twitter.com/JasonIsbell/status/1177691167288377346?s=20
Man, I agree 100%... Sadler is great , and I love him... seen them live a few times... but Jason is sooooo underrated... the best guitar player in that band and one of the best of his generation.... It kills me that he rarely gets recognition for his guitar playing....
@@carsonthompson8637 Although you can't leave Sonny Landreth out a "best slide players" convo. Very different style than Derek. Check him out and find a live vid so you can see his technique which is crazy. Recommend "Congo Square." There's a live version with him & Derek playing it together. Amazing!
@@paulfreet elephant kills me. I am 38 with a lump and a high risk of breast cancer and have had an appt for weeks to get it checked out (I go Monday… doctors… it’s the soonest I could get)… the song randomly came on the other day and just fucking obliterated me. I’m sure I’ll be fine, but he sure gets in your feels like nobody I know. Few are aware he went back to college after Drive By Truckers to actually improve his writing. He’s dedicated.
You can’t talk about Jason Isbell without mentioning “Decoration Day”, one of the best story songs - you HAVE to do it ...and if you wanna cry on camera, listen do “elephant” by Isbell
Jason Isbell wrote this song for his wife, whom is the backup singer and fiddle player, after dealing with alcohol addiction. You should listen to more of his songs like Live Oak, Elephant, and If we were Vampires. He is one of the best songwriters of our generation. He did a lot of writing when he was with the Drive By Trucker.
I was looking for this comment. They went into different rooms to write a song and when he was done he knew he couldn't sing it to her yet because it would give away that he was in love with her. The story & the raw soul behind every bit of this song is untouchable. No one does it like Jason Isbell.
Jason Isbell's Southeastern album is one that absolutely deserves a full, uninterrupted listen to from start to finish. I hope you can find some time to do that.
Jason Isbell's songwriting is next to none. He's incredible. I used to get furious about people doting over Morgan Wallen's cover and not knowing it was an Isbell song until I heard Jason talk about hearing someone else keeping his song alive. Changed my perspective a little. Jason leaves a part of his soul in every note. This is the universal language that attracts me directly to songwriters and further from the churned out pop industry pandering crew.
I've always felt the same way about his song Dress Blues. Most people seem to think its a Zac Brown song as they have heard their cover, not knowing Jason actually wrote it.
It’s an astonishingly beautiful song, and obviously the original song will always be a masterpiece, but I honestly think that Morgan’s cover is still almost as good just because of the pain you can hear in is voice showing how much he feels the soul of the song and the heart in the lyrics.
@@rmac7441 But Zac Brown replaces "Hollywood war" with some other nonsense, and totally changes the meaning of the song. Jason didn't use any names, but he did request other artists avoid changing the lyrics in his songs when cover them.
Sadler Vaden is the guy playing the slide, The 400 Unit is a great band. You could do Jason's entire Southeastern album, specifically Elephant. Been lucky to see them too may times to count and they have never disappointed.
Im a firm believer that Isbell is the greatest singer/song writer of all time. I heard a cover of this on the radio the other day by Morgan waylon? Maybe. It broke my heart when i looked it up on youtube and his version had more views than Isbell. This man gets no love, well mainstream love. He so overlooked, it hurts me.
"Live From Alabama" IMHO is the greatest live album of my life and the version of "GODDAMN LONELY LOVE" with the horns is absolutely ridiculous in how good it is !!!
Sadler Vaden is playing the slide,and believe it or not Jason is even better on the slide! Amanda is his wife and the inspiration behind the song! 400 unit are one tight band,and they cover a lot of classic rock in their live shows,Pure Genius!
Its amazing he did the standard acoustic on this, only because he might be the best slide guitarist I've ever seen, ever. Go see his work in the Drive by Truckers and some 400 unit recordings and tell me I'm wrong
This is really cool to watch another guitar player's reaction to Isbell for the first time. This song was my introduction. Check out the story behind the song. Imagine taking a Richard Thompson level songwriter and player, and essentially a Johnny meeting his June with a band of the level of the Heartbreakers in terms of feel and ability. Go deep in listening to him. You won't regret it.
Jason Isbell has the guitar chops, writing and has a great voice. He’s got it all man. He’s my guitar hero! He’s an incredible slide player as well. He’s got it man. He’s got it.
I know this is 3 years old and you've learned a lot more about JI and the 400 Unit since this vid came out, but I am literally sitting here with damp eyes and covered in goose pimples watching you discover this man and this group for the 1st time. I KNOW you're life has been changed immensely in these past 3 years just having them in your head and life. Thanks for this!
You the man Michael. Amanda Shires is Actually Jason’s wife. The story behind “cover me up” is that he and Amanda said let’s both go to separate parts of the house and write songs today and we will meet up later and play them for each other. Can’t remember where i heard him say that, but it was an interview. Might have been NPR tiny desk. John Mayer said “Jason Isbell is the best songwriter of our generation.” I mean the guy is from Muscle Shoals, Alabama and worked in the studio. I can’t listen to his music sometimes because it’s so emotionally draining for me. He speaks right to your heart. He’s truly amazing.
Michael Palmisano she’s also responsible for getting him clean. He got so messed up that he got kicked out of the Drive By Truckers...which is a feat. Time to do a deep dive bro!
Jason Isbell is one of the best song writers in a generation. His interviews are authentic and well worth an hour or two in TH-cam. He’s also a strong with the strings which you will appreciate.
Like others have said, Jason is one of (if not the) best lyricist out there. He doesn’t just sing a song-he tells you a story and you fall into it, every time. It’s not lyrics-it’s scenes from someone’s life you’re witnessing. Something More Than Free; Yvette; Only Children; Alabama Pines... his world is a deep, deep hole to fall into, but it’s worth it.
Please do more Jason Isbell. He's an incredible guitarist, played for years with the Drive By Truckers before going solo and writing his own music with The 400 Unit (The band you see here). Some of my favorite lyrics are Streetlights, Dress Blues, and Speed Trap Town, though you seriously can't go wrong with anything this guy has released, especially the entire Southeastern album.
I like to interpret the line "I know you're enough to use me for good" as a double entendre where "for good" means both "the rest of our lives" and the act of "doing good". It can mean that he knows she can be the person who "covers him up" in an intimacy sense for the rest of their lives, AND it can mean that he knows that she can motivate him to be a better man and to "do good" in the world. Jason Isbell is absolutely fantastic. I love diving into all his lyrics. My favorite songwriter. Thanks for doing this video!
To me, it means that when you use me, you’re using me for me and who i am, what i am. Not for what you want but for us. You won’t shame me for your use, but you’ll make me shine for your use. It’s the ultimate concession. She sees him for him. And that’s the one thing she won’t betray.
Michael, you’ve turned me on to some great artists. I can’t believe that you’re not familiar with Jason Isbell and his brilliant wife Amanda Shires!! Check out her new female supergroup The Highwomen
You won't stop listening to Jason. He's present day Dylan/Boss lyricist and equal to today's best guitarists i.e. Haynes, Mayer etc. Check out one of his latest Gems "Overseas". Isbell (pronounced Is-Bull) is in a class by himself.
Isbell has become one of my favorite artists over the past few years. He paints pictures with his lyrics that most songwriters could only dream of. This one in particular is quite a decleration. Thanks for this
Jason Isbell's stuff has always been good, but his last four studio albums have been stellar and are well worth the listen. Thanks for the review, it was fun to see your reaction.
Isbell is a lyrical and musical genius. His last five albums, including the newly released Reunions, are all stone cold classics. He has written at least 50 truly great songs in the last decade. Listen to it all...your life will be changed. He will go down as one of the greatest songwriters ever by the time he is done.
My god Isbell...cuts to the core. Genius songwriting and a phenomenal singer. So glad you chose this. If you didn’t know, his wife (Amanda Shires) is on fiddle. And Sadler Vaden is on slide. Great player.
"This dudes songs..." was what I said when I first heard Jason and sent his songs to my wife. His stories bring me to tears. Maybe I just feel music too much, but I love it.
Jason is a former member of Drive By Truckers and one the best songwriters working. As others have mentioned, his Southeastern album is full of songs like this that touch your soul. The fiddle player is his wife, Amanda Shires. The slide is being played by Sadler Vaden. Jason is a heck of a slide player too. He doesn't show it in this song but he's a force on the guitar.
What a kick to see someone discover Jason Isbell and be gob-smacked like I was when I heard his work after his recovery. I loved his work with drive-by truckers, but his post recovery work is unmatched. Singing, song writing and a great guitarist as well. Thank God for his wife, who rescued him for us.
Have been a huge fan of Jason for years since he was in the band Drive By Truckers! He is pure Americana with his songs and lyrics. Words of purity. His songs have always just spoke to me. Highly recommend anything he has done or will ever do.
So glad to see you found Mr. Isbell and the phenomenal 400 unit. Looking forward to seeing many more reaction videos of his stuff - and envy you finding his stuff for the first time. Read a bit of his history, and it all makes sense. Hear him do an interview, and you see where the lyrics come from - the man is killer smart.
I've seen Jason Isbell 5 times I believe and every time he plays Cover Me Up when he gets loud in the chorus lines I get goose bumps and tear up from the power in that voice and the lyrics. I had to learn that song on guitar, so I did. I'm so glad you honored this suggestion and I got to see someone react similar to the way I did. Humbling song for sure.
“This guy is speaking to my life” you have no idea man...Jason’s lyrics touch the core on a whole different level. He is such a one of a kind artist. Children of Children, Dress Blues, Live Oak & of course Elephant are staples in my various “favorite songs” playlist.
Welcome to the world of lyrical genius that is Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. I love watching people discover them for the first time. Your life will never be the same!
Pretty sure that's his wife Amanda Shires on Violin (an equally talented artist.) Jason used to play with the Drive-By Truckers, then went sober and started a solo career. Not that I agree with this, but he was once called the "Springstein of the South". I got to meet him on a cruise once. He and Amanda are both super nice. I feel like this song was written with his battle of sobriety in real life. Just a little background
@@seanamundson2407 No, he ALWAYS plays it. It's his signature song. I've seen him four times, never with Amanda, he's always played it. www.setlist.fm/stats/jason-isbell-and-the-400-unit-7bca3ad8.html
This was wonderful, Michael. As a longtime fan of Jason’s and a big fan of yours as well, it was touching to watch your very heartfelt reaction to a song I know so well and that means so much to me personally. I hope you do more of Jason’s songs as you keep doing those videos. Both Jason and his band mate Sadler Vaden are killer guitar players!
come on! i can not belive you didn't know Jason... he is killer! great songwriter, killer singer, and ever better guitar player with a deep personal background. TOP CLASS!
watching you react to Jason Isbell reminds me of 2003 when I first saw him in DBT and it was obvious the talent he has for story telling and guitar playing. He was a young gunslinger living fast and playing hard. Now he is a master of his craft and a beautiful human being full of honesty and vulnerability and truth. Changed my life he did
If I could like this a few hundred times I would! I remember when I first heard isbell… and I wish I could relive that time and time again for the first time like he is in this video!
With each new Isbell song you discover, you are just blown away with the authenticity of his lyrics. His voice and guitar playing are on point as well making him the holy trinity of musicians.
Song about your spouse dying, about a friend dying of cancer, and of someone being abused and murdering the abuser.... couldn't be a happier selection of songs
Jason Isbell is quite possibly one of the best songwriters and lyricists in the business. There is such a vast catalogue of his you need to explore. I love ‘Dreamsicle’ , ‘Chaos and Clothes’, ‘letting her go’, and you absolutely need to hear ‘Tupelo’
This may legitimately be my first time ever commenting on a video, but watching someone discover Isbell for the first time makes me so emotional. I love your channel regardless, but I especially love when I find one where you've never heard of an artist I love. It is the closest thing you can have to experience discovering them for yourself. Keep it up!
The bass part is actually a series of 2 note chords that he swells with a volume pedal. I was at this show, one of the most insane bass tricks I’ve ever heard
“I have no idea who this guy is”...to know you were about to start your Isbell journey made me so happy
Makes you jealous doesn’t it?
Yes!!!!
I hate it when people like Morgan Wallen’s version of cover me up but don’t know Jason Isbell
Morgan wallen did it better tho
Trevor Price no bad opinions allowed in this sacred space 😂
Notice how every time Jason plays this live he gets a giant cheer when he says "I sobered up, and swore off that stuff. Forever this time." I adore that. If you know his history he struggled a lot with addiction and was in a seriously awful place. It's down right beautiful that people would get so excited about a guy who manages to miraculously fight off the demons and get to a better place.
@Matthew Levac cause it’s funny that all the drunks in the crowd are the loudest cheers
Most people cheer when someone sings about drinking, it's so cool that they do the opposite bc he wouldn't be able to do what he does if he wasn't sober. It also shows how loyal his fans are and how he connects with them through his songs about his life.
Sobriety.is so hard
The same happened in Manchester UK, he is so good live.
@@Skitch1992 Sobriety is good in moderation-Grace Slick..i live that lol
“Home was a dream, one I’d never seen, til you came along.”
That phrase is a masterpiece.
Watching people discover Jason Isbell is my favorite thing in the world. Best songwriter in the game. I just subscribed to your channel on the assumption you're about to do a big run of his stuff once you start listening to his catalog. Welcome to Isbell experience. Enjoy!
Amen, brother.👍
Deal :)
Absolutely agree. Jason came into my ears at exactly the moment I needed him 3 years ago, I've loved the dive into his catalog and I'm sure everyone around me is sick of my obsession with his songs but he speaks directly to many of us and I saw instantly he spoke to Michael.
Him and Billy strings
Check out is song Speed Trap Town. Killer song, probably his best one!
Wait til you find out that the fiddle player IS his wife
The song is ABOUT her!!
Dammit, I wanted to tell him!
Amanda Shires. He’s best served to remember her name because as brilliant as Jason is, she is NOT in his shadow. Got her own thing for sure
Her name is Amanda Shires ffs, not Jason's wife
@@annmarie3573 unfortunately, it's not about Amanda. The song is about a crime and recovery. Go to Jason's twitter. He finally told us the meaning last year...
Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) Tweeted:
The narrator in Cover Me Up is a crime there I’ve said it twitter.com/JasonIsbell/status/1177691167288377346?s=20
The guitarist playing the slide is Sadler Vaden, but believe it or not Jason is the best slide and lead player in the band.
Isbell is one of the best slide players out there right now, I wish he would show off a little more.
Sim Ross second only to Derek trucks right now.
Man, I agree 100%... Sadler is great , and I love him... seen them live a few times... but Jason is sooooo underrated... the best guitar player in that band and one of the best of his generation.... It kills me that he rarely gets recognition for his guitar playing....
Jack William Ketterer he’s the full package. Amazing voice. Amazing songwriting. Amazing playing.
@@carsonthompson8637 Although you can't leave Sonny Landreth out a "best slide players" convo. Very different style than Derek. Check him out and find a live vid so you can see his technique which is crazy. Recommend "Congo Square." There's a live version with him & Derek playing it together. Amazing!
You could do Isbell songs all day, every day. He’s absolutely the best singer-songwriter-guitarist today, and among the all-time greats.
wb john mayer?
Yep.
Jacob Krauss hes great too. But have you heard jason?
Jacob Krauss look up what Mayer has said about Isbell. He agrees
John Mayer, Warren Haynes...
I've never been able to watch someone's face as they discover Jason for the first time. I'm crying.
Me too.
Yup, that got to me too. Glad you love his stuff!
My reaction is identical to his…
Michael: "I do not know who this person is."
Me, an Isbell fan: Oh boy, this is gonna be gooooood!
Yeah- took me three months to play a different channel. When I found him
Isbell will rip your guts out with his lyrics. Codeine, Songs that She Sang in the Shower, Elephant are all brutal listens if you pay attention.
So happy someone else said "Songs She Sang in the Shower" it's my favorite Isbell in a sea of amazing songs.
I know this is an old comment, but I gotta warn people about Elephant. That's a hard song to listen to.
Elephant will rip your heart out. You're in the room.
@@paulfreet elephant kills me. I am 38 with a lump and a high risk of breast cancer and have had an appt for weeks to get it checked out (I go Monday… doctors… it’s the soonest I could get)… the song randomly came on the other day and just fucking obliterated me. I’m sure I’ll be fine, but he sure gets in your feels like nobody I know. Few are aware he went back to college after Drive By Truckers to actually improve his writing. He’s dedicated.
@@DiZoSoMom Godspeed
Jason Isbell is Legit, better than anything they play on current pop, rock, or country mainstream radio.
Jason is awesome. Also, give Zach Bryan a listen, he's legit too!
You can’t talk about Jason Isbell without mentioning “Decoration Day”, one of the best story songs - you HAVE to do it ...and if you wanna cry on camera, listen do “elephant” by Isbell
Jason Isbell wrote this song for his wife, whom is the backup singer and fiddle player, after dealing with alcohol addiction. You should listen to more of his songs like Live Oak, Elephant, and If we were Vampires. He is one of the best songwriters of our generation. He did a lot of writing when he was with the Drive By Trucker.
This.
That^
This and that.
BOOM: th-cam.com/video/Tv_x76IXMrU/w-d-xo.html
I was looking for this comment. They went into different rooms to write a song and when he was done he knew he couldn't sing it to her yet because it would give away that he was in love with her. The story & the raw soul behind every bit of this song is untouchable. No one does it like Jason Isbell.
Love Jason Isbell! Listen to “If We we’re Vampires.” You’ll cry.
Can't second this enough if you loved the songwriting on this!
Or "Elephant"...
Aboit 80% of isbell's songs will make you cry if you pay enough attention lol
Cried. BOOM: th-cam.com/video/Tv_x76IXMrU/w-d-xo.html
Jason Isbell's Southeastern album is one that absolutely deserves a full, uninterrupted listen to from start to finish. I hope you can find some time to do that.
it's a true masterpiece
Jason is a national treasure and we must protect him at all costs. One of the greatest songwriters in recent decades.
Jason Isbell's songwriting is next to none. He's incredible. I used to get furious about people doting over Morgan Wallen's cover and not knowing it was an Isbell song until I heard Jason talk about hearing someone else keeping his song alive. Changed my perspective a little. Jason leaves a part of his soul in every note. This is the universal language that attracts me directly to songwriters and further from the churned out pop industry pandering crew.
I've always felt the same way about his song Dress Blues. Most people seem to think its a Zac Brown song as they have heard their cover, not knowing Jason actually wrote it.
It’s an astonishingly beautiful song, and obviously the original song will always be a masterpiece, but I honestly think that Morgan’s cover is still almost as good just because of the pain you can hear in is voice showing how much he feels the soul of the song and the heart in the lyrics.
I love that after Wallens flirtation with racism, Isbell decided to donate all his royalties from Wallens cover to the NAACP
@@rmac7441 But Zac Brown replaces "Hollywood war" with some other nonsense, and totally changes the meaning of the song. Jason didn't use any names, but he did request other artists avoid changing the lyrics in his songs when cover them.
Sadler Vaden is the guy playing the slide, The 400 Unit is a great band. You could do Jason's entire Southeastern album, specifically Elephant. Been lucky to see them too may times to count and they have never disappointed.
Agreed
Absolutely
Im a firm believer that Isbell is the greatest singer/song writer of all time. I heard a cover of this on the radio the other day by Morgan waylon? Maybe. It broke my heart when i looked it up on youtube and his version had more views than Isbell. This man gets no love, well mainstream love. He so overlooked, it hurts me.
@@fedorbitch The masses don't know him but those songwriter checks sure do and the 4 Grammy's Jason has won has the correct name on it.
Agreed.
Listen to the live version of goddamn lonely love if you wanna see Isbell on the slide
And if you want to cry lulz like so many Isbell penned tunes. In the best way.
"Live From Alabama" IMHO is the greatest live album of my life and the version of "GODDAMN LONELY LOVE" with the horns is absolutely ridiculous in how good it is !!!
Eric Anderson Aahhh don’t spoil the horns, I still remember what it felt like the first time I heard the bridge
Or the outro on Children of Children
th-cam.com/video/ELqCeLV1GCo/w-d-xo.html
Oh yes. Please do listen to that
Check out him doing “Live Oak” his songwriting is mesmerizing
Amen. Think that’s my other favorite. “Great Lakes freighter”
One of my favorites as well. It’s just superb story telling through music.
His murder ballad
Sadler Vaden is playing the slide,and believe it or not Jason is even better on the slide! Amanda is his wife and the inspiration behind the song! 400 unit are one tight band,and they cover a lot of classic rock in their live shows,Pure Genius!
Its amazing he did the standard acoustic on this, only because he might be the best slide guitarist I've ever seen, ever. Go see his work in the Drive by Truckers and some 400 unit recordings and tell me I'm wrong
Jason Isbell would be widely considered a top 5 songwriter if he was around when Bob Dylan was big
He would. He's an artist a bit out of his time, but that makes him extra special
Although, back then people would realise he took a lot of this song from Norwegian Wood, by the Beatles.
This is really cool to watch another guitar player's reaction to Isbell for the first time. This song was my introduction.
Check out the story behind the song.
Imagine taking a Richard Thompson level songwriter and player, and essentially a Johnny meeting his June with a band of the level of the Heartbreakers in terms of feel and ability.
Go deep in listening to him. You won't regret it.
You nailed it!!
Jason Isbell has the guitar chops, writing and has a great voice. He’s got it all man. He’s my guitar hero! He’s an incredible slide player as well. He’s got it man. He’s got it.
Best songwriter in the game right now.
I know this is 3 years old and you've learned a lot more about JI and the 400 Unit since this vid came out, but I am literally sitting here with damp eyes and covered in goose pimples watching you discover this man and this group for the 1st time. I KNOW you're life has been changed immensely in these past 3 years just having them in your head and life. Thanks for this!
You the man Michael. Amanda Shires is Actually Jason’s wife. The story behind “cover me up” is that he and Amanda said let’s both go to separate parts of the house and write songs today and we will meet up later and play them for each other. Can’t remember where i heard him say that, but it was an interview. Might have been NPR tiny desk. John Mayer said “Jason Isbell is the best songwriter of our generation.” I mean the guy is from Muscle Shoals, Alabama and worked in the studio. I can’t listen to his music sometimes because it’s so emotionally draining for me. He speaks right to your heart. He’s truly amazing.
Dude. Thank you. Amazing.
Michael Palmisano keep up the great channel man. Great work. Fun to watch and awesome song choices.
Michael Palmisano she’s also responsible for getting him clean. He got so messed up that he got kicked out of the Drive By Truckers...which is a feat. Time to do a deep dive bro!
Goddamn Lonely Love live is killerrrr by him! Talk about a song that’ll tear your heart out!
Jason Isbell is one of the best song writers in a generation. His interviews are authentic and well worth an hour or two in TH-cam. He’s also a strong with the strings which you will appreciate.
Oh man Jason is incredible. What a great rabbit whole to be going down for you.
That's not a song, it is pure gospel that goes deep in a hurt man's soul
Like others have said, Jason is one of (if not the) best lyricist out there. He doesn’t just sing a song-he tells you a story and you fall into it, every time. It’s not lyrics-it’s scenes from someone’s life you’re witnessing. Something More Than Free; Yvette; Only Children; Alabama Pines... his world is a deep, deep hole to fall into, but it’s worth it.
Dude. Totally. I’m on it.
I saw them in a bar, with about 111 other folks, about 8 years ago. It was awe-inspiring.
Lucky you!
Please do more Jason Isbell. He's an incredible guitarist, played for years with the Drive By Truckers before going solo and writing his own music with The 400 Unit (The band you see here). Some of my favorite lyrics are Streetlights, Dress Blues, and Speed Trap Town, though you seriously can't go wrong with anything this guy has released, especially the entire Southeastern album.
Streetlights! Legit right there.
@@smoothplezing Agreed. Most pre-southeastern stuff is overlooked but there are some gems back there
Isbell is easily one of the top two or three song writers of this generation.
I’d say it’s somewhere just between him and Tyler Childers
I like to interpret the line "I know you're enough to use me for good" as a double entendre where "for good" means both "the rest of our lives" and the act of "doing good". It can mean that he knows she can be the person who "covers him up" in an intimacy sense for the rest of their lives, AND it can mean that he knows that she can motivate him to be a better man and to "do good" in the world. Jason Isbell is absolutely fantastic. I love diving into all his lyrics. My favorite songwriter. Thanks for doing this video!
To me, it means that when you use me, you’re using me for me and who i am, what i am. Not for what you want but for us. You won’t shame me for your use, but you’ll make me shine for your use. It’s the ultimate concession. She sees him for him. And that’s the one thing she won’t betray.
Michael, you’ve turned me on to some great artists. I can’t believe that you’re not familiar with Jason Isbell and his brilliant wife Amanda Shires!! Check out her new female supergroup The Highwomen
Jason Isbell is this generations Bob Dylan. You should check out If we were Vampires off of the Nashville Sound Album.
I also recommend Only Children
Jason speaks to anyone who will listen to his lyrics. No one does it better.
You won't stop listening to Jason. He's present day Dylan/Boss lyricist and equal to today's best guitarists i.e. Haynes, Mayer etc. Check out one of his latest Gems "Overseas". Isbell (pronounced Is-Bull) is in a class by himself.
PLEASE more Jason Isbell!!!!
Isbell has become one of my favorite artists over the past few years. He paints pictures with his lyrics that most songwriters could only dream of. This one in particular is quite a decleration. Thanks for this
Still one of the most underrated artists and writers of all time
“Oh, this is a real tune.” Literally everyone’s reaction to this song
I’m so glad you covered Jason Isbell! Watch his Tiny Desk concert. He is solid!!!
Jason Isbell's stuff has always been good, but his last four studio albums have been stellar and are well worth the listen. Thanks for the review, it was fun to see your reaction.
Isbell is a lyrical and musical genius. His last five albums, including the newly released Reunions, are all stone cold classics. He has written at least 50 truly great songs in the last decade. Listen to it all...your life will be changed. He will go down as one of the greatest songwriters ever by the time he is done.
You gotta check out Whiskey Myer’s “Broken Window Serenade”
Watching him discover Jason Isbell makes me wish I could hear Jason for the first time again
Jason touches me with every song lyric. (As you probably know, he wrote the song for his wife, Amanda Shires, the fiddle player.)
The first time I heard Jason Isbell I nearly went crazy showing people ... I had never heard anyone write in such great style
Jason's music is my church
Slide guitar is Sadler Vaden, I believe.
That is correct.
You’d love his song Speed Trap Town. His lyrics are just mind blowing.
My god Isbell...cuts to the core. Genius songwriting and a phenomenal singer. So glad you chose this. If you didn’t know, his wife (Amanda Shires) is on fiddle. And Sadler Vaden is on slide. Great player.
You realize he wrote this song to Amanda Shires right? She’s the fiddle player, his wife, and a hell of a solo artists in her own right.
"This dudes songs..." was what I said when I first heard Jason and sent his songs to my wife. His stories bring me to tears. Maybe I just feel music too much, but I love it.
Jason is a former member of Drive By Truckers and one the best songwriters working. As others have mentioned, his Southeastern album is full of songs like this that touch your soul. The fiddle player is his wife, Amanda Shires. The slide is being played by Sadler Vaden. Jason is a heck of a slide player too. He doesn't show it in this song but he's a force on the guitar.
Man I clicked this so fast... they’ve got a song called Danko / Manuel that’s so good as well. Great vid
It’s actually a Drive By Truckers song that Isbell wrote when he was in the band.
Such a good song
What a kick to see someone discover Jason Isbell and be gob-smacked like I was when I heard his work after his recovery. I loved his work with drive-by truckers, but his post recovery work is unmatched. Singing, song writing and a great guitarist as well. Thank God for his wife, who rescued him for us.
Have been a huge fan of Jason for years since he was in the band Drive By Truckers! He is pure Americana with his songs and lyrics. Words of purity. His songs have always just spoke to me. Highly recommend anything he has done or will ever do.
So glad to see you found Mr. Isbell and the phenomenal 400 unit. Looking forward to seeing many more reaction videos of his stuff - and envy you finding his stuff for the first time. Read a bit of his history, and it all makes sense. Hear him do an interview, and you see where the lyrics come from - the man is killer smart.
th-cam.com/video/4hQGEXVKKEU/w-d-xo.html
ON IT! THANKS!
@@Guitargate Oh, and he is a huge gearhead, too. th-cam.com/video/zLMsC6PitsQ/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/-j1BwYw7sXA/w-d-xo.html
Discovering Jason Isbell is always a treat.
Love your reaction!!!
Omg……
This is so good.🎸
After the first few lines, he was like “oh this is a song song” 😂😂
This is a TUNE! Haha dang right dude
I've seen Jason Isbell 5 times I believe and every time he plays Cover Me Up when he gets loud in the chorus lines I get goose bumps and tear up from the power in that voice and the lyrics. I had to learn that song on guitar, so I did. I'm so glad you honored this suggestion and I got to see someone react similar to the way I did. Humbling song for sure.
Jason Isbell - Overseas. Amazing guitar riffs on a sweet fender strat
"Songs she sang in the shower" is my favorite Jason Isbell tune.
“This guy is speaking to my life” you have no idea man...Jason’s lyrics touch the core on a whole different level. He is such a one of a kind artist. Children of Children, Dress Blues, Live Oak & of course Elephant are staples in my various “favorite songs” playlist.
Welcome to the world of lyrical genius that is Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. I love watching people discover them for the first time. Your life will never be the same!
Watching you watch the genius of Jason Isbell is just great ....
Pretty sure that's his wife Amanda Shires on Violin (an equally talented artist.) Jason used to play with the Drive-By Truckers, then went sober and started a solo career. Not that I agree with this, but he was once called the "Springstein of the South". I got to meet him on a cruise once. He and Amanda are both super nice. I feel like this song was written with his battle of sobriety in real life. Just a little background
Worlds colliding to see you here, Will! 🤯
DBT kicked him out of the band.
Never mind the channel content. Do yourself a favor and go all in on Jason Isbell.
By the way, that is Amanda Shires with him...HIS WIFE!!!
I was going to mention this too. I've heard he sometimes will not play this live if she is not playing the show with him.
@@seanamundson2407 No, he ALWAYS plays it. It's his signature song. I've seen him four times, never with Amanda, he's always played it.
www.setlist.fm/stats/jason-isbell-and-the-400-unit-7bca3ad8.html
Have come to Mr Isbell in just the last couple of months. He has pierced my heart.
Jason Isbell Decoration Day live. The 1st video that pops uo with the thumbnail of Amanda Shires.
This was wonderful, Michael. As a longtime fan of Jason’s and a big fan of yours as well, it was touching to watch your very heartfelt reaction to a song I know so well and that means so much to me personally. I hope you do more of Jason’s songs as you keep doing those videos. Both Jason and his band mate Sadler Vaden are killer guitar players!
come on! i can not belive you didn't know Jason... he is killer! great songwriter, killer singer, and ever better guitar player with a deep personal background. TOP CLASS!
It's really beautiful to see someone discover Isbell for the very first time. We've all been there.
Isbell is the best songwriter of our generation! Enjoy
watching you react to Jason Isbell reminds me of 2003 when I first saw him in DBT and it was obvious the talent he has for story telling and guitar playing. He was a young gunslinger living fast and playing hard. Now he is a master of his craft and a beautiful human being full of honesty and vulnerability and truth. Changed my life he did
I love this guy so much I went and seen him two weeks in a row. Killer guitarist, blew me away. DO MORE!!!
If I could like this a few hundred times I would! I remember when I first heard isbell… and I wish I could relive that time and time again for the first time like he is in this video!
Seeing someone hear Jason Isbell for the first time is always great
I wish I could hear isbell for the first time again
PS Sadler Vaden owns!!!!
Please check out Speed Trap Town or Elephant by Jason Isbell as well. Equally beautiful and devastating song writing.
I’ve paused the video at 6:56 to say thank you Michael for helping us find new music. I’ve never of Jason Isbell and thankful that now I have.
With each new Isbell song you discover, you are just blown away with the authenticity of his lyrics. His voice and guitar playing are on point as well making him the holy trinity of musicians.
Yes! Jason Isbell is a great singer and songwriter. His wife is the one playing the fiddle.
We've been waiting for a Jason Isbell video to show up. We'd love to see you react to Jason's "Overseas".
I am a huge isbell fan and I have watched this video three times now and it still makes me happy to see raw reaction of Jason
“If We Were Vampires”, “Elephant”, or “Yvette” are also killer tracks by this guy, great video man!
Yvette is super underrated, because I think its so dark and not a romantic song, but a song about multiple dimensions of ruined southern childhood
Song about your spouse dying, about a friend dying of cancer, and of someone being abused and murdering the abuser.... couldn't be a happier selection of songs
Simeon Teitelbaum couldn’t agree more
Jack William Ketterer I agree, not a very happy selection. But from a songwriting standpoint, they’re all genius
BOOM: th-cam.com/video/Tv_x76IXMrU/w-d-xo.html
Clicked SO quick for this one!!
The whole Southeastern album is amazing - stick it on. Glad you got to listen to him finally :)
Jason Isbell is quite possibly one of the best songwriters and lyricists in the business. There is such a vast catalogue of his you need to explore.
I love ‘Dreamsicle’ , ‘Chaos and Clothes’, ‘letting her go’, and you absolutely need to hear ‘Tupelo’
This may legitimately be my first time ever commenting on a video, but watching someone discover Isbell for the first time makes me so emotional. I love your channel regardless, but I especially love when I find one where you've never heard of an artist I love. It is the closest thing you can have to experience discovering them for yourself. Keep it up!
The bass part is actually a series of 2 note chords that he swells with a volume pedal. I was at this show, one of the most insane bass tricks I’ve ever heard
Jason’s songwriting is top notch!
The look of amazement on your face is the exact face everyone has right before Jason Isbell fans say “told ya he was good!”
I was turned onto Isbell a couple years ago by my guitar setup guy who is a song writer. Changed my musical life :-)