Here We Rest

Here We Rest is the third solo release by former Drive-By Truckers guitarist and singer Jason Isbell. For the second straight release he’s backed by the solid 400 Unit band on fiddle, organ, drums, harmonica, bass, and harmony vocals, and the album showcases Isbell’s literate and vivid storytelling as well as the band’s diversity and collective chops. Most of the songs fall within the mid-tempo range where Isbell seems most comfortable. His warm, inviting voice shines on the earthy “Alabama Pines,” “Codeine,” and the crisp country shuffle of “Tour of Duty,” while “Daisy Mae” is a gorgeous melody sung to fingerpicked guitar. On the grittier side, “Go It Alone” and the piano-fueled “Never Could Believe” possess a Southern rock bite, and their version of “Heart On a String” is a powerful slice of country soul. Isbell excels at capturing a mood or a moment with a terse lyric, and there’s the ring of truth to these song’s characters that are struggling to deal with hard times and unexpected change. Here We Rest is a memorable release from a gifted songwriter confidently asserting his own voice.