JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT : LIVE AT TWIST & SHOUT 11.16.07

1. Grown
2. Goddamn Lonely Love
3. Hurricanes And Hand Grenades
4. Danko/Manuel
5. Outfit
6. Into The Mystic

Label : New West Records

Venue : Twist & Shout Records, Denver, Coloroda, USA

Recording Date : November 16, 2007

Release Date : December 15, 2008

Length : 32:02

Review (AllMusic) : Fans of the Drive-By Truckers know Jason Isbell as a singer-songwriter for those acclaimed practitioners of modern Southern rock Drive-By Truckers. Isbell ditched the Truckers for solo album "Sirens Of The Ditch" in 2007, but the subsequent "Live At Twist & Shout" EP marked the first recorded appearance of his post-Truckers band, the 400 Unit. The six-song disc finds Isbell's band offering more nuanced backing than the Truckers, better befitting his troubadour approach, as he tackles everything from Truckers tunes like “Outfit” to Van Morrison's "Moondance" classic “Into the Mystic.” The sound's not a million miles from Isbell's former band, of course - it's still earthy, twang-laden Americana, after all - but it nevertheless represents a distinct progression.

Review (Pennyblack Music) : The Drive By Truckers may have made the best album of their career with this year’s epic and sensational ‘Brighter Than Creation’s Dark’, but they did so without the singer and guitarist who had been responsible for some of the finest songs on their previous albums. Surely ‘Daylight’ and ‘Outfit’ will make any Truckers’ greatest hits of the future. In what was described by 'Uncut' as a comparatively amicable departure, Isbell left the band last year and released his first solo album, ‘Sirens of the Ditch’. Featuring contributions from his former band mates, that was a particularly impressive offering. Having only contributed two songs to his final Truckers album, albeit two especially good ones, here he demonstrated that he could maintain his standards over the course of a whole album. I would imagine that this six track live mini-album has been released at least in part to capitalise on the attention that has been given to his old band, but anyone who buys it won’t mind that. This well produced live album gives an exciting taste of what fans can expect on this month’s UK tour. Opening with ‘Grown’, we are treated to two songs from his solo album. Neither are the very best songs from ‘Sirens of the Ditch’, but here they are given more space to breathe and both distil the qualities that make Isbell so impressive, the subtle collision of southern rock, country and soul. From here, we are treated to three songs he wrote for his old band. Most impressive is ‘Outfit’, which is simply a classic. A father-to-son ballad, its lyrics verge on the profound, while remaining entirely humble and unpretentious, as the son is urged to "have fun and stay clear of the needle, call home on your sister’s birthday." Drawn to an impressive close by a slow and soulful cover of my favourite Van Morrison song, ‘Into the Mystic’, this will be a delight for long term Truckers fans and newcomers alike. I recommend it unconditionally.