Jason Isbell is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Green Hill, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. He is known for his solo career, his work with the band The 400 Unit, and as a former member of Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007.
Back in May he released his latest album Reunions under the "Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit" project. It is a great album and well worth your time if "alternative country" and "Southern rock" is your thing.
As a bit of background, Isbell has had various personal issues and has checked into rehab a number of times. In his 20's he used to go through a bottle of Jack Daniel's and do cocaine every evening. He has been sober now for 7 or 8 years and has sung about substance abuse before, but “It Gets Easier” is his fullest-throated attempt to write an AA anthem. It opens with the lines “Last night I dreamt that I’d been drinking … I had one glass of wine / I woke up feeling fine / That’s how I knew it was a dream” which deserve a place of honour among his most indelible lines. It is a howling barroom stomp about the ongoing challenges of staying sober. The seriousness and reverence are mostly stripped away, and he allows himself to laugh off his alcohol-filled (but ultimately sober) dreams, while still acknowledging the past chaos he’d wrought. It is addressing the vices that we all have and trying to fight them off. Whatever these vices are it is something we can probably relate to at some point and in some way! Give the album a spin, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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