The Nashville Sound
The Nashville Sound is the sixth studio album by Jason Isbell and the third credited with the 400 Unit. It was produced by Dave Cobb, who also produced Isbell's previous two records: 2013's Southeastern and 2015's Something More Than Free. The album was released on June 16, 2017.[1][2] The Nashville Sound again features Isbell's band The 400 Unit and is the first album since 2011's Here We Rest to give the band top billing alongside him.
The Nashville Sound | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 16, 2017 | |||
Studio | RCA Studio B (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 40:17 | |||
Label | Southeastern | |||
Producer | Dave Cobb | |||
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit chronology | ||||
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Reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[3] |
Metacritic | 82/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
American Songwriter | [6] |
The A.V. Club | B+[7] |
The Independent | [8] |
Mojo | [9] |
Pitchfork | 6.3/10[10] |
Record Collector | [11] |
Rolling Stone | [12] |
Uncut | 9/10[13] |
Vice | A[14] |
The album earned Isbell his first CMA Award nomination. It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2017 ceremony. It won Best Americana Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards and International Album of the Year at the 2018 UK Americana Awards. Additionally, "If We Were Vampires" won the Grammy for Best American Roots Song.[15]
Accolades
Publication | Accolade | Year | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rolling Stone | 50 Best Albums of 2017 | 2017 |
21 |
|
Stereogum | The 50 Best Albums of 2017 | 2017 |
49 |
|
Uncut | Albums of the Year | 2017 |
72 |
|
Exclaim! | Top 10 Folk and Country Albums of 2017 | 2017 |
4 |
Commercial performance
The Nashville Sound debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 with 54,000 album-equivalent units, of which 51,000 were pure album sales.[20] It is Isbell's highest chart placement on that chart, having previously peaked at number six with Something More Than Free (2015).[20] The album has sold 152,500 copies in the US as of December 2018.[21]
The single 'If We Were Vampires' peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Triple A chart[22]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Jason Isbell except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Last of My Kind" | 4:22 |
2. | "Cumberland Gap" | 3:24 |
3. | "Tupelo" | 4:01 |
4. | "White Man's World" | 3:56 |
5. | "If We Were Vampires" | 3:35 |
6. | "Anxiety" (writers: Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires) | 6:57 |
7. | "Molotov" | 3:46 |
8. | "Chaos and Clothes" | 3:34 |
9. | "Hope the High Road" | 3:03 |
10. | "Something to Love" | 3:39 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic.[23]
The 400 Unit
- Jason Isbell – lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Derry Deborja – keyboard, Therevox, photography
- Chad Gamble – drums
- Jimbo Hart – bass
- Amanda Shires – harmony vocals, fiddle, photography
- Sadler Vaden – electric guitar
Production and design
- Danny Clinch – photography
- Dave Cobb – producer, acoustic guitar, percussion
- Gena Johnson – assistant engineer
- Peter Lyman – mastering
- Matt Ross-Spang – engineer
- Tracie Thomas – art direction
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
|
References
- Leahey, Andrew (June 14, 2017). "Jason Isbell's 'The Nashville Sound': Track-by-Track Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- Horton, Carrie (June 12, 2017). "Everything We Know About Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's New Album, 'The Nashville Sound'". The Boot. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- "The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- "Reviews and Tracks for The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit". Metacritic. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Deming, Mark. "The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit / Jason Isbell". AllMusic. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Beviglia, Jim (June 13, 2017). "Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: The Nashville Sound". American Songwriter. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Williams, Matt (June 16, 2017). "Jason Isbell is world-weary yet hopeful on The Nashville Sound". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Gill, Andy (June 14, 2017). "Album reviews: Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up, Beth Ditto – Fake Sugar, Royal Blood – How Did We Get So Dark?". The Independent. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Hodgkinson, Will (June 15, 2017). "Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound". Mojo. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Sodomsky, Sam (June 17, 2017). "Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: The Nashville Sound". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Staunton, Terry (July 2017). "Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound". Record Collector (468). Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Bernstein, Jonathan (June 15, 2017). "Review: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Look Outward on 'The Nashville Sound'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- Mueller, Andrew (July 2017). "Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit: The Nashville Sound". Uncut (242): 32.
- Christgau, Robert (June 17, 2017). "Robert Christgau on Jason Isbell, Steve Earle, and a Flood of New Country". Vice. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- "2018 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners List". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- "50 Best Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone. November 27, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum. December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- "Uncut's 75 Best Albums of 2017". Uncut. November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- "Top 10 Folk and Country Albums of 2017". Exclaim!. December 4, 2017. Retrieved Jan 9, 2018.
- Caulfield, Keith (June 25, 2017). "Lorde Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Melodrama'". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- Bjorke, Matt (December 4, 2018). "The Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: December 4, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- "Jason Isbell Album & Song Chart History - Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- "The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Unit" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Unit" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- "Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Unit" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- "Irish Albums Chart: 23 June 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 25, 2017". VG-lista. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- "Sverigetopplistan - Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 23, 2017. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
- "Swisscharts.com – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Unit". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
- "Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- "Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- "Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- "Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- "Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2020.