Here We Rest is the latest release from In My Basement Room favorite Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit , and is the band's second release on Lightning Rod Records. For the sake of full disclosure, Jason's previous albums (the solo Siren's of the Ditch, the self-titled one with the 400 Unit (my favorite record of 2009), and all those Trucker's albums) are among my very favorites and I listen to them all frequently. Naturally, I was really looking forward to this new album, but I didn't expect it to hit me like the self-titled album did. I'm glad to report that my expectations were greatly exceeded.
This album has a lot more acoustic feel than the previous albums. Strummed acoustic guitar in "Alabama Pines," the wicked fiddle in "Codeine," and the mandolin chop and brushed drums in "Tour of Duty" all contrast the blistering rock of "Go It Alone" and "Stopping By." Check out "Codeine" and a video of "Alabama Pines" below and be sure to pick up the album. It will likely be the best album you buy this year.
I know I'm way behind on this, but let the record show I'm on the Centro-matic bandwagon. My first true exposure to their music, other than a track or two here and there, was the free 24 song sampler posted on their website earlier this year that Greg at Captain's Dead clued me in on. I really took to their sound and was pretty excited when their latest album Candidate Waltz showed up in my inbox. If you are familiar with Centro-matic, then you don't need a "sounds like" comparison and you probably already have this new album. If you aren't familiar with them, what are you waiting on? Didn't you see the free sampler linked above? Check that out, then go get Candidate Waltz. At first listen it was great, and now at three months aging its a favorite of mine. The songs take you through a spectrum of emotions that make it the perfect soundtrack for driving around, sitting in a cubicle all day, or cooking chili on a crisp fall evening. Add to that the frame-worthy cover art by front man Will Johnson and you have an album that is on a very short list for album of the year.
Check out this video of "Only In My Double Mind" off of Candidate Waltz that features Will painting the album cover as a mural.
