Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Here We Rest

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.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Codeine  (from Here We Rest) (Buy)

Sons of Roswell - Is There Is EP

Here is a free album from Muscle Shoals rock and roll band Sons of Roswell.  It was produced by Jason Isbell (that's your bit of trivia).  Check it out and throw a few dollars their way if you like it.

Download

Happy New Year and What to Look for in 2011

Happy New Year folks.  2011 is looking good for our type of music.  Just check out some of these upcoming releases I'm looking forward to.


The Only Sons - American Stranger
Murfreesboro's rock and rollers are gonna hit a homerun with this one.  Their last album was really good (check out their site to get it for free), this one might be better.

Drive-By Truckers - Go-Go Boots
The songs I've heard from this one already put it way ahead of last year's The Big To-Do.  Let's hope that it is.

Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)
I don't think Hayes could make a bad album if he tried. 

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Untitled as of yet
I'm really looking forward to hearing how Jason follows up the masterpiece that was 2009's self-titled release.  I've heard some live versions of a couple tunes and they sound promising.


Slithering Beast - Delicious EP
Should be out in the first part of the year, and will probably have a little more rock and roll flavor than the last two albums.  That's a good thing based on the recent live shows I've seen.

Kelsey Waldon - Untitled as of yet
I really like Kelsey's 2010 country release.  This one is supposed to lean a little more towards the rock side of things and even have a Neil Young cover on it.





Also, I added a "The Free Stuff" link in the upper right hand corner of the main page.  Check there for free albums or EP's.  I don't post everything I find that is free, just the good stuff.  So if it is listed, it is worth downloading.  Let me know if links are down or you have something you think I should add to the list.

I'm probably forgetting a few as well.  Most of these I've listed should be out in the first couple months too. 

Jason Isbell covers Patterson Hood

This one came up on the shuffle today.  "The Assassin" is, in my opinion, Patterson Hood's best song and also my favorite of the select covers Jason does.  Patterson put the song on his his 2004 acoustic solo release, Killers and Stars, but Jason and the 400 Unit make it a top shelf rock song, slide guitar and all.  I've heard there is a studio version from Jason's Sirens of the Ditch sessions floating around, but I don't have it and I can't imagine it lives up to the raw live versions.

I've posted a couple audio tracks and good quality video version to check out.

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - The Assassin (live in 2007) (Buy)
Patterson Hood - The Assassin (from Killers and Stars) (Buy)

In My Basement Room's Top 5 of 2009

Here are my favorite albums of 2009 based entirely on the amount of time I spent listening to each one. Granted, there were a lot of albums I did not buy. It was easy to pick my number one. It was far and away better than anything else this year. Numbers two through five could have been in any order; I just picked a sequence and went. They all received a lot of play.

1. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Self Titled - Lightning Rod Records

2. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park - Universal Republic

3. Drive-By Truckers - The Fine Print - New West Records

4. Ben Nichols - The Last Pale Light in the West - Rebel Group Records

5. Chris Knight - Trailer II - Drifter's Church Productions