Jason Isbell’s ‘Foxes in the Snow’ Treads Dual Paths — Half Harrowing Divorce Record, Half Exultant Chronicle of Fresh Affections: Album Review
variety.comChris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Jason Isbell hasn’t “gone solo” in just one way, he’s gone solo in every way.
Or at least he has for a New York minute. After eight previous records under his name that featured full electric ensembles, “Foxes in the Snow” is the first album this poet laureate of American rock has made sans any accompaniment at all other than his own picking, recorded in five days last fall at NYC’s Electric Lady studio with nothing but an engineer and a trusted 1940 Martin O-17 acoustic guitar for company.
Now, on previous records where he was joined by his usual live backup group, the 400 Unit, the ensemble more than sufficiently complemented and even bolstered his songwriting; he didn’t earn his rep as one of our greatest living writers by somehow being held back by having a first-class band.
But there were occasional moments during those albums where you might have wished that they would either rock a little harder or just move out of the way.
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