Now comes the first single, “Hope the High Road,” from Isbell’s forthcoming album The Nashville Sound. Isbell continue to show the master craftsman he is. As he reflects on the end of a year which, most would agree, was a pretty rough one all around, he sings:
“Last year was a son of a bitch for nearly everyone we now
But I ain’t fighting with you down in the ditch, I’ll meet you up here on the road”
In a climate where everyone wants to call each other names (and has the forum to do so anonymously, online, Isbell sings about wanting to take the high road and hoping that others will choose to do the same: let go of useless anger and find a better way:
“I know you’re tired and you ain’t sleeping well
Uninspired and likely mad as hell
But wherever you are I hope the high road lead you home again
To a world you want to live in.”
This is of course not to say that anger in and of itself is a bad thing…however, using anger in unproductive ways that simply casts blame and fights dirty solves no problems.
Isbell also goes for a more up-temp rock sound than his previous two albums: this indicates a sound more in tone with his days with The Drive-By Truckers, and for the first time since his album Here We Rest, his backing band The 400 Unit is officially credited as part of the album and single.
This bodes well for the new Isbell album, and I personally can’t wait for June 16th.