Album Review: Jason Isbell, Foxes In The Snow

How far can you get these days with just six strings and the truth? Jason Isbell, the six-time Grammy winner, known for his work with The 400 Unit and Drive-By Truckers, seems determined to answer that question on Foxes In The Snow.

Recorded with just an all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar, over the span of five days in a New York studio, the record is a pure and potent slice of Americana. The eleven songs deal variously with love, creativity, and the American experience.

They boast a wisdom that feels hard-earned with age, the vibe similar to Johnny Cash’s celebrated American albums, with the powerful ‘True Believer’ a perfect example. Elsewhere, Isbell is gorgeously cinematic in his imagery, not least on the folksy ‘Ride To Robert’s: “Everything’s green right now / Tennessee’s looking out for you.”

While there are few ropy lyrical moments, not least on the title track (“I love my love, I love her mouth / I love the way she turns the light off in her house”), overall Foxes In The Snow is a solid effort.

7/10