Georgia Blue

A promise is a promise, and if you make one in public, people will expect you to live up to it. During the heat of the 2020 presidential campaign, confirmed Democrat Jason Isbell pledged that if Joe Biden won the White House and carried Georgia, he would cut an album paying homage to artists and songwriters from the Peach State (not traditionally a blue state), with a portion of the proceeds going to charity. Nine months into the Biden administration, Isbell has delivered the record he promised, and 2021s Georgia Blue feels more substantive than one might expect. The genesis of the LP may have been founded on a whim, but its also a set that gives a gifted songwriter a chance to tip his hat to other artists he admires, as well as offering a long look into the diverse sounds and styles that helped shape his musical mind. No one is likely to be surprised that R.E.M. makes the set list, not once but twice with acoustic reworkings of Driver 8 and Nightswimming (the latter featuring Bela Fleck and Chris Thile), but the rip-roaring rock of Drivin N Cryins Honeysuckle Blue, the low-key blues of Precious Bryants The Truth (with Adia Victoria on lead vocals), and the propulsive indie rock of Now Its Overheads Reverse might not seem so obvious to casual observers. Isbell puts his heart, soul, and guts into every performance here, and even old reliables like Midnight Train to Georgia, Ive Been Loving You Too Long, and Its a Mans Mans Mans World connect in fresh ways, largely due to the commitment of Isbell and his collaborators, and their understanding of what makes these songs special. The 12-minute stroll through the Allman Brothers Bands In Memory of Elizabeth Reed is the albums sole misfire, a respectful interpretation that doesnt capture the ineffable spark of the At Fillmore East recording (which was more about performance than songcraft) and loses its way before its done. The covers album is usually a tricky prospect for an artist, especially one best known for their songwriting, but Georgia Blue is one that succeeds because these are tunes Jason Isbell clearly cares about as much as anything that came from his own pen. The love and fire on display here confirm what his best work has always shown -- hes not just a fine songwriter, hes a top-shelf musician who lives for this stuff, and its a pleasure to hear him dig into this material. (Money raised by this album will be donated to the Black Voters Matter Fund, the political action group Fair Fight, and the social justice organization Georgia STAND-UP.) ~ Mark Deming