The divorce of Americana royalty Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires provided source material for both artists on their 2025 solo albums: a compelling if sometimes unnerving opportunity to hear opposing sides of the story. Jason Isbell and his band the 400 Unit are masters of big-stage country-rock dynamics, but Isbell is going in a very different direction on “Foxes In The Snow“, his brand new album that he’ll release in a few weeks. “Foxes In The Now” is a fully solo-acoustic album, recorded without any help from the 400 Unit. Isbell made the whole thing in a five-day stretch at New York’s famed Electric Lady Studios last fall, and he played the same guitar, a 1940 Martin acoustic antique, on every song.
Jason Isbell recorded “Foxes in the Snow” without his usual backing band, the 400 Unit, and outside of a marriage that turned into a muse. What’s to become of Isbell’s career without that spark? This is the sound of figuring that out. There’s introspection about what it all means, even what his own old songs now mean, but he’s also become angrier and more lyrically impulsive. Isbell has been stripped bare, and you hear it everywhere on this new album. He’s never had more main-character energy. The results are often cathartic, and sometimes a little jarring, but “Foxes in the Snow” is a grower. It draws us in more deeply with each spin.
“Foxes In The Snow” is not a Belle And Sebastian cover, and I wonder if the similarity between Isbell’s title and that of the B&S classic “Fox In The Snow” is intentional. “Foxes In The Snow” is a simple, bluesy love song.
Jason Isbell is a contemporary songwriter who blends rock, folk, and country into a unique sound that resonates with many. His emotional lyrics and storytelling ability have garnered him critical acclaim, yet he remains underappreciated by the mainstream.
Albums like “Southeastern” and “The Nashville Sound” showcase his ability to tackle personal and societal issues with grace and honesty. Isbell’s music often reflects his own struggles with addiction and recovery, making it deeply relatable.
He has won multiple Grammy Awards, yet his name is often overlooked in discussions about the best songwriters of his generation. His songs are like windows into his soul, offering a glimpse of his personal journey and struggles.
Southeastern Records marketed and distributed by Thirty Tigers Released on: 14th February 2025
The Fat Angel Sings 