Ever since
Jason Isbell jumped out of the gate as a songwriter and guitarist on the
Drive-By Truckers' 2003 album
Decoration Day -- where the new kid landed two songwriting credits, including the stunning title track -- the man hasn't been afraid to show what he can do. Once
Isbell found his feet as a solo artist with 2013's
Southeastern, his track record has been peerless, with each LP building on the excellence of the last as he refined his talents as a guitarist, songwriter, bandleader, and producer. After delivering another unqualified triumph with 2023's eloquent and brilliantly crafted
Weathervanes, 2025's
Foxes in the Snow is a bit of a surprise. For this project,
Isbell has given his band
the 400 Unit a break, and the 11 songs feature just the songwriter and his acoustic guitar, without any audible overdubs or trickery, presenting the material in its most intimate form. It would be easy to see this as
Isbell taking a breather while still delivering new product, knocking out a few acoustic tracks while he maps out his next "real" album, but that's not how it plays. He uses the simplicity of his presentation on
Foxes in the Snow with canny intelligence, presenting a set of songs about the peaks and valleys of relationships with an intimacy that allows all their shadings to be plainly visible. It may or may not be significant that
Foxes in the Snow is
Isbell's first album since he and his wife and collaborator
Amanda Shires announced they were splitting up, but these songs often speak of love that's strong and lasting while also sounding rueful, as if he knows he's singing in the past tense and he's celebrating a relationship that's run its course. Whatever the context, it doesn't change the heart, soul, and gentle intensity of songs like "Ride to Robert's," "Gravelweed," and the title track, and "Don't Be Tough" is a wise litany of lessons learned the hard way. (And "Good While It Lasted" is as compassionate a breakup song as you're likely to find.)
Foxes in the Snow gives
Isbell a chance to show off his abilities as a vocalist and guitarist with no distraction; it turns out he's every bit as adept with an acoustic as he is with an electric, and he shares his stories with a master's touch.
Jason Isbell is a singer and songwriter who is never afraid to do the work to make his music something special, and even when he's performing in stripped-down fashion, he delivers great songs and the commitment to make them special. Anyone who questions that hasn't heard
Foxes in the Snow. ~ Mark Deming
