Something More Than Free Explained

Something More Than Free
Type:studio
Artist:Jason Isbell
Cover:Somethingmorejasonisbell.jpg
Released:July 17, 2015
Recorded:March 2015
Studio:Sound Emporium (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre:Americana, alternative country
Length:43:55
Label:Southeastern
Producer:Dave Cobb
Prev Title:Southeastern
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:The Nashville Sound
Next Year:2017

Something More Than Free is the fifth studio album by Jason Isbell, released on July 17, 2015. It was produced by Dave Cobb, who had produced Isbell's previous record, Southeastern (2013).[1] At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, the album won the award for Best Americana Album, and the song "24 Frames" won the award for Best American Roots Song.[2]

Reception

The album received mostly positive reviews.[3] On Metacritic, it has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 25 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".

Jon Freeman of Nash Country Weekly gave the album a grade of "A" and wrote that "Jason Isbell has a reporter's eye for detail and a poet's gift for a beautifully crafted turn of phrase". He went on to say that "Jason's throaty rasp, not unlike Tyler Farr's, is the ideal vehicle for those stories [...] It may not be all pretty, but Something More Than Free is as real as it gets."[4] Craig Manning of AbsolutePunk praised the album, writing: "Like Southeastern, Something More Than Free is a masterwork, and while I'm not sure if I quite agree with Isbell that it's better than Southeastern, it certainly offers a different (but equally satisfying) experience."[5] In another positive review that compared the album to its predecessor, Eric Swedlund of The A.V. Club wrote that, "though Something More Than Free may not repeat Isbell's album-of-the-year accolades, it continues the magic of that breakthrough LP".

Jeremy Winograd of Slant Magazine wrote, in an otherwise positive review, that Something More Than Free "retains Southeasterns intimate acoustic-based feel and heavyhearted lyrical matter, but it's even more smooth-edged and lacks the emotional gut-punches of its predecessor."[6] In a mixed review, Stephen Deusner of Pitchfork described Something More Than Free as "an album that contains too few surprises", and said that "the music does little to distinguish these characters or enliven the lyrics".

Accolades

PublicationYearAccoladeRank
Stereogum2015The 50 Best Albums of 201531[7]
Nashville Scene201516th Annual Country Music Critics' Poll2[8]
Rolling Stone201540 Best Country Albums of 20151[9]

Commercial performance

In the United States, the album debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200, and at number 1 on Billboards Top Rock Albums, Folk Albums, and Top Country Albums charts,[10] [11] with 46,000 units sold.[12] Although he had previously had critical success in the Americana genre, this was the first time one of Isbell's albums had performed so well on the charts across several genres.[13] As of July 2016, the album had sold 143,000 copies in the U.S.[14]

The single "24 Frames" peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Triple A Airplay chart,[15] and at number 42 on the Rock Airplay chart.[16]

Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)Position
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[17] 38
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[18] 11
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[19] 43

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jason Isbell - 06/20/15 . July 16, 2015 . .
  2. News: Colurso . Mary . Grammy Awards 2016: Jason Isbell wins for Best Americana Album & Best American Roots Song . 16 February 2016 . Alabama Media Group . 2016-02-15.
  3. News: Mazor . Barry . 'Something More Than Free' by Jason Isbell Review . 13 August 2015 . . 4 August 2015.
  4. Freeman, Jon. Something More Than Free - Jason Isbell. countryweekly.com. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  5. Web site: Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free - Album Review. absolutepunk.net. Manning. Craig. 2015-07-14. 2015-07-16.
  6. Winograd, Jeremy. Jason Isbell: Something More Than Free. Slant. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  7. Web site: The 50 Best Albums Of 2015 . stereogum.com . 2015-12-01 . 2015-12-10.
  8. Web site: 16th Annual Country Music Critics' Poll . nashvillescene.com . 2016-01-28 . December 18, 2020.
  9. Web site: 40 Best Country Albums of 2015 . rollingstone.com . December 18, 2020.
  10. News: Mason . Anthony . The fall and rise of Jason Isbell . 9 August 2015 . . 9 August 2015.
  11. News: Kellmurray . Beth . Jason Isbell Celebrates the Chart Success of 'Something More Than Free' . 9 August 2015 . . 27 July 2015.
  12. News: Jason Isbell Lands No. 1 on Country Albums Chart . Jim Asker . July 28, 2015 . Billboard .
  13. News: Hight . Jewly . Country Star (and Expectant Dad) Jason Isbell 'Glad to Have My Baby on the Brain' . 9 August 2015. . 5 August 2015.
  14. News: Country Albums Sales Chart: July 12, 2016 . Matt . Bjorke . July 12, 2016 . Roughstock .
  15. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName |artist=jason isbell|chart=Triple A}} Jason Isbell Album & Song Chart History - Adult Alternative Songs ]. Billboard.com . 10 September 2015.
  16. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jason isbell|chart=Rock Airplay}} Jason Isbell Album & Song Chart History - Rock Airplay]. Billboard.com . 11 September 2015.
  17. Web site: Top Country Albums – Year-End 2015. Billboard. July 25, 2020.
  18. Web site: Americana/Folk Albums – Year-End 2015. Billboard. July 25, 2020.
  19. Web site: Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2015. Billboard. July 25, 2020.
  20. Web site: Top Country Albums – Year-End 2016. Billboard. July 25, 2020.