Ex-Drive-By Truckers member Jason Isbell played six sold-out nights at Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium (aka The Mother Church of Country Music) in 2017, and this album selects 13 tracks from the shows. Isbell's solo career has skyrocketed with a streak of critically acclaimed, award-winning albums (he recently also wrote a song for the hit film A Star Is Born): 2013's South Eastern, 2015's Something More Than Free, and 2017's The Nashville Sound. The tracklist consists of songs from said works, a greatest-hits of sorts, backed by his band the 400 Unit. Check out "Elephant," a deeply personal account of a friend suffering from cancer, or "Cover Me Up," the song he wrote for Amanda Shires (plays fiddle and sings backup vocals for 400 Unit). Other highlights include "Last of My Kind," "Flagship," and "Hope the High Road."

• green translucent vinyl
• music label: Southeastern Records 2018

reviewed by singing in japanese 10/18