Jason Isbell Says There Aren’t Great Conservative Songwriters
Pulse rates were raised last week when Saving Country Music chose to take Jason Isbell to task for his new single “Be Afraid,” and specifically the line, “If your words add up to nothing then you’re making a choice, to sing a cover when we need a battle cry,” which seemed to call into question the viability of songs from performers if they choose to not get political in their music, and political in the direction that is parallel with Jason Isbell’s beliefs. This was not just the assessment here. Numerous other critics and outlets concurred, including Rolling Stone, NPR, and others.
As was said here at the time, “There is nothing wrong with expressing political beliefs in music. And if people don’t like it, they can just not listen. But calling other artists to action while characterizing that another artist’s ‘words add up to nothing’ if they don’t speak up is a step too far … In the world of Jason Isbell’s ‘Be Afraid,’ you are not acceptable if you choose to not speak out. And as the current King of Americana, those words have a great impact.”
Some, if not many questioned this evaluation of the “words add up to nothing” line, and said I was being overly sensitive about the message, while others said that the song was not overtly political at all. Well if there was any question of what Jason Isbell meant with that line, he removed all doubt on Monday (2-17) when publicly responding to a comment on Twitter, retweeting his response so that his 300,000+ followers could see and join in.
“I am glad I can separate the art from the artist,” a Twitter user said. “Your music is great, but your politics blow ass.”
The tweet was subsequently removed by the user after they were bullied and harassed by numerous Jason Isbell Twitter followers. It’s was the kind of common, everyday snarky political tweet you regularly see on the internet that probably doesn’t even deserve a response, or attention. But the Twitter user did say he wouldn’t let his difference of political opinion hold him back from enjoying Jason Isbell’s music.
It’s Jason Isbell’s response that was not only troubling, and validating of his down-looking assessment of songwriters and artists who don’t hold his same political beliefs. It was also absolutely incorrect.
“If it ever gets to be too much for you, there are a lot of great songwriters out there who agree with you politically. Oh wait, no there aren’t,” Jason Isbell responded.
The comeback drew plenty of praise from Jason Isbell’s followers, with his response earning over 900 retweets and nearly 14,000 likes at the time of this post. Nearly all of the 500 responses to the tweet were in vociferous agreement with Isbell on his assessment of conservative songwriters, with the usual punching bags—names like Toby Keith, Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood, and Ted Nugent—getting dragged.
But the idea that conservatives, Republicans, or whomever else can’t or don’t write quality songs is a ludicrous, arrogant assessment, and defines the very intolerance, stereotyping, and closed-mindedness Jason Isbell and his followers profess to be against. In fact many of the respondents to the Tweet praised Isbell for fighting against bigotry and intolerance with his comeback.
About the only voice of reason in the over 500 responses came from traditional country artist Joshua Hedley, who’s usually part of the east Nashville snarky Twitter brigade, but responded to Jason Isbell, “Bro let’s be honest here, there are likely a shit ton of great country writers who are conservative. Bill Anderson wrote City Lights when he was 19 and idk….I don’t see him voting for Sanders. That being said, this particular dude seems to be an idiot.”
Like Joshua Hedley said, the amount of conservative songwriters who contributed to the American songwriting canon is incredible. To start trying to name them off feels like an exercise in the absurd simply because the names would be too vast to do it justice, and gives even a modicum of credence to Isbell’s assertion that conservatives can’t write quality songs, including ones that speak deeply to the human condition, or even engage in social justice. But the idea that you can’t be conservative and write quality music is once again an affront to the entire creative process, let alone the institution of music as a place where people of all political stripes can congregate, share expressions, and be exposed to other people’s perspectives and ideas.
And sure, perhaps there was an element of snark in Jason Isbell’s tweet, but similar to his line in the new song “Be Afraid” asserting that the works of musicians “add up to nothing” if they don’t get political, the tweet is being taken very literally by Jason Isbell’s fans, acolytes, and many of his fellow Americana artists, numerous of whom commented on or retweeted Isbell’s response.
This continuing attitude from Jason Isbell goes far beyond any arguments about whether artists should get political in their music, even though this is how it will be broached by his defenders with the same tired and canned responses and talking points, as opposed to seeing the bigger picture here of Jason Isbell’s attempt to grossly politicize the music space, and shame artists who don’t participate.
The original Twitter user that Jason Isbell was responding to was just voicing his political opinion, which he has a right to do, no different than Jason Isbell. But unlike Jason Isbell, the Twitter user was able to separate those political opinions from his evaluation of art—something that the Jason Isbell of 2020 appears to be completely unwilling or incapable of.
– – – – –
Editor’s Note: Saving Country Music takes no political affiliation whatsoever, and has criticized conservative performers such as Neal McCoy (read), Aaron Lewis (read), and John Rich (read) for also making completely irrational political statements either publicly, or through their music.
Saving Country Music also has no bias against Jason Isbell. Just two weeks ago, his record Southeastern was named the #3 Album of the Decade, and after seeing him perform recently, commented, “Future generations will look back at us with envy that we lived during the time when Jason Isbell was at his peak powers, writing and performing songs that would go on to define this generation, and still be sung and performed well into the future as a primary influence in songwriting and performance.”
However, this irresponsible and reckless evaluation by Jason Isbell of the musical contributions of individuals unwilling to speak out politically or who happen to be conservative is beyond the pale, and deserves to be vehemently challenged.
Aggc
February 18, 2020 @ 10:40 am
Each and every song doesnt need to carry some profound message. I mostly listen just for enjoyment. I dont need a song to change the way I look at life. Just my opinion.
Kevin Broughton
February 18, 2020 @ 3:24 pm
Isbell is obviously antagonistic — not merely indifferent — to people with different political beliefs. Taking a page from his unhinged former bandmate, Patterson Hood.
I’ll never buy this upcoming political screed, nor spend another dime to see him live.
Sam Cody
February 18, 2020 @ 3:35 pm
I like about 50% of his output, but he’s definitely an arrogant fuck who thinks he’s the only good songwriter there is. So if you don’t agree with Isbell politically, you must not be Isbell, so you must not be a good songwriter…
Either way, he got his degree in political science the same place everyone else here did. Facebook memes.
Jimmy
February 19, 2020 @ 12:03 am
Well said, Sam. I’m a fan of some of Isbell’s music, but he reminds me of Don Henley in the sense that Henley has always acted like he created music. Isbell has written some great songs, and he’s written some shitty songs. What’s interesting to me is the more sideways Jason goes with his ‘I’m the only great songwriter’ attitude and his political opinions, the worse his songs get. The guy needs to turn off the mainstream news and get a clue.
dlw
March 18, 2020 @ 1:08 pm
I agree. He’s gotten so mellow with his sound he makes James Taylor sound like Jusas Priest.
thegentile
February 19, 2020 @ 9:28 am
i think you missed the part where the twitter user antagonized isbell and told him his politics “blow ass”.
DLW
March 18, 2020 @ 6:11 am
But they do.
dlw
March 18, 2020 @ 1:06 pm
I’m with you, bro. Fuck this arrogant prick.If he doesn’t like my political views he can kiss my ass.
Michael Strait
February 18, 2020 @ 10:45 am
I did not know Cody Jinks had ever made his politics known at all. Odd to see him mentioned on that list.
Rob
February 18, 2020 @ 11:12 am
That’s what I love about Cody. He makes great songs and doesn’t get overtly political. He’s your everyday guy, and doesn’t feel the need to stroke his ego by pretending his opinion is more important than someone else’s. But if I had to guess he’s probably conservative. He’s never made it publicly known as far as I know though.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 11:25 am
I’ve interpreted him as being more liberal for reasons I stated below.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 11:30 am
See, this is why I didn’t try to populate a list of conservative songwriters, because every single time you populate a list of anything, it’s all about “how could you forget this person” or “you list is bunk because you included so and so.” The point is there are conservative songwriters who are “great,” and it’s ridiculous this point even needs to be made.
I took Cody Jinks’ name out. Move on.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 11:44 am
But it is hard to legitimately name many great conservative writes. Isbell wasn’t that far off the mark. I’ll put down Jamey Johnson, Alan Jackson, early Travis Tritt…..
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 11:55 am
One of the reasons for this is because conservatives tend to not wear their politics on their sleeves like liberals, and the conservatives that do are usually annoying about it and don’t make good examples. The point is, of course there are great conservative songwriters, just like there are great liberal ones. I’ll eve go farther and say probably most of the greatest songwriters were liberal. But that doesn’t mean a conservative is incapable of writing a great song. It’s such a ludicrous argument.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 11:55 am
Even great, known conservative artists like Loretta Lynn wrote about the most liberal subject matter of the time.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 12:12 pm
“One of the reasons for this is because conservatives tend to not wear their politics on their sleeves like liberals, and the conservatives that do are usually annoying about it and don’t make good examples.”
You know that’s not true! Your punching bag examples – Toby Keith, Ted Nugent, Hank Jr – they are so in face and full of bravado and chest pumping.
I thought of another … Chris Knight. I consider him great, but don’t know if that’s the general consensus. But he’s not in your face about his conservative beliefs.
Samuel
February 18, 2020 @ 1:46 pm
Jason Isbell isn’t a great songwriter. Petulant, maudlin, oedapal and bush league at best. Even his better work falls short of being great and has a pretentiousness typical of the left wing and corporate culture. If there wasn’t such a void in rock and country now he’d be unknown. He wouldn’t even register on the radar in the heyday of either genre. I’m a libretarian, a truck driver with a stack of songs seldom heard and serveral are better than anything this guy has ever written. All great artists are individualists. With few exceptions none of the great artists of the past would identify with the democratic or more accurately “collectivist” or communist, totalitarian party of today. If anything artists should be speaking out against “liberal” group think in Nashville, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Hollywood. “Politics are downstream from culture.”
Ben
February 18, 2020 @ 8:15 pm
Trigger,
Conservative is nothing more than a brand it has nothing to do with political beliefs. You ever notice how the world Conservative is usually followed by an advertisement for something to buy? It’s a life style brand just like the Kardashians. Even the term liberal is typically used within the context of any political ideology not endorsed by the current marketing gurus within Conservatism.
Bradley C
May 11, 2020 @ 6:51 pm
The drivel spouted by our friend Samuel is a prime example of what discourse usually devolves into now. Whether or not Isbell is your cup of tea, it seems disingenuous to dismiss him so completely, given the various accolades he has received, including from industry groups, contemporaries and great songwriters such as the late John Prine. It makes it all the more irritating that Isbell is playing in the same sandbox of overheated, unsubtle, either/or rhetoric. It makes it harder to defend him from the Samuels of the world when he is operating at, if not the same level, then certainly the same general area. In my opinion, the best way one shows one’s art is by writing something so subtly and specifically that it just seems like a song about a guy (or gal) living life at one particular point in time. Isbell is a master of that, as was John Prine, as is Lost Dog Street Band and many others, living and dead.
It is also frustrating that the growth of an artist or any perceived change of opinion is used as a evidence to charge them with flip-flopping or following the crowd, or the old stand-by we loved in 80’s & 90’s, selling out. People change and grow. I’m 51 years old and I don’t hold all the same opinions that I did when I was Isbell’s age. I certainly don’t hold the same opinions as I did when I was 31 or 21. I’m not talking about superficial things like “Now I like beets” or “ what was I thinking with that haircut?” As I’ve lived and had various experiences, including being proven wrong move than a few times, my ideas and beliefs have evolved. I hope they are more accurate, compassionate and fact-based but, being a recovering addict (and a very slightly recovered arrogant, misanthropic asshole) I imagine I am still under the sway of biases, both new and old. I applaud Isbell for growing, being curious and allowing himself to change. That being said, we all make mistakes. Isbell’s willingness to take part in the kind of absolutist jingoism I see in many online forums, including this one, is unfortunate. I hope he reconsiders and goes back to more nuanced opinions, both in his art and his online presence.
That being said, I would like to see a list of examples of the work of “conservative” songwriters (whatever that means) that successfully articulate a conservative viewpoint. I know “Okie from Muskogee” (although Merle seemed to have changed some of his opinions along the way), “Proud to be an American” and “A Country Boy Can Survive.” I’m talking about a nuanced, character driven song that shows a point of view, rather than shouting it through a megaphone. There are too many megaphones in play now and sometimes Isbell is holding one of them. Sometimes, so am I.
Trigger
May 11, 2020 @ 8:24 pm
Under pressure, I did make a list of conservative songwriters. You can find it here:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/conservatives-independents-can-be-great-songwriters-too/
J James
February 18, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
I thought his “make 1984 fiction again” was his way of expressing his political views. I could be totally wrong, just my interpretation of him wearing that hat.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 1:24 pm
What does that mean? Reverse the course of history and don’t elect Trump? I wouldn’t surprise one bit because the second line in Cast No Stones is “I build no walls.”
Kevin
February 18, 2020 @ 2:30 pm
“I build no walls” is a figure of speech and has nothing to do with Trump
Chucky Waggs
February 18, 2020 @ 2:38 pm
I think it’s a reference to the George Orwell book, “1984” about a political and social dystopian future. Don’t think it’s a reference to any actual time period or the actual year 1984.
Scott S.
February 18, 2020 @ 6:59 pm
Cast no stones was released before Trump was president. 2015. Good try though.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 9:24 pm
Construction on a wall as a border between the US and Mexico originated in 1990.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico–United_States_barrier
So really good try!
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 2:42 pm
I know now it’s a George Orwell book.
Jody
February 18, 2020 @ 9:55 pm
The subject matter of a song is fine no matter what, if you like it or you don’t. The political choice of the writer shouldn’t be made public unless the writer chooses to do so. Toby Kieth has said publicly that he is a democrat but votes for who he thinks will do the best and that’s how we all should be.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 11:24 am
I agree. In fact, I interpret Cody’s to be more liberal leaning than most … “Cast No Stones” is the obvious example. Hippies, marijuana, heavy metal … Nothing ever lead me to label him conservative.
Uncle2Pillow
February 18, 2020 @ 3:00 pm
I think you can make a case for his political leanings either way, but his lyrics are mostly consistent on the idea of not giving a rip about what the world thinks. Hippies and Cowboys, Cast No stones; both about going against mainstream and sticking to what you believe in. Nothing political.
tucker33585
February 19, 2020 @ 9:30 am
I know this is only speculation but Cody Jinks comes off as conservative to me. He hints at his politics in “We Get By” plus he was raised in the Church of Christ which has always been staunchly conservative. In We Get by he says he has the same politics as his dad too
Fat Freddy's Cat
February 18, 2020 @ 10:46 am
If Mr. Isbell isn’t going to make any music except that which serves “The Cause”, that’s his choice. And of course protest songs form a great part of our music history. But I applaud artists who write songs about everyday life and love and who understand that the shenanigans going on in Washington D.C. are not all there is to life.
MH
February 18, 2020 @ 10:49 am
I guess he will “fight with you down in the ditch.”
Mike W.
February 18, 2020 @ 10:50 am
I love Isbell and his music. But the dude needs to get off social media ASAP. Facebook and Twitter are a cancer, especially in an election year.
Conrad Fisher
February 18, 2020 @ 10:54 am
AGREED. I’ve said this a million times. I love him as long as I stay off Twitter.
Mike W.
February 18, 2020 @ 12:21 pm
I tend to side with Isbell on social and political issues. But getting into Twitter arguments with trolls/bots/etc. is a bad look regardless if you are a conservative or liberal.
Kevin Broughton
February 18, 2020 @ 3:26 pm
Meh, when he was a strung-out addict/drunk, he took to Twitter to accuse other people of ripping off his work.
That, frankly, was more entertaining.
I’ll say it again: maybe he’ll start using again.
Di Harris
February 18, 2020 @ 3:59 pm
He is sounding like what a scuba/spearfishing buddy, described as a “dry” alcoholic.
Had no idea that term even existed.
Learned that day
Mike W.
February 19, 2020 @ 5:23 am
I disagree with someone’s politics so I hope they start abusing narcotics again.
I don’t even know what to say to that, but I guess that sums up ‘Merica 2020.
Jack Williams
February 19, 2020 @ 6:24 am
Thank you for showing us your ass. Again.
Throwback Country
February 18, 2020 @ 10:50 am
I love Isbell, but he needs to be more like Cody Jinks.
“I’ve known a lot of real good men, grad school or no school
I’ve called em’ my friends I’m
I’m somewhere in the middle and that’s just fine
No, I don’t give a damn how much money you make
If your last shirt has pockets, take all you can take I’m
Well, I’m goin’ out with nothin’ like I came in”
Doyle Hargraves
February 18, 2020 @ 10:54 am
Only thing that new song taught me to be afraid of is his new album. He’s always been political, and that’s alright, but that new song sucks. Sounds like some Vaughn shit.
MH
February 18, 2020 @ 11:01 am
LOL
I love how you stay in character on here, Doyle!
Spoony
February 18, 2020 @ 10:55 am
I knew I was right when I stopped listening to this asshole years ago. What a piece of shit, and a piece of shit thing to say. I’m sorry I paid money for his first four albums, same goes for his time with the Drive By Truckers.
wayne
February 18, 2020 @ 10:57 am
He is a typical liberal hypocrite. Babbling about tolerance when he and his kind are everything but. Have no use for him now nor int he past before he became more politically vocal. He is a mouth-fart.
jjazznola
February 18, 2020 @ 1:45 pm
I lean toward the left politically(not that it matters) but I am sure there are some right leaning songwriters out there who write very good songs. That was just a dumb thing to say by a guy who in my opinion is VERY overrated as a songwriter, a musician and as especially a singer and just sounds totally full of himself.
Kross
February 18, 2020 @ 10:57 am
” I don’t think that our fans want to hear about our politics, we’re not what you would call a politically charged band. I fee like our show is an escape for people to get away from how shitty the world might be at the moment. They can come for two hours and try not to worry” –
Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke.
This my friends is how it’s supposed to be done. Every artist has the right to sing about whatever they please, but if they want to be the kind artist that brings people together from all walks of life no matter the political, socioeconomic, or cultural differences this is how you do it. Isbell would do himself a favor to learn this. When did singing songs about universal themes that everyone can relate to go out of style anyways?
Daniele
February 18, 2020 @ 11:24 am
Charlie is a class act.
Black Boots
February 18, 2020 @ 10:58 am
I mean, Dee Dee Ramone was a staunch conservative. ‘Nuff said.
Jack Williams
February 18, 2020 @ 11:45 am
I knew Johnny was and Joey was a liberal. Didn’t know that about Dee Dee.
WVWeirdo
February 18, 2020 @ 11:55 am
I don’t think Dee Dee gave a fuck about anything but heroin. I think you mean Johnny Ramone, but I see your point.
Black Boots
February 19, 2020 @ 7:05 am
Nope, it was both Dee Dee and Johnny.
jjazznola
February 18, 2020 @ 1:50 pm
Not true. That was Johnny who was also a total asshole.
Black Boots
February 19, 2020 @ 7:05 am
Sorry, bud, it was both Dee Dee and Johnny. The Ramones were split politically. It wasn’t just a Joey and Johnny thing.
shteeve
February 18, 2020 @ 11:00 am
Your citing of RS and NPR as supporting your point-of-view is completely disingenuous, as is your clickbait headline. I believe his tweet is in reference to current musicians who would, say, write a song like “Hope the High Road” with a conservative bent, which I think is a pretty fair argument. To assume he’s talking about the whole history of country music is absurd and pretty much amounts to calling him a moron; the guy is a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them.
As for the song itself, I think it’s less of the attack that you’ve made it out to be and much more personal in terms of what matters to him, the standard he wants to hold himself to. Per the quote in the Rolling Stone piece (did you even read it?): “If I don’t do what I consider to be the right thing — which is speak my mind — I’m not gonna be able to sleep when I’m an old man, and I’m not gonna be able to speak to my kids about it.” The song seems completely consonant with those personal beliefs which he has consistently articulated for years.
Maybe you might wanna focus on the actual MUSIC and whether you think it’s good or not instead trying to fire up political conflict just to grab some eyeballs. You’re not “saving” anything with this kind of trash.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 11:36 am
“Your citing of RS and NPR as supporting your point-of-view is completely disingenuous”
I didn’t say they supported my point-of-view. I said they agreed with my assessment that the song was political, and was calling out artists who choose to not get political with their music.
Also, this is not a song review. I already did that. This was about Jason Isbell’s tweet. As for “MUSIC,” his casting off of the contributions of hundreds, perhaps thousands of artists simply for their political leaning is an affront on the institution of music that is close to unprecedented, and I felt the need to speak up.
shteeve
February 18, 2020 @ 2:48 pm
Yoiu just can’t bear the thought of having misjudged something based on your own (very clear) confirmation bias, can you. The tweet was not casting off anyone’s music based on their politics. It was saying there are not currently conservative songwriters making political music from that POV. If you’ve got a great right-wing political song in the past few years, I’d be all ears.
Blackh4t
February 19, 2020 @ 12:47 pm
Straight to mind come Old King Coal telling the hipster protesters to get out of the small town because they don’t know what the hell is really happening.
There are many more.
Or basically any song about relaxing after working all day and feeling hopeful about the future would be considered “blind conservative life choices”
shteeve
February 19, 2020 @ 3:41 pm
Really? Sturgill is not conservative at all, and he’s telling a human story, not a political one. And he says nothing about hipsters; he’s talking about people who have never lived in a small town coming in to try and fix it, and those people could be of any political stripe ’cause I’ve seen it first hand in West Virginia. And, honestly, the tragedy of the coal industry in America had a lot of people of all political stripes to blame. If you wanna hear a brilliant song about that particular topic, check out Charles Wesley Godwin’s Coal Country.
FYI, liberals, moderates and independents I know also enjoy relaxing after work and try to be hopeful about the future. 🙂
the pistolero
February 18, 2020 @ 11:03 am
I said it elsewhere, but it bears repeating here:
If you’re a musical artist, and you want to use your platform to spread a political message, that’s your business. But belittling other artists who choose not to do that is a bit of an asshole move, if I may be so frank.
“And if your words add up to nothing then you’re making a choice to sing a cover when you need a battle cry”
Like, piss off, dude. Not everyone who picks up the mike wants to be the next Pete Seeger or whoever, and that’s their right.
Alaskan Tom
February 18, 2020 @ 11:04 am
I love Jason Isbell, but the fact that Hank Williams himself endorsed Eisenhower on the ’52 Republican ticket, even personally sending Ike a telegram saying how proud he was to endorse a Republican and a war hero is, to me, more than enough to combat that argument entirely.
Jack Williams
February 18, 2020 @ 12:09 pm
Some flaws in that argument. That was a different GOP, for starters. Also, Eisenhower won in a landslide, but the Deep South went for the Democrat (Stevenson), including Hank’s (and Isbell’s) home state of Alabama. Party of Lincoln and all that. So, I would say that Hank stuck his neck out some to vote and publicly support Ike.
Howard
February 18, 2020 @ 4:44 pm
Saying the party’s flipped or that it was a different GOP is a lie. You can do some actual research and figure out this never happened instead of believing everything you have been told.
Jack Williams
February 18, 2020 @ 5:03 pm
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952_United_States_presidential_election
Now fuck off.
Howard
February 19, 2020 @ 4:43 am
LOL if wikpedia is what you consider actual research then it is no wonder you are so confused.
Ron_Jeff
February 19, 2020 @ 6:27 am
That’s the great thing about Wikipedia… anybody can write whatever they want, so you know you’re always getting the very best information possible
Jack Williams
February 19, 2020 @ 6:38 am
@Ron_Jeff
Very glib. Such wit. Not knee jerk at all.
Check my comment a little further below. Particularly, how the South went heavily for Stevenson in 1952 and in particular, Alabama went for him by a 64.6% to 35% margin. Facts.
ShadeGrown
February 19, 2020 @ 5:57 am
Neither party is the same. Republicans today are Democrats from 25 years ago.
Jack Williams
February 19, 2020 @ 6:11 am
The map showing the results in each state is accurate. You’ll notice that the only states Eisenhower lost are in the southeastern part of the country. Also, notice the contiguous belt of states from North Carolina to Louisiana that went for Stevenson.
The detailed voting results for Hank’s home state of Alabama is also accurate. It shows that Eisenhower lost to Stevenson by a margin of 64.6% to 35%. Almost 30 points. War Hero. The Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during WWII. Trump, the most boorish of New Yorkers and a draft dodger to boot, beat Hillary Clinton by a margin of 62% to 35% in 2016.
I remember when there was such a thing as a liberal Republican. At one time in the state where I was raised (New York), the governor (Nelson Rockefeller) and one of the US senators (Jacob Javits) were among them. Today, a genuinely conservative Republican who won’t bend the knee to Trump (e.g., Jeff Flake) is labeled a RINO and will in all likelihood be run out of the party.
King Honky Of Crackershire
February 19, 2020 @ 12:04 pm
Jack,
You’re right about the South changing. The South stopped being racist and left the Democratic Party behind.
Tony Del Puppo
February 18, 2020 @ 5:11 pm
In the 1950s, the Republican Party was already known as the conservative party, since the 1920s in fact. And many former Confederate states voted for Ike in 1952 and 1956. Both parties realigned their political philosophies during the Progressive Era (Dems used to be the small government party in the 19th century), but the geographical shift lagged several decades. Southern Dems were clearly the conservative wing in the Democratic Party during the New Deal, trying to slow down the fairly socialist-inspired New Deal. FDR even tried to purge them in 1938, backfiring miserably. The Southern Dems, in the 1930s, just couldn’t bring themselves to support a party that invaded their region for the sake of Union in 1861. Once it became clear that the Dems were moving in a modern-day big government/liberal direction, the South quickly started moving Republican in the 1950s through 1970s. Hank was likely just in the first wave.
thegentile
February 19, 2020 @ 9:35 am
the problem with this is that conservative ideals of the 1950’s and today have very little in common. eisenhower, the man williams looked up to as a war hero, is nothing like trump, who dodged the draft.
dlw
March 18, 2020 @ 1:21 pm
Are you trying to tell me that Hank Williams was a better songwriter than Jason Isbell?
The Other Wayne
February 18, 2020 @ 11:04 am
The article is great.
But I will say, where is the evidence that Cody Jinks is “conservative?”
He has some vaguely “libertarian” sounding lyrics, but that seems more par-for-the-course for any country singer with an outlaw, anti-authority image than a personal statement of politics.
I’m not saying you’re wrong. But I haven’t seen anything to indicate Jinks’ political views.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 11:29 am
I just cited examples up above to back your argument… hippies, marijuana, “Cast No Stones.”
The Other Wayne
February 18, 2020 @ 12:18 pm
In the end, he’s probably someone with wide-ranging political beliefs that don’t fit in a box like most Americans who don’t spend their entire day on Twitter or watching CNN and Fox.
tucker33585
February 19, 2020 @ 9:34 am
Cody Jinks was raised in a Conservative church which he broke away from, but in We get by he says he has the same politics as his dad. So i will just assume Conservative. Paleoconservative at least
Richard
February 18, 2020 @ 11:05 am
Trig, you’ve somewhat misrepresented what Isbell actually wrote in his Tweet. The actual Tweet didn’t say that there were no great songwriters who are conservative. It said that there were not a lot of them.
I disagree with Isbell’s Tweet. I also disagree with how you’ve warped it to fit this piece. Quotes from your piece above including the headline:
“Jason Isbell Says There Are No Great Conservative Songwriters”
“But the idea that conservatives, Republicans, or whomever else can’t or don’t write quality songs…”
“…Isbell’s assertion that conservatives can’t write quality songs…”
This whole piece blows the Isbell Tweet out of proportion.
MH
February 18, 2020 @ 11:16 am
LOL so what he meant to say was there’s “not a lot of them?”
How is that any different? You’re going to dislocate a shoulder with that reach.
Richard
February 18, 2020 @ 11:36 am
Read the Tweet. That is what he said. It’s not a reach to read the words that people write. It’s a reach to twist them into something that he didn’t write.
I’m not Jason Isbell. Neither are you, and neither is Trig. None of us are able to determine what he meant or what he was thinking. So we can only go by what he actually said.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 11:39 am
Richard, I understand what you’re saying, but you’re basically arguing semantics here, which can bog down very fast. Long story short, Jason Isbell called into question the quality of songwriters solely based on their political leanings. That’s inappropriate, and incorrect.
Richard
February 18, 2020 @ 11:48 am
It is semantics. I’m of the opinion that words matter, and that in several instances, you’ve twisted Jason Isbell’s words. I dislike it when people are intentionally misrepresented for a clickbait headline.
I agree with the main argument you are making. There are many great conservative songwriters.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 12:51 pm
When I wrote, “Song Review – Jason Isbell’s “Be Afraid” I was accused of writing a clickbait headline, by multiple people. Ultimately a headline is just that, and it’s the body of the article that represents the information an article contains. The very nature of a title is to create interest. People will always accuse a topic like this of being “clickbait,” no matter what the title is.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 1:50 pm
Richard is right. Read what Isbell wrote. He wrote “there are a lot of great songwriters out there who agree with you politically. Oh wait, no there aren’t.”
As in “no, there aren’t a lot.” He absolutely did not say “there are none.”
.
And more importantly, he’s right. There AREN’T a lot. At least not many who express their political beliefs in their music. And that is because art, by it’s nature, tends to be more liberally inclined. You may try to deny it, but it is 100% true.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 2:25 pm
I’ve already addressed this numerous ways, and it feels like Groundhog Day with the line from “Be Afraid.”
But I will say this: Nobody has brought up how Joshua Hedley had the same reaction that I did, and Joshua Hedley is a pretty damn liberal guy. What Jason Isbell said was patently absurd, and there are a ton of great conservative songwriters. We can argue semantics and maybe you don’t interpret as severe as I do. But there was no reason for Isbell to even say that. It’s a non sequeter. Why downgrade conservative songwriters?
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 2:39 pm
It’s not arguing semantics. It’s arguing the meaning of words and the structure of his sentences. He wrote “there are a lot of great songwriters out there who agree with you politically. Oh wait, no there aren’t.”
So, tell me how that translates to “there are none.” Because that’s what you titled your article. That he said “there are none.” Which is patently and demonstrably false.
Kate was right. This was clickbait. And your claim is as inflammatory as you accuse Isbell of being.
RWP
February 18, 2020 @ 11:06 am
He really thinks his shit don’t stink. Seems to be the way most of the Americana crowd are these days. Sad!!
Did he tweet back to Hedley? I’m assuming no since he usually only claps back to those with 20 followers or less. Tough guy.
Jarrod S.
February 18, 2020 @ 11:07 am
What a load of trash. Name five well-written country songs from the past 20 years that espouse a politically conservative viewpoint. Take your time, I’ll wait.
Most are pandering, cloying, or otherwise subpar. A few examples that quickly come to mind: Daryl Worley’s completely asinine “Have You Forgotten,” Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning,” and Aaron Lewis’ “Country Boy.”
If anything, Isbell’s response might’ve lacked nuance in the interest of snark. It seems fairly obvious that he is critiquing the quality of politically conservative songs more than the writers themselves. And if the question is the quality of the songs, it’s hard to argue.
MH
February 18, 2020 @ 11:20 am
Go back to your Twitter echo chamber there, soy boy.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 11:44 am
I can’t infer what Jason Isbell meant in his tweet, I can only read it for what he said, and what he said was patently clear.
“Name five well-written country songs from the past 20 years that espouse a politically conservative viewpoint.”
That’s beside the point. Jason Isbell didn’t call out conservative songs. He called out conservative songwriters. I completely agree that some of the worst garbage in country music in the last 20 years has been flag-waving pandering bullshit meant to stir the conservative base, just like Jason Isbell is doing with his base with this tweet, prattling for retweets to get the dopamine rush going. I’ve personally called out many of those songs, and even created a country music persona named Michael Jackson Montgomery to mock that music. But that doesn’t mean that the political stripes of a songwriter have any affiliation to the quality of their output. What Jason Isbell said was ludicrous.
Montysano
February 18, 2020 @ 2:40 pm
Commenter: “Name five well-written country songs from the past 20 years that espouse a politically conservative viewpoint.”
“That’s beside the point.”
What an incredibly lame response. C’mon….name five. Name five that explain and celebrate the Trumpian view of the world. Five that talk about a wall, about babies in cages, about lying. Surely you can name five?
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 2:57 pm
See, just your comment right here illustrates that it’s a seething, unhinged anger for Trump that is so effusive, it is bleeding into other portions of culture and creating collateral damage. The “Trumpian view of the world” is not a conservative view of the world. If you talk to most conservatives, they’re embarrassed by many of the things Trump has said and done too. It just happens to be that most (though not all) believe he was a better alternative to their only other option. And no, there are no songs about “babies in cages.”
Even entertaining the idea that you can’t come up with well-written songs from a conservative viewpoint is a very dangerous exercise. But for the sake of argument, I’ll give you one very easy example. Tracy Lawrence released a record in 2019 called “Made in America.” The whole album is well-written, but if you want, just focus on the first four songs. All come from a conservative point of view, all of them are respectful to everyone and talk about the importance of self-reliance and other conservative values without being bellicose or patronizing, and it’s very enjoyable no matter your political stripes.
As I said in my review, “It’s not fair to label it as some jingoistic work like an early 2000’s Toby Keith collection, but Tracy Lawrence does have a message here, and that message is that America is worth standing up for, and so are the principles of hard work and personal responsibility.”
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-tracy-lawrences-made-in-america/
Montysano
February 18, 2020 @ 3:09 pm
“The “Trumpian view of the world” is not a conservative view of the world. If you talk to most conservatives, they’re embarrassed by many of the things Trump has said and done too”
If you voted for him, you own it. If you continue to support him, you own it. He IS the face of American conservatism today. Sorry, but that’s just unavoidable.
“Even entertaining the idea that you can’t come up with well-written songs from a conservative viewpoint is a very dangerous exercise. ”
Why? Tell us, please, and be precise. Because that’s what I took from Isbell’s tweet: where are the excellent, well written songs celebrating pu**y grabbing? Where’s a sharply written ode to paying off porn stars that you slept with?
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 3:18 pm
Why are we talking about Trump? What does he have to do with songwriting?
“Why? Tell us, please, and be precise.”
I did tell you. But you’re too seething with anger for Trump to listen. Of course there are great conservative songwriters. You asked for examples and I gave you some that all live on the same album. Now you’re back talking about Trump.
Howard
February 18, 2020 @ 4:52 pm
The babies in cages photos that you saw were taken in 2014. During the Obama administration. Do some research.
wayne
February 18, 2020 @ 5:53 pm
Liberals do not know how to research.
Ronald Larry Greene
February 18, 2020 @ 6:50 pm
Who gives a crap what everyone else thinks? I tend to think for myself and I think that there are a lot of people who are confused about what the Socialists have in store for America. These poor people who think that these rich Socialists are going to help them will be sadly awakened one day. Maybe it won’t be too late. I don’t think Jason Isbell really knows or cares about fellow Americans. My opinion is that Country Music is not what it used to be. But that is only my opinion.
ROBERT MCGLORY
February 18, 2020 @ 9:00 pm
Where’s the song “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor” or “That’s not who we are” or “I weaponized the IRS” ?
Blockman
February 19, 2020 @ 9:40 pm
Dumbest post in this thread so far. Will continue reading and return with my final judgement.
JS
February 18, 2020 @ 12:46 pm
It’s easy to pick on the over-the-top “conservative” songs since 9/11, but let’s not pretend that we don’t hear plenty of pandering political platitudes in “liberal” songs as well, especially in recent years. Will Hoge, Margo Price, etc.
The same people who roll their eyes at Toby Keith’s pro-war stuff applaud Margo Price saying that women have been treated like slaves since 1776 and are “owned like dogs.” Give me a break…neither is sophisticated commentary.
Justin
February 18, 2020 @ 1:32 pm
Let me guess, you like Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton LOL.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 2:27 pm
Let me guess….you think Donald Trump did nothing wrong and that “acquitted means innocent.”
Rusty
February 18, 2020 @ 4:54 pm
Look up the definition of acquitted there smart guy
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 6:16 pm
Look up the difference between “innocent” and “not guilty,” idiot. I take it, though, that you would also say OJ Simpson was innocent?
Rusty
February 19, 2020 @ 4:46 am
Despite what you say, in this country, you are still innocent until proven guilty.
Cobra
February 19, 2020 @ 5:07 am
well, all the young unarmed black men who are shot by police (and wannabe cops) will certainly be glad to hear that.
Dave
February 18, 2020 @ 11:08 am
If I want to be preached to I’ll go to church. If I want to be lectured, I’ll call up my folks. If I want to be angry I’ll watch the news. And if I want to be insulted I’ll listen to Jason Isbell.
Music is a form of entertainment and escapism. Certainly some songs are prolific in their social commentary, but the medium of music is not and should not devolve into politics with a rhythm section.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 2:54 pm
try telling that to Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.
Musiccityman
February 18, 2020 @ 11:11 am
Jason and his family live in a wealthy suburban home, filled with expensive guitars and a well stocked pantry. If anyone deserves to reap the rewards of middling ability, it’s this smug douchebag and his domineering wife. Keep leading the charge, Jason! (For what exactly I have no idea…)
Adam
February 18, 2020 @ 11:15 am
Isbell’s Twitter is the absolute worst. You’ll never see people pat themselves on the back so fucking hard. The smugness is overwhelming
Wesley Gray
February 19, 2020 @ 12:28 am
i unfollowed him a long time ago because i was tired of him making it a hard time to be a fan of his music. i still am a fan of his music but he’s pretty awful at social media.
Uncle2Pillow
February 18, 2020 @ 11:22 am
The reason people are ticked off by Isbell is because he is making the case that political ideology is now the most important factor in creating music, when the reality is, the public favors music that just plain sounds good. So out of touch.
Chris
February 18, 2020 @ 11:25 am
Well, Travis Tritt’s a conservative and he’s written some great stuff.
Colter
February 18, 2020 @ 11:38 am
I’d take Leroy Virgil any day of the week over Isbell.
glendel
February 18, 2020 @ 11:47 am
the two great conservative songwriters: Larry Gatlin, Kix Brooks.
both are really, really great, and stretch across the aisle (Obama using Brooks and Dunn music for walkup music, Gatlin 2017 picture w/ Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton at hurricane relief concert).
Ian
February 18, 2020 @ 2:05 pm
Waylon Jennings hated Larry Gatlin with the heat of a million suns. Had a conversation with the great Gurf Morlix about him which included an episode where Tom T Hall joked around with Gurf about having him up to Fox Hollow to join them for dinner. Also his songs are middling at best.
OMFS88
February 18, 2020 @ 11:53 am
It is always weird how one side of civilians claim to be the party of “no hate” and then spew pure hatred towards the other side.
If only politicians on either side of the partisan line were as varied as the folks who vehemently support one side over another believed maybe all this hatred would make more sense to me.
Mike2
February 18, 2020 @ 11:55 am
I somewhat agree with Richard that the tweet is being blown out of proportion. With that being said, it was still unnecessarily rude and was probably meant to drive that person off. What irks me about that, is that filtering out your fan base to the point where only people who agree with you are listening will do nothing to help the causes you stand for. If anything, it will hurt them. Not too long ago Jason himself acknowledged this, saying
“Conservative fans are a big part of the reason why I choose to speak my mind. I’m not looking for an echo chamber. If I hated you I wouldn’t want you to get better at empathizing. I’d just want you to go away.”
If he keeps this up he won’t have any more conservative fans.
Kevin Broughton
February 18, 2020 @ 5:30 pm
He’s certainly lost this one. And I was a HUGE fan. “Something More Than Free” is a top-20 all time album for me. When he came to Mississippi to play shows, I smoked him up back stage multiple times. He autographed my guitar.
But Trump (whom I loathe and for whom I won’t vote) made him lose his mind. His last album, “White Guilt,” was a temper tantrum, and a mediocre one.
CF
February 18, 2020 @ 11:57 am
If Chris Knight isn’t conservative, I swear to God I’ll listen to Be Afraid all the way through, twice.
But since he’s not a Twitter weirdo he won’t ever write an embarrassing political song, he’ll just say he is not going to take that ride and will let his way of looking at the world sink in without screeching obnoxiously about babies in cages or whatever.
And I won’t ever have to listen to Be Afraid all the way through unless I want to laugh about it with my friends when we’re drunk.
Chris Knight is a better songwriter than Isbell.
ShadeGrown
February 18, 2020 @ 5:19 pm
Yes. Chris Knight, whatever his politics might be, is far and away a better writer than Isbell. Isbell is the most overrated songwriter there is in my opinion and I don’t say that cause I don’t like his politics – although I feel better saying it for that reason.
North Woods Country
February 18, 2020 @ 6:45 pm
It’s not even close between the two. Knight does no preaching, and you never have to wonder what the hell he’s talking about. Isbell should take notes.
Jason is still a phenomenal songwriter, but he’s conflating his ideological beliefs with his artistic purpose. Implosion forthcoming.
Jack
February 18, 2020 @ 11:11 pm
I went to the comments looking for Chris Knight and was not disappointed. You’re absolutely right. Unquestionably a better songwriter than Isbell, Knight just has humility and the appropriate amount of respect for music.
Songwriting ability and political/governmental/historical/economical/etc aptitude have nothing to do with each other. The political opinion of my favorite band is as persuasive as that of my plumber. Most plumbers are probably more politically informed. I don’t care which side of the aisle he’s on, his attitude on this matter just makes him look like a cocky, ignorant, adolescent.
Thomas
February 18, 2020 @ 11:57 am
Wow, your first article was fairly unhinged. This one is clutching pearls over snark… and while there are conservative writers in music who have talent… I took it to mean conservative writers who wrote effectively about political stances. And there I think the crowd is much thinner. Stop being such a, what’s the term, snowflake?!
Jack
February 19, 2020 @ 12:49 pm
He actually stated multiple times that Isbell can say whatever he wants, so no, snowflake is not the term you were looking for.
Saul V. Ambulando
February 18, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
If you’re the kind of person who insists that “all art is political,” which I expect is a sentiment that Jason Isbell would insist upon, then you’d have a tough time arguing that country music is something other than fundamentally and intrinsically conservative art – and that any specific examples you’d proffer to say otherwise would be exceptions that prove the rule. So whatever the validity of Isbell’s point about artists, the fact of the matter is that a lot of conservative art is being made regardless of the bent of the artists.
And before the showers of dissent begin, please note that by conservative, I do not mean Republican.
Ben
February 18, 2020 @ 12:10 pm
I’ve always gotten a somewhat conservative view from most of the Turnpike Troubadours’ songs… But I suppose that is just good writing, vague enough and not blatantly political so both sides can identify with the song. Anti war messages, yet pro gun and pro hunting. Chris Knight also, if someone can point to an openly liberal song of his please let me know.
Mr. Shires needs to pull his thumb out of his ass.
Sutter
February 18, 2020 @ 3:08 pm
Agreed Ben, and I would say that Evan Felker writes (or wrote) circles around Isbell. One of the many reasons he is sorely missed.
Ben
February 18, 2020 @ 4:04 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with you about Felker. Effortlessly brilliant writer.
bob
February 18, 2020 @ 12:11 pm
All three Hanks, Jamey Johnson, Aaron Lewis, Whiskey Myers, and Charlie Daniels are all Conservative. Isbell’s a great artist, but he really needs to get his head out of his ass.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 12:55 pm
I wouldn’t say Hank 3 is a conservative.
bob
February 18, 2020 @ 3:30 pm
He’s usually not political, but a couple lines in the song “Outlaw Convention” make it pretty obvious where he stands politically.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 4:31 pm
Yeah the gun lines.
The only thing I’ve really known Hank 3 to be active in is animal rights. The only time he plays anymore is in support of a yearly pro animal rights benefit in Nashville (I think Elizabeth Cook is involved in that benefit).
That and pro drugs (which is very liberal).
ShadeGrown
February 18, 2020 @ 5:19 pm
Yes. Chris Knight, whatever his politics might be, is far and away a better writer than Isbell. Isbell is the most overrated songwriter there is in my opinion and I don’t say that cause I don’t like his politics – although I feel better saying it for that reason.
ShadeGrown
February 18, 2020 @ 5:21 pm
Probably more of a Libertarian if I had to guess
Michael Strait
February 18, 2020 @ 10:36 pm
The original Hank was liberal for his day, being a Republican back when the Republicans were (compared to the Southern Democrats at least) the liberal party, and also back when white Republicans in the South were rare.
The other two sure, although with III that depends on whether you define libertarianism as conservative
Di Harris
February 18, 2020 @ 12:13 pm
Isbell is just taking the very easy road of sucking up to the liberals in media, both auditory and written, because he knows that is a clear cut way for him to be media driven, which equals $ in his pocket.
Pretty pussy move.
Lots of people talk ad nauseum about a battle cry.
Very few people actually willing to physically do the work.
Kentucky_1875
February 18, 2020 @ 12:15 pm
I believe Jason is a smart individual, so espousing non-logical political views on Twitter is sad. Wouldn’t it be great if he “expanded” his mind by associating with others who hold different views (i.e., conservatives)? Maybe he would realize that we have a lot in common and that his Tweets/interviews are increasing the divisions in our society.
Daw
February 18, 2020 @ 12:32 pm
Unfortunately, “political Twitter” doesn’t really allow for this viewpoint. The standard liberal argument is that “conservatism is driven by evil, hate and/or a need to control the less powerful” and therefore not a “view” worth tolerating, let alone protecting.
It’s why even obviously liberal people like Ellen DeGeneres can get “canceled” merely for having a polite conversation with GWB or Kevin Hart. What a sane person sees as “being an empathetic, rational human” is interpreted as “endorsing an evil war criminal or an unapologetic homophobe” by the Internet weirdos.
They’ve essentially created this concept where there aren’t “two sides to a story” or “diverging opinions.” It’s either “you’re right or you’re wrong.”
It’s silly – because most people don’t have this black-and-white binary view. There are people who support gay marriage but oppose abortion. Who want tighter immigration rules but also seek better treatment of young detainees. And let’s not forget that “democrat icons” like Barack Obama and Bill Clinton had plenty of policy views that would be considered “evil” if espoused by a known conservative.
SmokeyJ
February 18, 2020 @ 12:16 pm
Thanks for addressing this, Trigger.
I think Jason would have been on more solid ground if he pointed out that liberals, on the whole, contribute more to the fine arts. My working theory is that it has something to do with how different brains work (Some people become bankers, some people become painters, etc. But I say it takes all kinds to make this world work).
I just hate to see Jason go down that path of thinking that “the other side” has nothing of value to add to the world. There is too much of that these days, and it is becoming poisonous across the board.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 12:59 pm
No doubt that the creative minds of society have always trended more liberal, and we owe those performers and songwriters a debt of gratitude. But that doesn’t mean that art or good art is strictly confined to the liberal mindset.
RD
February 18, 2020 @ 1:41 pm
“No doubt that the creative minds of society have always trended more liberal…”
I don’t think that is true at all.
Di Harris
February 18, 2020 @ 1:56 pm
Respectfully say that you might want to rethink this statement
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 2:08 pm
No, I’m good with it.
Di Harris
February 18, 2020 @ 2:29 pm
Ok
Dave
February 19, 2020 @ 4:39 am
You just used the same argument Isbell made in his tweet that was the catalyst to your article! I’m writing an article, “Trigger says there are no conservative artists.” See ho much click bait I get.
Kate
February 18, 2020 @ 12:19 pm
The title is clickbait, because he didn’t say that at all. The person he was responding to was a troll and was dealt with accordingly. The things Isbell is singing about are not strictly dividable into liberal and conservative; you can be a conservative and still agree with what Isbell is singing. Therefore, the entire title of this article is bogus.
Travis
February 18, 2020 @ 12:46 pm
It’s kind of hard to agree with a man that feels HE is right and only HE makes music of importance while everyone not trying to go out LARPing as political revolutionaries is wrong
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 1:02 pm
Kate,
Then you needs to convince the hundreds of people who agreed with him as such, and took his line the same way I did, and are currently trolling me on Twitter, telling me to name any good conservative songwriter. That tweet was red meat to a constituency. I saw this same diversionary tactic when Isbell released the song “Be Afraid.” “That’s not what he said!” But with this tweet, Jason Isbell has now doubled down on his assessment of artist who refuse to get political with their music.
D Wade
February 18, 2020 @ 12:19 pm
Pink pussy hats cause brain damage…don’t ever let your spouse put one of those things on your head.
Loretta Twitty
February 18, 2020 @ 12:22 pm
No words. His importance has gone to his head. Maybe he & Swift can become writing buddies!
Mike2
February 18, 2020 @ 12:24 pm
I would also add that what one does is much more important that one’s expressed political views. Take Tyler Childers, for example. Being from rural Kentucky it wouldn’t surprise me if he is a conservative, but I really don’t know. Regardless, the work he has done to help those in impoverished areas, specifically with water distribution to those without access to clean water, was a tangible way to help those affected by the government’s inability and/or unwillingness to do anything. That speaks volumes more than anything Isbell has done on social media.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 1:05 pm
The idea that charity and caring for others is in the strict ownership of liberals is baffling. Think of all the great work faith-based organizations do for the poor and communities. A tweet is just that. Actions speak louder. And a lot of the conservatives that just got called out by Jason Isbell do a lot for their communities and the underprivileged, including, if not especially, the bad ones in the mainstream, who despite their poor taste, do lots in the charity realm.
JF
February 18, 2020 @ 12:30 pm
These days I just want to hear songs about pearl snaps and bourbon and someone done someone wrong. With the current clown-in-chief, I am bombarded with his racist, anti-American, neo-Nazi, constitution disrespecting, wanna-be dictator, deficit inflating, criminal, moronic babbling that I just need to get away sometimes. I don’t want it in my music, period. But just my two cents.
Spoony
February 18, 2020 @ 1:45 pm
You lost me after the first sentence. What in god’s name are you babbling about?
Capn
February 18, 2020 @ 12:33 pm
Never fails to baffle me how artists can write so eloquently and intelligently on some things, as Isbell is clearly capable of, yet write such divisive drivel when it comes to politics. It takes such absurd levels of isolation and small-mindedness to pen lyrics like these and think they have weight or gravity, the mind boggles. American politics is such a complex web of interests, backgrounds, philosophies, etc that for anyone to confidently claim they are right and anyone who doesn’t fall in line should be treated like a leper is just shockingly stupid. Tolerance? Ha! And this isn’t meant to insult all liberals/Democrats at all. We can all have disagreements, that’s the point of America, among other things.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 1:10 pm
It’s because politics is the realm of the irrational. Jason Isbell is a brilliant songwriter, and my assessment of that has not changed one iota. But the hatred is so seething right now for the orange guy, is it veering towards mental illness that clouds judgement and perspective. I get people are angry, and I respect that. But we all must work to mitigate the collateral damage beyond the political sphere, and understand life is not as bad as the media and politicians want to portray to keep us all engaged. Why in the world did Jason Isbell use an admittedly dumb tweet at him to twist off on conservative songwriters of all people?
Capn
February 18, 2020 @ 1:25 pm
It just seems out of touch to me. He comes off like someone who only takes America’s political pulse on the dumpster fire that is twitter. What with the phenomenon of the last election, you’d think a songwriter like Isbell would be interested in figuring out exactly why so many people voted for a guy he so obviously detests. It’s sad to me – he could lend his voice and pen to an attempt at understanding rather than dividing, and that would be a noble endeavor. If the whole album is going to be like this, I fail to see the value in it even today, let alone 20-30 years from now. It’s just another angry artist allowing himself to be swept away by the current of the 24-hour news cycle.
Kyle S
February 18, 2020 @ 3:16 pm
I honestly don’t think he’s a brilliant songwriter. Sure he does lyrics well but isn’t there more to a song than lyrics? IMO he isn’t very good at song construction, hooks, arrangements etc. Most of his stuff sounds like a rambling melody of someone who never had a melody in mind to begin with. Just my opinion.
Jim L.
February 18, 2020 @ 12:35 pm
Liberals are all about feelings, emotions, and dependency. Conservatives are more focused on indisputable facts, logic, and independence. So no surprise that most musicians are liberals.
hoptowntiger94
February 18, 2020 @ 1:00 pm
What a narrow, short-sighted statement.
Jim L.
February 18, 2020 @ 2:23 pm
Oops. I hurt your feelings, so here come the expected attacks. Typical response.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 2:35 pm
You didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. We’re just laughing about how stupid you are.
.
Conservatives are more focused on indisputable facts and logic? Yet, they support a man who has made 16,000 false or misleading claims since taking office. Averaging over 14 lies per day.
.
Conservatives who endlessly say entertainers should stay out of politics only to elect a reality tv star as President?
Jim L
February 18, 2020 @ 2:41 pm
More attacks. Keep ’em coming. You’ ll feel better.
Kyle S
February 18, 2020 @ 3:31 pm
We get it. You don’t like trump
Di Harris
February 19, 2020 @ 8:41 am
Hoptown,
Know this might be Way too early for your heart to think about, since your Maggie Tuesday passed away, (love her photo).
But hoping another dog find’s it’s way to you, for you to love
hoptowntiger94
February 19, 2020 @ 1:45 pm
Thank you! Maybe in the fall, I’ll start looking to adopt another pup. We’ll see. My company is named after her, Maggie’s Lawn Maintenance & Services, so she’ll forever be a part of me.
Di Harris
February 19, 2020 @ 6:13 pm
Awww, that is sweet!
Glad it sounds like you’re doing alright
jjazznola
February 18, 2020 @ 1:58 pm
Jim L That is dumber than anything that Isbell has said.
Benjamin
February 18, 2020 @ 12:35 pm
Trigger,
Thank you for writing this article. I hate how music has become just another means of attacking someone politically. I was at a concert just the other night where the artist sang a cover of a song about “hate” and used the opportunity to talk about the current administration. I don’t care where people fall politically. I don’t ask my friends, I don’t ask my neighbors, and I don’t discuss my own political views unless asked. I understand feeling like you need to “stand up” like Bob Dylan did in the 60’s against racism, but people used to do it out of love. Now it seems people just want to be angry and hate the other side. I would venture to say that over the years liberal vs. conservative songwriters have been pretty 50/50, especially in the Americana/Bluegrass/Country world. I won’t make a list, but like you said earlier, *most* conservatives just make music without causing a ruckus, especially nowadays.
Oh well, I still love Isbell’s music, but this type of attack is ridiculous and immature. I’m fine with liberal messages and songs, like the song “Heaven Sent” by Parker Millsap. That’s definitely not a “traditionally conservative” song, but it’s one of the best written songs I’ve ever heard. Where I get upset is when you attack someone and basically categorize everyone who believes differently from you as an idiot.
Travis
February 18, 2020 @ 12:40 pm
As an independent, I’m lucky that I can listen to liberal or conservative songwriters and enjoy them without feeling offended; and there are definitely talented conservative songwriters. Comedians on the other hand…I can’t find a good conservative comedian to save my life. Dennis Miller and Tim Allen are horrendous!
The Other Wayne
February 18, 2020 @ 1:00 pm
Try comedians with more “independent” politics instead.
Joe Rogan, Dave Chappelle, Doug Stanhope, Tim Dillon, etc. are all brilliant and throw rocks at both glass houses rather than just the one across the road from them.
You can’t be truly “conservative” or “progressive” and be a good comedian, because real humor is the recognition of absurdity. If you are willing to label yourself that way, you’re turning a blind eye to the absurd hypocrisy of both sets of beliefs.
Ben
February 18, 2020 @ 4:14 pm
Bill Burr also. Not a lib or a conservative, just frustrated by everyone.
CF
February 18, 2020 @ 4:58 pm
I don’t think liberals have been funny since the early 2000s.. Samantha Bee? Stephen Colbert? John Oliver? If you ever watch their audiences you’ll notice they aren’t laughing, they’re barking like trained seals. Seriously, it’s all reflex conditioning. Someone like Chapelle is still funny but who knows what the hell he believes. I’m not even sure he knows. Same with Norm Macdonald.
Leftists comedy these days all boils down to, “Wow. Drumpf. Am I right?” Stare at camera. Audience claps their flippers on command.
No thanks, I’ll just rewatch Back to School.
Travis I
February 18, 2020 @ 4:30 pm
I haven’t heard of Tim Dillon so I’ll check him out. I like Rogan but love Chapelle and Burr (noted in Ben’s response)!
John Walter
February 18, 2020 @ 12:42 pm
In these times, a little empathy goes a long way. Conservatism as a politics, seems to have very little of that. I think that is Jason’s beef here. Whether he has misdirected his comments, or they have been misconstrued, I think the problem is that we now make EVERTHING political. It’s a nasty place in (un) social media.
Travis
February 18, 2020 @ 12:44 pm
Say what you will about Aaron Lewis, but the man is a great writer. Go back to his Sinner album where he wrote most of the songs I believe.
Grandpap_dan
February 18, 2020 @ 3:20 pm
With the exception of ‘Northern Redneck’, that album slaps beginning to end.
Will
February 18, 2020 @ 12:45 pm
I saw this tweet pop up on my timeline the day that Jason Isbell responded to the fan. I took it to mean more “good luck finding any musician or entertainer that you agree with 100% politically” rather than “there are no good conservative songwriters.” Just to name a few performers from Trig’s write up and the comments here: Bill Anderson, Cody Jinks, Neal McCoy, Aaron Lewis, John Rich – who knows all these performers exact political beliefs, but if we lump them all into the conservative category can you say you 100% align with everything they do or say? Just like one might lean more liberal, you don’t have to agree with everything Isbell does to enjoy his music too.
Leslie Christine
February 18, 2020 @ 12:49 pm
My take on Isbell’s comment was that there aren’t conservative songwriters writing about conservative issues. It would be ludicrous for him to imply that there are no good conservative songwriters- that list would be exhausting as you said- so I don’t think that’s what he meant. Since I don’t listen to mainstream country, I’m curious if those songs exist. Not including broad-stroke, ambiguous anthems of patriotism. Are there songs about conservative issues out there??
Randy
February 18, 2020 @ 1:01 pm
Yeah…Hank Williams Jr, noted liberal songwriter 🙄
Look I’m liberal as well, but damn thats such a pretentious statement by Isabel.
ben dover
February 18, 2020 @ 1:01 pm
I assume the writer of this article is a trumpster… LOl why?
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 1:11 pm
Yes, you are assuming.
Jimmy
February 19, 2020 @ 12:27 am
I assume you’re a dildo, Ben. See how that works? And Ben Dover – wow, you’re so clever.
DJ
February 18, 2020 @ 1:08 pm
Jason who? LOL
what jason (and liberals and conservatives) fails at is realizing putting out anothers light doesn’t make yours shine brighter-
I don’t care for his attitude I don’t care what his political leanings are- same with simpson and toby keith- it’s also what attracts me to those I do like- attitude. Persona. If they write or play music I like all the better. If not, oh well they don’t get my money. Their loss. Not mine I assure you.
Setting themselves up as some sort of arbiter of whatever is bullshit. They ain’t.
AbsolutelyNotKoeWetzel
February 18, 2020 @ 1:08 pm
Personally, I interpreted the song as more of an introspective rally-cry than a finger-pointing berating of other artists. The events in the song all line-up with an artist who’s reaching a new level of fame and having to wrestle with “shut up and play” or taking a stand. Just the remaining 2cents I have in my bank account after a week in Key West for Mile 0.
AbsolutelyNotKoeWetzel
February 18, 2020 @ 1:10 pm
Jason Isbell. You’re responding to an article about him, you know damn well who he is.
OlaR
February 18, 2020 @ 1:13 pm
Well…but there are great conservative music buyers.
I know one who will not buy your music in the future Mr. Isbell.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 1:43 pm
I’m sure he’s devastated to hear that.
.
I just love it when people tell musicians “I don’t like something you said, so I’m not gonna buy your music anymore.”
.
In the words of Peter Griffin “Oh MY GOD. Who the HELL CARES!?”
OlaR
February 18, 2020 @ 3:24 pm
Looks like i found the right nerve fanboy.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 4:26 pm
Like I told some one else…no nerve struck and my feelings aren’t hurt. I’m laughing at you.
Elk Tracker
February 18, 2020 @ 6:34 pm
Cobra’s got plenty of struck nerves. That’s why he’s posted 67 comments on this article. 😀
Country music only
February 18, 2020 @ 1:15 pm
John Newton disagrees with Jason Isbell.
Could it be that many conservative are Christians? Christians may feel like there are more important causes in this life than politics? Therefore, they spend their time and passion on writing Christian music, and therefore dont show up on Jason’s radar. But it doesn’t mean they dont exist.
The true test of songwriters is if there songs stand the test of time. (Newton)
Jason (was) one of the best songwriters out there. But, he has been told that a few to many times. Now he just has one of the biggest egos out there.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 1:40 pm
Damn Kyle, you seem to really have an axe to grind with Isbell lately. What, did he accidentally run over your dog or something?
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 2:19 pm
I’ve got no beef with Jason Isbell. I’ve got a beef with what he said. I have been extremely consistent on this point, and called out John Rich and others when they have gone out-of-bounds. Jason Isbell is way out-of-bounds.
Justin
February 18, 2020 @ 1:41 pm
I’ll bet Jason likes Bernie Sanders. He strikes me as the freeloader type.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 2:53 pm
a successful independent musician strikes you as the “freeloader” type, but our President who has several bankruptcies to his name along with a documented fraudulent charity, who started his failed businesses with a “small loan of a million dollars” from his father, strikes you as a successful self-made man.
.
And you expect to be taken seriously?
Kyle S
February 18, 2020 @ 3:49 pm
A guy spewing Trump hatred on a music blog of all places and you expect to be taken seriously?
California Brad
February 18, 2020 @ 1:49 pm
What do you think the standard bearers of liberalism think of country music and country music fans? It’s not just, do they like or dislike the music it’s what do they think of us. I live and work in the San Francisco Bay Area and I can tell you…a large percentage (majority) think people who like country music are inbred hicks who live in the south, never finished school past the 4th grade, pump gas for a living, think Waffle House is fine dining, and engage in amorous relations with their kin. And the people who perform country music are no better. So this is who Isbell has affiliated himself with. I personally don’t care who he votes for but I can’t imagine being supportive of people who think that way about my art and my fans.
JM
February 18, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
I mean, Waffle House is fine dining of a sort… I’m a scattered, smothered, covered and peppered kind of guy. But the world is far more complicated and interesting than people in the Bay Area think it is. The sad thing is, Isbell knows better.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 1:53 pm
“this irresponsible and reckless evaluation by Jason Isbell of the musical contributions of individuals unwilling to speak out politically or who happen to be conservative is beyond the pale, and deserves to be vehemently challenged.”
No, Kyle, it does not deserve to be challenged. Not unless you are also going to challenge Dante Alighieri: “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.”
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 2:10 pm
Yeah, but there is no moral crisis. There is simply the hysteria of the day being fed by the political industrial complex, social media, and traditional media trying to hold onto the last vestiges of a dying business model.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 2:17 pm
Perhaps Jason and Cobra here are suffering from the Saint George Retirement Syndrome.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 2:30 pm
If you can look at our President and the hate he spews on a daily basis and the crimes he commits on a daily basis and the violations of the Constitution he commits on a daily basis and honestly tell me with a straight face that “there is no moral crisis,” then don’t for a second pretend you have no political affiliation. You’re not fooling anyone, not even yourself.
Sutter
February 18, 2020 @ 3:20 pm
There has never been a better time to be an American. There is no moral crisis. Trigger is correct; it is manufactured hysteria.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 3:30 pm
Shhhhhh….. a lot of people are feeling very heroic and special in this time of great peril. 😉
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 4:28 pm
If you don’t see a moral crisis, it’s because you are completely lacking morals.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 4:46 pm
Here’s the thing, Cobra. IMO, you fit roughly into one of these 2 descriptions.
1. You honestly think there is a “crisis” but you’re posting on a country music forum instead of doing something actually revolutionary and meaningful about the “crisis.” I personally find this scenario very hypocritical, lazy, and unimpressive.
2. You’re not out there actually doing something, and you’re just SAYING there is a “crisis” without actually meaning it. I find this hyperbole to also be hypocritical.
I don’t know where you best fit, only you do. But what I do know is that, you think there is a ”crisis,” and you’re arguing with an anonymous poster on a country music website about a tweet. The struggle is real.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 6:28 pm
Because you know so much about me. Because you know how I spend my time when I’m not posting here. I don’t have to (nor will I) justify what I do to some blowhard who thinks that this country still has any moral standing left with the pussy-grabber-in-chief in the White House.
.
Nice try, though.
.
Bury your head in the sand and claim that “there’s no moral crisis,” but that’s all you’re doing…burying your head in the sand. I’d laugh at you if it weren’t so dangerous that you are probably of age to vote.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 7:07 pm
“I don’t have to (nor will I) justify what I do to some blowhard“
But of course. I’ll take your word for it. I’d like to commend you for your bravery during this “crisis.” Your valiant crusade in the comment section of SCM will one day be looked back upon as a pivotal moment in the resistance, I can just feel it. 🏅
Spoony
February 18, 2020 @ 4:00 pm
Trump Derangement Syndrome. You’re suffering from a pretty acute case of it.
CountryKnight
February 20, 2020 @ 8:58 am
LOL. Now the Left cares about the Constitution. Your side didn’t care at all when Obama shredded it.
Get out of here.
Cobra
February 19, 2020 @ 6:30 am
No, there’s no moral crisis at all. THIS is completely normal, moral, and ethical behavior:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/post-impeachment-trump-declares-himself-the-chief-law-enforcement-officer-of-america/ar-BB108Jiu?ocid=ientp
Ben Parks
February 18, 2020 @ 5:53 pm
I don’t care what political party or politician you want to pick, they all leave their “morals” behind them when they are elected (most before they are elected). Washington D.C is not the place to look for morals. The only difference is our 24/7 media constantly harps on Trumps faults and sins. Trump isn’t political savy enough to hid his short comings behind closed doors unlike past presidents
Blockman
February 19, 2020 @ 9:58 pm
You gonna bitch about Trig supposedly misquoting Isbell then go on and do that to my boy Dante? Completely shameless. You are a serious contender for dumbest poster in this thread based on the sheer volume of your nonsense.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 1:53 pm
In which Jason Isbell inadvertently admits he is swayed by and proud of group think, and being on the dominant team. Being part of a status quo is nothing to brag about IMO. In fact, quite the opposite.
I’m independent politically, and love many a liberal and conservative artist.There’s a difference between intelligently making a point that is important to you and being an asshole who uses social media to pile on other people for wrongthink. Though he is a decent music writer, I think his recent deliberately polarizing bullshit is too much for me to enjoy it any further. Fuck him.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 2:14 pm
K. Bye.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 2:18 pm
Thanks for your permission. I’m off to the darkest place in hell now. bye
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 2:50 pm
I always love when people announce their departure. Especially when no one cared that they were there to begin with.
.
I’m sure if I stopped posting here, no one would notice or care. Which is why if I decide to stop posting here, I’ll just stop without the self-righteous need to tell everyone.
.
Your announcement that you will no longer enjoy Isbell’s music is irrelevant, inconsequential, and unnecessary. Even if you tweeted it at him, he wouldn’t care at all.
.
Now, flounce.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 2:58 pm
Thanks for your decently long message about how you don’t care and about what YOU will do. Noted.
JM
February 18, 2020 @ 2:35 pm
Isbell keeps digging himself a hole, and it’s getting to the point where I may not buy any of the new records. I don’t call myself a conservative, but don’t have much patience anymore for this kind of elitist self-righteousness.
Not to mention, he’s factually wrong. I’m sure you could find dozens of examples of great country artists with broadly conservative views. In the past, Dwight has called himself a Libertarian. Didn’t Turnpike play some Republican events before the Trump era? I doubt George Strait plans to vote for Bernie.
Justin
February 18, 2020 @ 5:50 pm
I’d bet my house George is a conservative.
BE
February 18, 2020 @ 2:37 pm
Sounds like this “author” needs to add an ED to the end of his Trigger handle. At least it’s good to see him getting called out for his “I have no political motive” what a load of BS.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 2:48 pm
Trigger,
Thank you for what you do. I don’t always agree with everything you say (which is a good thing), but damn, you are a breath of fresh air in the nuance-void media landscape. Your willingness to express yourself without kowtowing to the circular firing squad is not easy, and doesn’t go unrecognized. 👍
ALD
February 18, 2020 @ 2:51 pm
I quit listening to him a while ago. I loved Southeastern but his twitter turned me off of him a few years ago
Aggc
February 18, 2020 @ 2:58 pm
Everybody just stay off of Twitter and a whole lot of problems go away. Just sayin’…
Tony Kepuska
February 18, 2020 @ 3:07 pm
I think isbell is criminally overrated, but he nailed this one..while those who announce their left leanings loud are not that good,the right has nobody under the age of 40 who’s worth a damn..Cody Johnson sounds like a short state trooper with a guitar, terrible songwriter
Ian Kelly
February 18, 2020 @ 3:10 pm
There is a very conservative guy named Alan Kelly out of Colorado who is probably the best songwriter I’ve ever heard. Listen here :
https://open.spotify.com/album/1le5Ou67f5ZixWW1rL0sIv?si=4UASqNmWTM-SfqhrVqd0Ng
Grandpap_dan
February 18, 2020 @ 3:16 pm
Jackson Taylor is an example. Leans farther right than left and has written killer tracks.
Nate
February 18, 2020 @ 3:38 pm
I in no way consider myself a Democrat, but my politics probably line up a bit more with Jason Isbell than they do with more conservative songwriters or politicians. That said, this has been an exhausting bit from Jason and I’m just kinda bored with it all. I don’t mind people standing up for what they believe in, but there comes a point where I no longer care and it’s starting to turn me off of his music.
North Woods Country
February 18, 2020 @ 3:40 pm
There are more great conservative songwriters than liberal songwriters. It’s actually not even close. Liberals can’t write political songs with anything resembling nuance or subtlety in this day and age.
The fact of the matter is that in 2020, liberals paint black and white pictures, while conservatives acknowledge the shades of gray.
Dan
February 18, 2020 @ 3:56 pm
America, land of the constantly offended. We can put more energy into being butt-hurt by some guy we never met than we can in actually driving to the polls and voting.
Greg Smith
February 18, 2020 @ 3:56 pm
Trigger, I think you and a bunch of other folks got your panties in a wad over nothing. Now, let me dissect my assertion:
First of all, Isbell did not use the word “conservative” in his retort to the fella’s Tweet. Let’s review what the original Tweet had to say about Isbell’s politics. The quote was “…your politics blow ass.” I think we can safely assume that telling someone that their politics “blow ass” is a pretty damn serious insult and indicative that of the author of those words is 180 degrees opposite of Isbell’s “politics”. And, none of us is an expert on Isbell’s politics; not me, not you, just Isbell.
That being said, Perhaps (I said perhaps because I, like you, don’t know what Isbell meant with his phrase about “who agree with you politically”) Isbell, believed, due to the depth of insult slung his way, the Tweet was proffered by one of the knuckle-dragging types who think Trump is the Second Coming. Now, frankly I don’t think there are a lot of great knuckle dragger types that are writing songs, but if there are I’m willing to see the list.
Further, you and a whole lot of others are not only assuming that you actually know exactly what Isbell’s lyrics meant ( I remember an interview with Townes Van Zandt in which he admitted he did not know what the lyrics meant to his own song, “Poncho and Lefty”) but you are assuming that he was referring to conservatives although he did not use the term and you are assuming that he meant all conservative songwriters in the history of the universe.
I think this thread is a microcosm of our current political climate. Folks are running around with a chapped ass about conservatives, liberals , socialists, fascists, blah, blah, blah.
Maybe the best thing is for you, me and the rest of us to not be so damn presumptuous and give a guy a break when some dude tells another man that his “politics blow ass.” After all, that comment started this whole damn thing.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 4:44 pm
Greg,
I appreciate that people can have different interpretations and viewpoints, especially on things like tweets and songs. That is why I operate and help cultivate a robust comments section, including responding to commenters, so that other opinions and perspectives can be represented as well. But please understand that in both cases involving Jason Isbell recently, I backed up my perspective on what he said with other people’s opinions as well to verify that it wasn’t just my lone perspective on the matter. With the song, I included Rolling Stone’s opinion. With the tweet, I included Joshua Hedley’s opinion. Both of these are public entities that people know about to illustrate how my assessment of what was being said is a similar reaction to theirs, even if the opinion upon it is different. In the case of Joshua Hedley, it wasn’t.
I’m seeing a lot of effort to undermine my conclusion on these things, or at least say they’re underpinned with assumption. But neither the song nor the tweet happened in a bubble. We know exactly how Jason Isbell feels about politics. He’s said so often in songs, on social media, and in interviews. We’re not starting at zero here, and one of the reasons I wanted to emphasize the tweet is because it fits the same pattern of behavior from the song.
Also, I don;t think that even Jason Isbell would take issue with my assessment, even if he does with my opinion. I think he’s trying to be prickly. I think he’s trying to upset the apple cart ahead of his new record. If there’s any offense here, it’s perhaps that I’m allowing myself to be gamed by Isbell’s marketing. But I know what he’s saying in both these instances because I know Jason Isbell. I’ve been covering him for many years, and in-depth. And in my opinion, he’s crossing lines.
Greg Smith
February 18, 2020 @ 5:29 pm
Trigger – we can respectfully agree to disagree. I don’t think you know Isbell as well as you believe. And just because you read something in Rolling Stone sure don’t make it gospel. Just take a look at their top 100 guitarists!!! Really??? And Joshua Hedley? He used the term “conservative” unlike Isbell. Fortunately, He was able to identify the dude that Tweeted Isbell as an idiot. But I didn’t see anybody foaming at the mouth about that.
I don’t think Isbell is trying to be prickly, I think he responded fairly reasonably to a totally unnecessary, disgusting insult.
Obviously he leans to the left. That just speaks to his social conscience. He speaks his mind. I respect that. Just like Hank, Jr. – even though I disagree with his politics, I respect him for speaking his mind.
Finally, I still think it was an out of context mole hill, made into a mountain.
Have a good one.
Jeff Carroll
February 18, 2020 @ 3:59 pm
This headline is inaccurate. He didn’t say there are “no great conservative song writers.” He said there are “not … a lot” of them. That is an enormous difference.
Richard
February 18, 2020 @ 4:32 pm
I tried to point that out way above, but I don’t think Trigger cares.
In my opinion, judging Jason Isbell’s take on songwriters and politics from a single snarky Tweet is like judging Trigger’s body of writing from a single headline on one of his articles. It doesn’t make sense, and it isn’t worthwhile. Seems like much ado about nothing here.
Jeff Carroll
February 18, 2020 @ 5:07 pm
I appreciate his effort on changing it. But it’s still inaccurate.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 5:08 pm
It’s not just a single snarky Tweet. It is a pattern of behavior from Isbell where he is sytematically downgrading the efforts of other artists if they don’t align to his political ideology. Also, it’s a tweet to 300,000 people. When Jason Isbell speaks, it has great impact.
And also getting lost in all of this is the bully aspect of him singling out commenters who then get shamed off the format as Isbell’s toadies pounce. Twitter is not a video game. The people on the other end of these tweets have lives, jobs, families. Going through his feed and selecting out folks to shame should be beneath him.
sonny swooney 2020
February 18, 2020 @ 4:08 pm
lmao trigger, you’re a glutton for punishment. i appreciated both articles about this topic, hardly click bait and the comments section has been a joy to read as always. getting popcorn and refreshing the page now.
Stephanie
February 18, 2020 @ 4:17 pm
It was a snarky twitter retort. Do you mean literally every snarky thing you’ve written on this site, verbatim? Irresponsible and reckless? GTFOutta here with that crap. Call him a smug and pompous asshole and move on. Jesus.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 4:30 pm
Yeah Trigger, GTFO of your own website! Jesus.
Stephanie
February 18, 2020 @ 6:24 pm
Ill give you that it may have been a poorly chosen expression. But from a website that claims to be against the insertion of the political into every damn sphere and the divisiveness derision that that sows, this content is getting pretty frustrating.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 6:34 pm
Fair enough, and I usually like your comments, for the record. Personally I appreciate what Trigger is doing here, and think perhaps he cares so much about this because he’s watched the activist “journalists” politicize country music and make sweeping elitist generalizations about traditional country.. In the process of defending it, he’s been targeted and piled on repeatedly. So when a respected artist like Jason participates in this smug shaming and of other people, I’m glad Trigger speaks up. YMMV.
Stephanie
February 18, 2020 @ 7:59 pm
Well my mileage varies in that I don’t see these articles as some noble pursuit and instead as fairly hypocritical. It was a stupid tweet. Condescending and mean spirited to boot. (And I ADORE isbell’s music, but think he can be really smug and off putting in his social media sometimes.). But calling out a stupid snarky tweet and holding it up as some grand example of reckless and irresponsible behavior and then further extrapolating that to lead into some diatribe on what’s wrong with the Left is not any less high horse bullshit to me. Especially since what’s wrong with the Left seems to be something about cancel culture, and this seems to be pretty much in that same vein, albeit on a smaller scale.
Also Jason Isbell isn’t a country singer.
He is, however, smarter and generally more well-spoken than I am, which is why I should probably stop commenting on these articles lol.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 8:55 pm
Fair points, but I don’t see this as cxl culture at all. He continues to be praised on this site and in this very article. Also, where is the diatribe against the left? Perhaps you are referring to the previous article?
Stephanie
February 19, 2020 @ 5:25 am
I don’t think I’m really expressing myself well here. But I actually think we could have an interesting discussion on some of these points. (YMMV) But given the nature of these articles and their comment sections, this is not a place I’m interested in having it.
SG
February 19, 2020 @ 9:40 am
👍
North Woods Country
February 19, 2020 @ 12:43 pm
If the ideologies were swapped in this incident, there’d be mainstream media coverage on it. I think the piece is well-written and honest without aligning with any ideology. Isbell comes off as a smug asshole these days. It’s really unfortunate.
luiz
February 18, 2020 @ 4:23 pm
Elvis: Honey, I’d just sooner keep my own personal views about that to myself cause I’m just an entertainer and I’d rather not say.
Kevin wortman
February 18, 2020 @ 4:37 pm
I just wish he wouldn’t bring up Kid Rock. Kid has 2 hot looking strippers on stage, Jason only has 1. Kid wins.
Jaded
February 18, 2020 @ 4:44 pm
Yep, can’t think of a single country song that talks about God or religion, guns and the military, strong family values, hard work and taking care of your issues yourself. Everybody is signing songs about transphobia, abolishing ICE, global warming, safe spaces, and free gender studies degrees. You’re right Jason. SMDH.
Julius Worley
February 18, 2020 @ 4:51 pm
Apparently the over critical writer of this article doesn’t know the difference between capable and incapable or is unwillingly to try to undestand…..
Dale Monroe
February 18, 2020 @ 4:53 pm
This is just a vast extrapolation from his tweet. He never said there were no conservative songwriters. You have the original tweets up there, so I wont bother retyping them. But he very well could have been implying that no one would 100% agree with the individual in question because everyone’s political opinions are unique. There was no mention of conservatism except by people who responded to Isbell’s response. I hate to say it, but given how off-the-cuff Isbell’s tweet is, the headline to this entry borders on libel. Trigger, please consider changing it.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 5:05 pm
The title was changed from “No” to “Aren’t” a while ago, just to resolve this ridiculous argument that some are attempting to use to undermine the entirety of what is being asserted here, and what Jason Isbell said, instead of focusing on the bigger issue. And no, this isn’t just about a tweet. It is about a pattern of behavior from Jason Isbell where he seems to be goading other performers to get into the political fracas, or risk being severely judged by peers, their work labeled meaningless, or in this case, downgrading their work simply due to their political stripes.
Jeff Carroll
February 18, 2020 @ 5:12 pm
You are being unnecessarily defensive. Your headline was grossly inaccurate. It still is. Take some responsibility for that and fix it. Don’t get angry at us for pointing it out.
MH
February 18, 2020 @ 6:56 pm
Jeff Carroll,
Are you wanting to scrub history again?
Dale Monroe
February 18, 2020 @ 6:17 pm
The title change hadn’t shown on my screen when I wrote that comment, but I feel the change to the title is honestly very minimal and doesn’t change the meaning of the title in any significant way. If it is truly about a pattern of behavior, the title should reflect that (i.e. “Isbell’s Latest Tweet Demonstrates Continued Political Sectarianism”. Instead, the article and title seem to reference the tweet directly with the fact that Isbell has a history of this behaviour being an afterthought or background information. If it is about the bigger issue, the title should reflect that accurately, and I personally feel it does not at present. I’m not trying to argue, just stating what I believe.
Dale Monroe
February 18, 2020 @ 6:29 pm
I should also add I dont disagree with you. Jason’s extreme “with me or against me” political stance lately (likely stemming from his association with guys like Josh Ritter) is really counterintuitive to the political discourse in America. His “We were testing you, and you failed” line in the new song is downright apocalyptic, and to hear it coming from an artist I have historically enjoyed is heartbreaking and actually does the opposite of what he intended. The infamous tweet that spawned the “wild hogs” meme is yet another example of how we disagree.
But I still feel the title of this article should be better changed to reflect its true intent and the actual words from Jason himself.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 7:30 pm
Then have the integrity to post an editor’s note that you changed the title. Shoddy journalism, Kyle.
Rusty
February 18, 2020 @ 5:03 pm
Look up the definition of acquitted there smart guy
George
February 18, 2020 @ 5:09 pm
Maybe he is right, not many conservative songwriters. But there are a lot of conservative music buyers. I will never buy any thing you make.
Tony Del Puppo
February 18, 2020 @ 5:15 pm
Sorry, Mr. Isbell. Best song-writer of this generation for me, hands down, is pretty damn conservative: Christ Knight. So brilliant, that unless you knew he was conservative, you wouldn’t get the lyrics of his music. https://www.thedailytimes.com/entertainment/songwriter-chris-knight-claims-little-victories-in-both-life-and/article_3ed596a0-5cc3-535f-89f1-ac2365651fc6.html
Buck Smits
February 18, 2020 @ 5:43 pm
And I thought uncle ted was an independent, guess I’ll have to stop listening to wango tango on repeat.
Jim Bob
February 18, 2020 @ 5:51 pm
I’m just here to point out Sturgill put out “call to arms” before Trump was even elected…when a democrat was still in office. Where the hell was Isbell back then?
Read into my comment what you will, I’m not claiming to know shit about Sturgill’s political leanings. I’m just saying he might be close to my own personal “fuck the lot of them” political leanings.
Sav
February 18, 2020 @ 5:56 pm
Merle Haggard
Ben Parks
February 18, 2020 @ 6:02 pm
Isbell hangs out with the Americana crowd which is majority liberal. Country music back to it’s roots has been music for rural people who are just raised on more conservative beliefs. A simple looks at the national election map of 2016 showing how each county voted can tell you that. Living a simple life of hard work, raising a family where you know all your neighbors, buying a house 5 miles from where you grew up, hunting, fishing. living off the land, and being rewarded for it all when you leave this earth someday, are not exactly very liberal ideas.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 6:51 pm
They’re more liberal ideals than they are conservative ideals who only care about the Top 1%.
.
If it’s anything Republican voters know about though, it’s voting against their own self-interest.
Mongoose
February 18, 2020 @ 7:11 pm
LOL with every comment you make, you only give Trig’s piece more credence.
Twitter is not real life. You and Jason Isbell live in a world where only the lunatic fringe reside. Shouting “Orange Man Bad” at each other as it repeatedly bounces off the canyons before it falls dead in the river.
You want sooooo bad to believe you’re “making a difference” when in reality, the needle is in the same position that it’s always been.
The only movement you and Isbell are ever going to produce is a bowel movement.
Give it up.
Adam
February 18, 2020 @ 6:14 pm
How many times is Cobra going to reply on the thread with the same MSM talking points? My guess is AT LEAST once more.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 6:30 pm
How many articles is Trigger going to post about how offended he is because Jason Isbell chooses to speak his mind?
.
My guess is at least two more before the album comes out and probably at least one more after that.
Adam
February 18, 2020 @ 6:33 pm
Haha wow, 16 minutes. Get a fucking life dude, it’s clear you need some help.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 6:34 pm
Okay guys, let’s please try to keep this on the topic at hand as opposed to snapping towels back and forth. Thanks!
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 6:49 pm
Sort of like the towels you snap at Jason and, in your own veiled way, try to tell him to “shut up and sing.”
Sure thing, Trig.
Momma
February 18, 2020 @ 7:01 pm
He’s in the basement watching Spongebob with his juice box and animal crackers.
RD
February 18, 2020 @ 6:32 pm
Jason Isbell was a fat nerd who got stuffed into lockers as a kid. He obviously bears the scars of being picked on by the jocks and rednecks who abused him as a kid. So, he gets famous, partly by badmouthing the types of people he grew up with and partly by writing tedious, boring songs that never seem to get anywhere. I get a kick out of the idea that people like he and Patterson Hood get to speak for a region that they clearly hate, or at least hated until they could make money off of it. Steve Earle, as well. Fuck him too.
Graham
February 18, 2020 @ 6:53 pm
And I’m guessing in high school, you were one of the people stuffing people into lockers because you thought picking on other people made you cool. Then you peaked, realized you were never going to make it to the NFL, and now, are stuck living in your mom’s basement and delivering pizza to me and my wife and kids.
RD
February 18, 2020 @ 7:14 pm
I only make the deliveries when you aren’t home, if you get what I mean.
Graham
February 18, 2020 @ 7:27 pm
Sure thing, pizza boy. Remember to hold the anchovies.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 7:23 pm
LOL, Kyle went and changed the article title from “Jason Isbell Says There are No Great Conservative Songwriters” to “Jason Isbell Says There Aren’t Great Conservative Songwriters” because he got called out on his false claim. Even after trying to defend it in the comments, he went and changed the title. And even better, he didn’t even have the guts to post an “Editor’s Note” that he’d altered the title. He just figured no one would notice. I noticed, Kyle. And i see through your bullshit. That’s kind of a lack of journalistic integrity, Kyle.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 7:45 pm
See, when you concede, it never makes things better. Folks smell blood, and pounce.
I’ll do whatever the fuck I want to do. It’s my fucking website.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 7:53 pm
But you didn’t concede, Kyle. You changed it and hoped no one would notice (and your new title is just as misleading as the original).
And yes, it is your own website, and you can do what you want. But I’m calling out the lack of integrity you have for not calling out the change.
Cobra
February 18, 2020 @ 7:59 pm
But you didn’t concede. You changed it and hoped no one would notice.
And yes, it is your website and you can do what you want. But you also lack integrity when you don’t call out a material change to your work.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 8:30 pm
Seems like you’re doubling down for some reason. 🤔
DEFCON LEVEL 1. Crisis battle stations everyone. The struggle gets more real by the hour.
Jim L.
February 18, 2020 @ 8:36 pm
Then why do you bother hanging around a website with no integrity? Best to just leave. (And don’t announce it, like you said above.)
CClark90
February 18, 2020 @ 8:53 pm
Cobra,
Trigger changing the title of his article doesn’t change Jason Isbell’s thoughts on those across the political aisle from him. My politics “blow ass” according to Isbell. I believe that is the point Trig is trying to get at is artists insulting fans without knowing ANY of the people he is insulting, much like you.
Great piece Trig, country music is bigger than politics. SAVE COUNTRY MUSIC.
Ben Parks
February 19, 2020 @ 3:34 pm
My god man get a life. Post one or two comments to voice you opinion and move on to the next article
Chris
February 18, 2020 @ 7:37 pm
Jason takes himself much more seriously than I do
He fits in my top 75 favorite artists, but I almost never listen to his solo CDs.
I still listen to DBT CDs, but his solo works are pretty good, but there is a very long list of folk, Americana and country/red dirt artists I like much, much more.
I listen to a lot of boba fide hippie music from the 60s and 70s back when we were flying flag-draped caskets back from Vietnam Nam and I still identify with those artists, including politically in substantial part.
Most of the current artists I listen to probably own no MAGA hats.
What an asshat.
Keepin it Country
February 18, 2020 @ 7:44 pm
Honestly the argument is pointless that liberals wear their heart on their sleeves more. I can recall quite a few songs by Hank Jr, especially Toby Keith, and more recently songs by John Rich (Shut up about politics). And the song “Take a knee my ass” . Many artist express viewpoints as part of their art. As listeners we can either take it or leave it. On both sides you have well written songs by capable artist and writers. That is what makes music great
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 7:49 pm
Linked to my criticisms of both the John Rich and the “Take a Knee” song in the article. And thanks for reminding me about Hank Jr. Took him to task for releasing a ridiculous political album in 2012. If anyone really wants to validate that I’ve been consistent on this issue for a long time and across the political aisle, read this:
https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/hank-williams-jr-s-old-school-new-rules-rank-political-rancor/
Here’s an excerpt:
“If I had to describe this album in one sentence it would be, “Bocephus walks into a studio, cuts on a mic, and begins to blow hard.” Old School, New Rules is a self-important, self-promoting, self-gratifying opus of an American doofus offering no real depth, wisdom, originality, or creative engagement. It is the Shock n’ Y’all of 2012; a political album that relies on the same old tired Hank Jr. modes, and marks a moment of egotistical grandstanding future generations will look back on with embarrassment.”
Wicket
February 18, 2020 @ 7:51 pm
JFC y’all have lost your damn minds. Only on this website would someone argue “your politics blow ass” as pointed criticism worthy of defense instead of what it WAS (an insulting tweet meant to incite a response). Your going to die on the your-politics-blow-ass-tweet-defense-hill just to let your 350 rebel flag waving frequent commenters another shot at bitching about Isbell. Come on man. This is so stupid. It has nothing to do with country music and everything to do with your PERSONAL opinion that music shouldn’t be political. Well guess what? It’s inherently political and arguing for whatever straw man you configure isn’t going to change that. What did Stevie Wonder sing? “You haven’t done nothing”
Ian
February 18, 2020 @ 8:07 pm
Personally I find it a lot more offensive that the modern GOP has hijacked the word “conservative” because they are pretty much the polar opposite. In fact they are vehemently opposed to conservation of any kind. That said, Isbell is of course correct, though maybe his bedside manner is somewhat brusque. I think a better question is why are more high level artists socially “liberal”? Art is usually better if it involves significant risk and an openness to new and different things. Not that there are two distinct types of people, and many of us are in the middle ground.
Wicket
February 18, 2020 @ 8:17 pm
Agree with this dude Ian. Write an article about something with teeth that requires analysis & critical thought. Stop wasting your time (and ours) trying to please/bait your commenters. This site is 100% comments driven at this point & it shows.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 9:21 pm
At this point? Saving Country Music has been comment driven for 12 years strong and counting.
Wicket
February 18, 2020 @ 10:01 pm
Writing articles to serve your commenters is what keeps you from being taken seriously
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 10:15 pm
Yeah, that’s not what’s going on here at all. Click on the home page and poke around a little bit. Writing an article that gets a lot of comments, and writing an article to get a lot of comments are two separate things. And just like came up in the last article about Jason Isbell, lots of comments are really only indicative of lots of comments, not necessarily traffic, and most certainly not “unique users,” which is what internet ratings are pegged to. THe article on Paul English passing away got 10X the traffic either of the Jason Isbell articles will, and only has 30 comments.
Wicket
February 18, 2020 @ 11:00 pm
I’m going to give you some advice that may change your life. You are not beholden to this website. There is no ball & chain. You are not a journalist as you consistently fail at reporting news with an unbiased opinion & you dick away all your time with losers in the comments section. I think you could qualify easily as an expert in country music. Be that. Write a book. Make a point. Stand for something. Don’t sit at your computer 24/7 to reply to dumb motherfuckers about shit that doesn’t matter. Free yourself of this bullshit. Free yourself of these deadpeckers with nothing else to do. It is not your job to validate them. Use your expertise & create something that means something.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 11:22 pm
Wicket,
I really appreciate your life advice. But you’re taking this one article to be a microcosm of my daily life, when it’s not even a common weekly occurrence, or even a monthly occurrence. Most days I post a couple of articles. Those articles get around 17 to maybe 25 comments. Maybe I respond to a few. I always read them all. But my day is usually filled with many hours away from the computer, believe it or not. That said, the comments are one of the the keys to this site’s success. And I don’t like to brag or talk about numbers, but this site is doing very well across a number of gradients, and one of the reasons is because the engagement in comments, through search engines, and on social media is unparalleled, despite my failure at reporting news unbiased, as you assess. I have cultivated a comment culture that is robust and engaging, and if you or anyone else things it’s a waste of my time, oh well. It’s the secret sauce of Saving Country Music. Sometimes it takes extra stirring. But most of the time, it’s just hangs on simmer. In a severely contracting media environment, Saving Country Music is thriving. The comments section is one reason. If you are interested and want to read more, check out this article:
https://whatsnewinpublishing.com/publishers-that-closed-their-comments-sections-made-a-colossal-mistake
Jimmy
February 19, 2020 @ 12:41 am
“You are not a journalist as you consistently fail at reporting news with an unbiased opinion…” Sounds like you’re talking about 90% of the mainstream, leftist controlled media. The TDS is strong with you. Lol. 5 more years of Liberal heads exploding. It’s going to be great to watch.
Cobra
February 19, 2020 @ 5:15 am
Sounds like Jimmy is an expert in this “Trump Derangement Syndrome” he keeps talking about. Why don’t you tell us how you come up with the diagnosis, Jimbo? What are some of the symptoms? Compassion for fellow human beings? A moral center? Not defending a man who openly brags about sexually assaulting women? Not being a racist?
Wicket
February 19, 2020 @ 5:52 am
If you choose to be a shitty version of reddit or twitter because “your numbers are doing well” fine. But to me you’ve always seemed to want respect from other writers who I see pillage your forum for content and actually publish articles making money as they subscribe to the tenets of journalism. It’s not fair that people do this, but it’s also naive to have disdain for actual journalists because they write for readers not commenters. The rules are there for a reason & snubbing them is arrogant. Your art suffers when you load these “articles” with prefaces and addendums to appease the loud but small (& largely insane) group of people who blow you up on here. I think you could be an acknowledged voice in this space if you focused on your writing, but when you wallow in the muck of the comments, you’re trapping yourself into this niche of an irrelevant opinion blog. What’s your readership? 50k? 100k? You could be an actual expert in the field, publish books & articles and reach 10x the number of people who would actual like to be informed about country music instead of “the saving country music guy” who people treat like a joke. Sorry if this hurts your feelings, but I feel like someone had to say it & I really do think you have more to offer than a “robust comments section” for a bunch of jackoffs (me included).
Trigger
February 19, 2020 @ 8:15 am
Wicket,
With all due respect, you have no idea what you’re talking about. First off, once again you’re making an assessment of this website off of one article that is anomaly.
“But to me you’ve always seemed to want respect from other writers who I see pillage your forum for content and actually publish articles making money as they subscribe to the tenets of journalism … What’s your readership? 50k? 100k? You could be an actual expert in the field, publish books & articles and reach 10x the number of people who would actual like to be informed about country music instead of “the saving country music guy” who people treat like a joke.”
You’re making a critical assessment of this site from the perspective of journalists who don’t like me. I could give a fuck what other journalists think. I’ve never vied for their acceptance. Not to say I don’t appreciate my colleagues or respect their opinions. But that’s not what motivates me here. Not sure where you’re drawing that from.
As for your readership assessment, you’re not even fucking close. Many of these same journalists who love to pound on me also love to think that nobody reads Saving Country Music, that I’m laboring away in obscurity here. It makes them feel better. There are public forums where traffic numbers can be checked. I don’t talk about numbers because I feel it’s arrogant. But trust me, you are completely off.
Saving Country Music is not just a labor of love and a life’s purpose, it’s my business, it’s my career. And not to come across as braggadocios, it’s doing very well, and growing in a contracting media market. And no, not just because I write two articles in a two week period that get lots of comments.
Wicket
February 19, 2020 @ 10:13 am
look man if you don’t care about your credibility neither do I. Enjoy your millions and millions and millions of views
Trigger
February 19, 2020 @ 10:25 am
The reason so many people come to this site is not because it has a legacy name like “Rolling Stone,” not because I was famous before it, or had a famous last name. It’s not because of the comments sections, and it’s not because I’m wild and sensational. It’s because I’m the last motherfucker in country music media that hasn’t been bought and will actually say what I believe, regardless of how popular or politically expedient it is. THAT is my credibility.
Wicket
February 19, 2020 @ 11:04 am
Sure well the next time you sit down with Jason and interview him about his politics, oh wait…
SG
February 19, 2020 @ 12:42 pm
Wicket: “I’m going to give you some advice that may change your life.” “You choose to be a shitty version..” “Keeps you from being taken serious.”
Trigger: “With all due respect”
If ever there was a good example of integrity and patience in the face of unwarranted smug arrogance, this is it.
Cobra
February 19, 2020 @ 1:48 pm
SG,
If ever there was a good example of integrity in journalism, it’s changing the title of an article after being called out on it being false and misleading and not even acknowledging with an Editor’s Note that the change was made.
.
Right now, I trust Kyle’s journalistic integrity as much as I trust that of Stephen Glass.
Wicket
February 19, 2020 @ 1:58 pm
Unwarranted smug arrogance is comparing yourself to Rolling Stone when you’re a blogger who shows zero professional knowledge of music criticism. Kyle is a part of the country music media as much as Perez Hilton is part of Hollywood. He’s a bystander cashing in on “this common vegetable might kill you” ads.
One of the more annoying things this administration has unearthed is imposter syndrome. He’s a leading music journalist because he says so right? What’s his education? Who’s his editor? When’s the last time Kyle actually interviewed someone? I doubt publicists send him press packets or passes without him asking for them.
I’m breaking this down because apparently his click ego has gone to his head. Personally I like the guy and I want to see him do well, because before anything, he’s a fan. And that’s who we all are, fans right? We want to appreciate good music together. The only point I’m making is that we are in a bit of a stolen valor situation here. Do the work, earn the degree, respect the job of actual music criticism and you’ll be offering much more than shitty opinions about tweets.
Trigger
February 19, 2020 @ 3:02 pm
Wicket,
With all due respect, at this point you’re just completely making shit up. Similar to your asserting that I want the adulation of my peers in country media, your claim that I’m comparing myself to Rolling Stone is ludicrous. I have never, and would never do that. I simply brought that name up as a legacy media brand, meaning if you’re posting stuff as Rolling Stone, you have a built-in audience. I, as Saving Country Music, don’t have that luxury. No comparison was ever made.
“He’s a leading music journalist because he says so right?”
Again, where did I say this? When did anything like this ever leave my mouth. When did I ever insinuate anything like this?
” I doubt publicists send him press packets or passes without him asking for them.”
You truly have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about here.
And what the fuck does “stolen valor” have to do with anything? Stolen valor?
The wild-eyed assumptions in this comment and others that you have made about myself and this website are astounding.
SG
February 19, 2020 @ 4:06 pm
The “stolen valor” comment made me laugh, honesty. Are your comments an attempt at parody or satire, Wicket? I’m guessing no, but I’m hard pressed to believe you’re even serious about what you’re saying.
Journalists should be judged by the quality of their output and their independence from influence and other bullshit, IMO. RS Country reads barely a step above the Babylon Bee or Titania McGrath to me, at this point.
SG
February 19, 2020 @ 5:24 pm
Holy shit… it had been awhile since I checked out RS Country so I gave it a look…..
2 of the 3 top stories:
“Justin Bieber, Florida Georgia Line team up for “yummy” country remix.”
AND
“Enigmatic viral country star Brelamd unveils ‘my truck’ video.” Spoiler: It makes old town road seem like bluegrass in comparison.
They might as well change their name to “The Rolling Stone Country Onion.”
Wicket
February 19, 2020 @ 11:32 pm
What are we doing here? Are you a music journalist/critic? Cool. Just curious as to what other publications you write for? Where did you get your degree?
You’re the self proclaimed “last motherfucker in country music media who hasn’t been bought.” Just wondered who else was in the running? Who do you stack your credibility up against? Because you haven’t answered any of these questions which is signifying… bullshit.
Sorry you’re astounded by simple questions. Maybe not the job for you.
SG
February 20, 2020 @ 12:15 pm
Wicket,
You seem to be obsessed with both character assassination and giving your own pretentious advice. Nothing about what’s even being discussed. That’s all fine, all comments seem to be welcome here. I can’t speak for everyone else, but the feeling I get reading your comments is sympathy. Sympathy that you don’t even realize that your method of attacking people via character smears and questioning their credibility makes you look really weak, because you can’t even discuss the topic at hand in any convincing way. You’re desperately trying to convince someone that they don’t have credibility. If you’re right, and Trigger doesn’t have a journalism degree and therefore credibility, ok fine…. if that’s your logic, then this site has no credibility. Then why are you wasting your time arguing with someone on a website that has no credibility? Would you also be proud of taking candy from a baby?
Seriously, what is YOUR motivation. Why are YOU here. I haven’t seen any posts from you on other topics about country music. Did this hit close to home for you? You’re taking this extremely personally, and I’m curious as to why.
Tulsan
February 18, 2020 @ 8:17 pm
I miss Evan Felker.
Todd
February 18, 2020 @ 9:54 pm
For Real, that guy is one of the best song writers of all time. Hope he gets sober and comes back for good. I’ve never even heard of Jason Isbell.
Travis
February 18, 2020 @ 8:53 pm
Isbell has one hit on Pandora and now he’s “king of Americana?”
Please
I don’t take lectures from self admitted drunks.
rich1
February 18, 2020 @ 9:11 pm
People who cling to Left or Right… I find annoying… Your poiical party is not your savior– not a badge to wear on you sleeve… your poltical party is not your friend, not your hero. Government is by the people for the people— the people should not bow to it and all its empty platitudes.
Jim L.
February 18, 2020 @ 9:14 pm
Well this was fun. Did Isbell happen to also tweet any comments about religion? 😉
Cobra
February 19, 2020 @ 8:42 am
He did in fact once say that God is gone from Trump supporters. He was correct on that account, too.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/jason-isbell-on-modern-country-most-of-that-stuff-is-real-bad-music-124095/
MF Butterscotch
February 18, 2020 @ 10:17 pm
The point he is making is that the really great music that most of the above (Trumpers) think of as apolitical is political as fuck, and the flag waving shit fest totally sucks. Is putting boots in your ass the American way? Kinky MFs. If you’re too fucking stupid to hear the overt politics in songs about moonshiners and people who have been totally fucked over by the health, legal, and financial systems in America without them spelling out “DEMOCRAT” then go listen to Snoopy meets the Red Baron or Walter Brennan singing Old Man River. What’s a conservative going to write about anyway? How they like to stay at home checking their account balance and watching Fox news while they Lord over the servant wife? Sounds rocking! Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell, The Rolling Stones. The best shit is all political. Funny how these thick skin fuckers are all crying about a tweet. Snowflakes.
Trigger
February 18, 2020 @ 10:20 pm
Stereotype, stereotype, stereotype, stereotype, stereotype, stereotype, judgement.
Cobra
February 19, 2020 @ 8:07 am
“Judgement”? Your whole article was nothing but a judgement piece.
.
The truth is, Kyle, that you are exactly the type Jason is referring to in his song: the type who have a voice and a forum that, for better or worse, people listen to, and instead of actually using that voice, you cower under the banner “I hold no political affiliation,” and “I’ve criticized music from both sides.”
.
You may not like what Jason has to say, but at least he owns it. You clearly DO have a political side, but just refuse to come out and say it. It’d be one thing if you chose not to address it at all or to just keep your politics to yourself, but instead, you have a thinly veiled pile of bullshit while you try to claim neutrality. Own it, Kyle. You may alienate some readers, but sometimes, that’s the price of taking a stance. As you pointed out in last week’s article, Jason told RS that he’d rather be honest even if it means a few less records get sold (it won’t even make a dent: his core fan base knows where he stands and always have). Have the guts to do the same: take a stance even if it means your website gets a few less hits.
Jim L.
February 19, 2020 @ 11:32 am
You must be fun at parties. Have a beer, give your nuts a tug, and go for a long walk in the woods. Otherwise you’re gonna have a heart attack like Bernie.
SG
February 18, 2020 @ 10:53 pm
You seem tolerant.
Michael Strait
February 18, 2020 @ 10:36 pm
The original Hank was liberal for his day, being a Republican back when the Republicans were (compared to the Southern Democrats at least) the liberal party, and also back when white Republicans in the South were rare.
The other two sure, although with III that depends on whether you define libertarianism as conservative
Michael Strait
February 18, 2020 @ 10:37 pm
yo the site went dumb on me, if you could delete this that’d be great