When Less Is More

Alt-country rocker Jason Isbell discusses his "clean and loud" approach to recording, the magical union of a strat and a Roland Jazz Chorus – and his latest album, the masterful reunions.

- By Joe Bosso

ASKED TO DESCRIBE his approach to guitar playing, alt-country rocker Jason Isbell — never at a loss for an interesting and unique viewpoint — sums it up thusly: “To me, there are two fundamental types of creative people. There are people who paint; they start out with a blank canvas to which they add things. Then there are sculptors; they start out with a block of stone and they chip away at it. They reduce as they go. I think I’m more of a sculptor. I start out with a lot of options and I take out what I don’t need.”

He lets out a laugh, then says, “I guess that’s a funny way of saying that as I get older, I tend to play fewer notes to try and make my point.”

Aided by his impeccable backing band, the 400 Unit, Isbell has just released his seventh solo album,