In the five years since Jason Isbell left the Drive-By Truckers and embarked on a solo career, his albums and performances have garnered critical acclaim, proving the move to be a positive step in his career.

In 2007, Isbell released his first solo album, “Sirens of the Ditch,” to much acclaim, and the following two albums were no different. The band’s 2009 self-titled album was nominated for “Album of the Year” at the Americana Music Association Awards.

Isbell, and his band the 400 Unit’s, latest album has met its high expectations. “Here We Rest,” released on April 12, has already been dubbed “the album of the first 1/3 of the year” by GQ magazine, and Spin magazine called the album “earthy and unpretentiously eclectic.”

After being on the road for more than 200 days for the last few years, Isbell toured less in 2010 and took time off to stay home in Muscle Shoals, Ala., to write “Here We Rest.”

"Being able to sit on my stool at D.P.'s, a bar in the building I live in, talk to my friends, and hear the problems that they have helped inform some of these songs," Isbell said of the album.

Some lyrics on the album actually came from sitting in that very bar where Isbell witnessed a distraught customer who said he’d save his problems for church. The lyrics to “Save It For Sunday” were born: “Save it for Sunday/Save it for the choir and everyone/Save it for Sunday/We got cares of our own.”

Isbell said he’s proud of the new album, which was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, and believes it is a good collection of songs. “Here We Rest” was named after the first state motto of Alabama and reflects the economic hardships of our times.

“There’s a lot of things about growing up in the South and growing into an adult in the South, just a lot of things about people having hard times and trying to figure out a way out of that,” Isbell said. “The music is fun. Sometimes we wind up playing songs that are pretty sad, as far as the subject matter, but we try to have a good time doing that.”

Compared to previous albums, Isbell said “Here We Rest” is more roots oriented, but it’s still done in the same style that fans have become accustomed to.

“We’re still trying to just make a lot of good songs and play them well,” Isbell said. “We try to make albums that sound like a band playing in a room rather than using a lot of digital trickery in the studio and manipulate things. I think we did a pretty good job with that.”

While elements remain the same, Isbell said he believes new music also has to have elements of change.

“If I start getting too much into making one particular style of music I get bored with it,” Isbell said. “So I expect everybody else to do that too.”

While not traveling as much over the last year, Isbell has had more time to devote himself to side projects, which he said also had an affect on the album. Recently, Isbell has collaborated with artists that include Justin Townes Earle, Middle Brother, Abby Owens and Coy Bowles.

But Isbell’s musical inspiration comes from a lot of places. From playing gospel and bluegrass music with his family growing up, to the many books he reads today, the mixture makes its way into his music. Isbell said he also believes music always comes from a personal place.

“I try to change names and mix characters together so people don’t know I’m writing about them, but it always comes from a personal place,” Isbell said. “It has to.”

Isbell’s band, the 400 Unit, named after the psychiatric ward of a local hospital, also shines on the new album. Having played more than 400 shows together, the band, which includes Derry deBorja on keyboard; Browan Lollar on guitar; Jimbo Hart on bass; and Chad Gamble on drums, is a well-oiled machine.

“When you play that many shows together you’re definitely going to get more familiar with each other and what everybody’s strengths and weaknesses are,” Isbell said. “So, I think we’re functioning on all cylinders right now.”

The band’s background and their individual collaborations also play into its harmony. Hart has performed with Papa Mali, deBorja was previously in Son Volt, Gamble was in the Gamble Brothers Band and Lollar is a member of Azure Ray as well as Maria Taylor's band, and he also contributed to the debut album by Doc Dailey & Magnolia Devil.

Isbell has almost 15,000 fans on Facebook, but he and the band have recently instituted a new policy to make the shows enjoyable for them as well. The band recently instituted a no taping policy at shows. Isbell said he was honestly tired of looking out into the crowd and seeing video cameras.

“Nowadays people can’t really enjoy anything because it’s all being documented,” Isbell said. “I’m proud of the songs we play, and the way that we play them, and the shows that we play and I’m sure that we’ll allow taping again. Right now I just don’t feel like dealing with it. If you want to look through a video screen you can do that at home for free - you don’t have to pay to go to a rock show.”

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will return to Auburn this week, playing a show at Bourbon Street Saturday, Aug. 13. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show.
“We’ve had a lot of fun out there,” Isbell said of performing in Auburn. “We have a lot of friends there, some family that live out there and go to school. So, yeah, it’s a good time.”

The band is already touring more this year than last year and plan to keep it up through the end of the year.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Isbell said. “It’s going to be a real busy year.”

For more, visit jasonisbell.com.