Sirens of the Ditch

Sirens of the Ditch
Studio album by Jason Isbell
Released	July 10, 2007
Recorded	2003-2007 at FAME Studios, Florence, Alabama
Genre	Rock, Alt-Country
Length	50:16
Label	New West Records (2007)
Producer	Jason Isbell, Patterson Hood
Jason Isbell chronology
Sirens of the Ditch (2007) Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit (2009)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Pitchfork Media	7.4/10[1]

Sirens of the Ditch was the first solo album released by singer-songwriter and former Drive-By Truckers lead guitarist, Jason Isbell. The album was released on July 10, 2007.

After leaving Drive-By Truckers amicably in 2007, Isbell released Sirens of the Ditch on New West Records. Sirens of the Ditch was recorded at FAME Studios, where among the musicians helping to record the album was Spooner Oldham, famous for his work with Aretha Franklin and Neil Young.^[2] According to Washington Post writer Catherine Lewis, Sirens of the Ditch has "a more bluesy pop sound" than Isbell's work with Drive-By Truckers.^[3] The first single from the album, "Brand New Kind of Actress," deals with the death of Lana Clarkson in Phil Spector's mansion.^[4] Another single, "Dress Blues," concerns the death of Corporal Matthew Conley, a US Marine from Isbell's hometown who was killed in the Iraq War.^[2] "Dress Blues" was also recorded by the Zac Brown Band, on their April 2015 release, Jekyll + Hyde.

Track listing

1. "Brand New Kind of Actress" – 5:35
2. "Down in a Hole" – 4:22
3. "Try" – 4:52
4. "Chicago Promenade" – 3:23
5. "Dress Blues" – 4:11
6. "Grown" – 3:46
7. "Hurricanes and Hand Grenades" – 5:11
8. "In a Razor Town" – 3:19
9. "Shotgun Wedding" – 3:49
10. "The Magician" – 4:20
11. "The Devil Is My Running Mate" – 3:45

Personnel

• David Barbe - keyboards
• Mike Dillon - drums
• David Hood - bass guitar
• Patterson Hood - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Jason Isbell - banjo, bass guitar, dobro, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Hammond organ, piano, lead vocals, background vocals, Wurlitzer
• Clay Leverett - background vocals
• Brad Morgan - drums
• John Neff - pedal steel guitar
• Sponner Oldham - Hammond organ
• Shonna Tucker - bass guitar, background vocals

References

1. Pitchfork Media review
2. Mitter, Siddhartha. "He'll keep on trucking, but solo." Boston Globe July 15, 2007.
3. Lewis, Catherine P. "JASON ISBELL 'Sirens of the Ditch' New West." Washington Post July 13, 2007. Page WE06.
4. Tatangelo, Wade. "Lone Trucker." Creative Loafing Tampa. August 15, 2007.