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Sound Opinions

Jason Isbell & Opinions on Protomartyr

Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions

Music, Arts, Society & Culture

4.32K Ratings

🗓️ 16 June 2023

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On the occasion of his new documentary and album with the 400 Unit, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot talk to guitarist, singer and songwriter Jason Isbell. They discuss band dynamics, working with his wife, Amanda Shires, and filming the latest Scorsese film in Oklahoma in the midst of the global pandemic. The hosts also review the new album by Detroit post-punk band Protomartyr.

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Featured Songs:

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, "Miles," Weathervanes, Southeastern, 2023
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Capitol, 1967
Protomartyr, "Make Way," Formal Growth In The Desert, Domino, 2023
Protomartyr, "For Tomorrow," Formal Growth In The Desert, Domino, 2023
Protomartyr, "Let's Tip the Creator," Formal Growth In The Desert, Domino, 2023
Protomartyr, "Polacrilex Kid," Formal Growth In The Desert, Domino, 2023
Protomartyr, "Rain Garden," Formal Growth In The Desert, Domino, 2023
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, "Death Wish," Weathervanes, Southeastern, 2023
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, "Middle of the Morning," Weathervanes, Southeastern, 2023
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, "King of Oklahoma," Weathervanes, Southeastern, 2023
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, "When We Were Close," Weathervanes, Southeastern, 2023
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, "If You Insist," Weathervanes, Southeastern, 2023
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, "Save the World," Weathervanes, Southeastern, 2023
Little Richard, "Tutti Frutti," Here's Little Richard, Specialty, 1957

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey there, if you're listening to this and you support us on Patreon, you can hear it via the Patreon page and free!

0:31.0

You're listening to Sound Opinions and this week we're talking with singer, songwriter and guitarist Jason Isbel on the occasion of his new HBO documentary and his album with the 400 unit.

0:43.0

I'm Jim DeRugatus and I'm Greg Cutt, but first some new music from Detroit Postpunk Band Proto Margar.

1:01.0

Where we chose to forget.

1:09.0

The years are hungry now.

1:11.0

That is a little bit of the song Make Way which opens the sixth album by the Postpunk Band Proto Margar, one of Greg's very favorites.

1:34.0

Formed in Detroit, Greg, back in 2010, same four members ever since, Joe Casey on vocals, Greg Ahey on guitar, Alex Leonard the drummer and Scott Davidson on bass.

1:46.0

We're signing to Domino Records in 2017, a couple of albums ago.

1:51.0

Four album number six, they went down to Torneo, Texas at a ranch and recorded the record that's appropriately titled formal growth in the desert.

2:04.0

What are they giving us this time around? Let's play a track from this album and we'll come back with our reviews.

2:11.0

This is the song for tomorrow from album number six by Proto Margar on Sound Opinions.

2:33.0

That is for tomorrow from Proto Margar's sixth album formal growth in the desert.

2:55.0

That's an interesting title, they did extensively record in a desert, but it also talks about an emotional frame of mind, formal growth, I think that's the key.

3:05.0

A lot of Proto Margar records can seem pretty depressing maybe, certainly downcast, certainly a bleaker view of life.

3:14.0

This record I think has a little bit of a different spin on it. There is light at the end of this proverbial tunnel and a lot of that has to do with the conditions that Joe Casey's writing about.

3:27.0

I mean, first of all, the key themes, the deterioration of Detroit, the deterioration of his mom, who has battled Alzheimer's until her recent death.

3:37.0

The deterioration of the world, thanks to climate change, the deterioration of the homes they're living in.

3:41.0

There's a song in here about how about rats infested his mom's house and eventually a to move out.

3:46.0

So those are elements here. You mentioned the cinematic approach and it's such a cliche to describe an album that way.

3:53.0

But I went back and listened to some of Proto Margar's earlier work and there was no doubt there was more of a raging punky garagey feel to a lot of that music.

4:04.0

They're definitely trying to expand the palette here from a textural standpoint, from a dynamic standpoint.

4:10.0

They're adding this pedal steel player who's bringing in some new textures.

...

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