Review: "Death Wish" - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
- by Jordan
- in Reviews
“Death Wish” is both the intro and the leading single to Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s new album, Weathervanes. This new album is the first full length LP from the band since 2020’s phenomenal record, Reunions. Though there was a cover album entitled, Georgia Blue that was promised to fans if the state of Georgia voted blue in the 2020 presidential election, Weathervanes is the first collection of new songs from Jason in quite some time. Such a return could not be more welcome. Jason Isbell (pronounced Is-BULL) is known for his eloquent song writing, his deeply Americana sound, and his not being afraid to either get personal, political, or downright depressing. This new album is no different, “Death Wish” being not just the album’s intro, but among some of Isbell’s greatest works.
“Death Wish” describes being in love with someone who is struggling with depression and self-destructive tendencies. The song is deeply vulnerable, and paints a picture that is both helpless, yet hopeful. The speaker seems to be fighting this eternal battle of keeping their significant other safe from themselves, as if trying to keep them safe from the world wasn’t enough. The song really captures both the frailty of life and the frailty of love. “Death Wish” is not a romanticized depiction of love, in fact, it embodies the daily ugliness that creates constant turbulence for both people. No matter how ugly the content of the song gets, however, it’s the perfect microcosm to depict the resilience and perseverance of love. The speaker truly, truly loves this woman. Life in of itself is a defiance of everything. In a world where one could die at any moment, continuing to live is almost like a middle finger to the forces of nature that have tried to end you. But to love and give your soul to someone else is a step beyond defiance. It’s a death wish. To leave yourself not only vulnerable to your own demise, but the possibility of someone you love’s demise, is not only reckless but unnecessary for survival. Yet we do it anyway. Why? Because that’s what separates us from these forces of nature. We are life. We are alive. And there is strength in love. Love gives us a reason to stay defiant. Love gives us a reason to help others stay defiant. All of these ideas are explored and captured in “Death Wish.”
One of my favorite aspects of “Death Wish” is that it just… starts. The moment you click play, Isbell starts singing. A beat before the music actually comes in, at that. Isbell does not allow you to prepare. He puts you in the position of the narrator (it's no secret that the content of this song is likely to be inspired by Isbell’s marriage with singer-songwriter, Amanda Shires) in that, there’s no warning. One moment your world is quiet, and then the next: chaos, anxiety, and fear. Fear that your loved one is in danger. Isbell opens up both the song and the Weathervanes album with such a compelling, captivating, and haunting line, “Did you ever love a woman with a death wish?” There’s something even more chilling in the choice of “did” rather than “have” in the phrasing of the question. It’s almost like the experience is spoken in past tense. There’s a sense of finality. Which could either be an indication that the woman has grown past these tendencies, or she fell victim to them. From there, we hear the rest of the hook and Isbell displays one of his greatest talents, giving you a world of story in just a few lines. Being that I come from the world of Hip-Hop both creatively and as a listener, the story-telling style is much different. Story-telling in Hip-Hop is more detailed and paced given the time and format of the lyrics. A verse in a Rock song may only be 4 lines, while a verse in a Hip-Hop song is often at the very least, 16 bars, a line for every bar. While I think there is beauty in both, I almost find it more impressive to be able to tell so much story in such a minimal time frame. To be able to offer a world of imagery in a single line is such a profound talent that I have yet to wrap my head around, whereas Isbell does it like breathing. Akin to the rest of his discography, “Death Wish” is full of clever and witty lyrics, tattooable one-liners (my new favorite adjective), and gut-punch song-writing. In regards to clever lines, I love this one from the second verse, “What's the difference in a breakdown and a breakthrough?” “Death Wish” really is a masterclass in song-writing and storytelling.
Musically, Isbell describes the track as almost “experimental” compared to what his fans are used to from him. The track is carried by powerful acoustic guitars and drums that feel almost cinematic, with its dramatic percussion that almost screams “HEY, listen to this song!” The track has a standard Rock song structure, with a passionate hook, compelling verses, a glimmering bridge, and an entrancing outro. For a song with such devastating subject matter, the melodies are quite catchy and enticing. The beauty of the song is especially prominent in the harmonies that start in the second hook. Weathervanes marks the first release that Jason has executively produced himself, and it shows. There’s an inventive and risk-taking nature to this album in comparison to his prior releases.
Though this album may have only come out a few weeks ago, I fear people may have missed this release. “Death Wish” is far from a peak moment in the record. Songs like “Death Wish” are found in abundance on Weathervanes. This track is a great introduction to both the album and the world of Jason Isbell. I urge anyone reading this to give it a thorough listen. You just might find some of the best damn music you’ve ever heard.
