What with being out of town over the Easter weekend and squeezing yesterday’s posts in while tending to my real job, I haven’t yet had a chance to mention the news, released last Friday, that Jason Isbell has parted ways with the Drive-By Truckers. A terse initial posting on his MySpace blog on Friday read only “I am not in the Drive By Truckers anymore. Go figure. I wish them luck. I will not answer questions about it.” 

That post made it sound as if the decision wasn’t entirely mutual, but his subsequent post the next day is a little more conciliatory and optimistic. Both Isbell and DBT ringleader Patterson Hood take great pains to point out that everyone remains friends, that it was an amicable parting and that they hope fans support both the Truckers and Isbell’s new band (Isbell’s long-awaited solo album, Sirens of the Ditch, comes out July 10 on New West). You can read Hood’s heartfelt statement on the subject here.

This is enormous news to fans (like myself) who’ve valued his contributions to the Truckers’ last three albums Decoration Day, The Dirty South and A Blessing and A Curse. It’s not hyperbole to say that his addition to the band in the midst of touring for Southern Rock Opera was a monumental move in terms of the Truckers’ musical growth; as strong as Hood and Mike Cooley are as songwriters, Isbell’s contributions helped push the band far beyond the expectations that Opera set. He’s an incredibly strong songwriter for his young years, and a powerful singer and guitarist as well. He elevated the Truckers’ game considerably and it’ll be interesting to watch him chart his own course with this new band, and to watch the Truckers evolve without him. Best of luck to both; here’s hoping the split proves a blessing rather than a curse.

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