Peak Music

The difference between Jason Isbell’s pre-Southeastern work and Southeastern and forward is measurable, and Southeastern was the turning point. Each of the previous albums had flashes of brilliance, but Southeastern was where it all came together in one cohesive package.

 

Absolutely. One of the best five albums of my lifetime. I've enjoyed his post-Southeastern stuff but he will never top it. He hasn't fallen off a cliff, though, like some who put out a masterpiece like that.

 

A debut peak followed by the usual life-career tumult and then a successful Act III is a short list, also.

 

The Grateful Dead between 1987 and 1989. Brent Mydland, a less-addled Jerry, and the whole band were just fantastic.

 

And not coincidentally, Southeastern is the first record he made sober.

 

Stevie WOnder's Songs in the Key of Life (1976) was his 18th studio album and came a year after he signed a Motown contract worth beaucoup bucks.

1974-76 has been called his classic recording period.

 

I absolutely love Southeastern. It’s in my all time top 10.

I actually find there are more songs I enjoy in the pre-SE catalogue than post. I would take SE and everything that came before (including the songs he wrote for DBT) over SE and the following albums (so far).

 

Is there such a thing as non-peak Hendrix?

I was trying to think about when he was at his peak, and his entire career is a toss-up.

If I had to choose, I’d say Monterey was him at his absolute best.

 

Red Headed Stranger - Willie Nelson

 

Van Halen peaked till the day they died which would be when Diamond Dave bolted.

 

I would say that Hendrix had peaked before Woodstock. With The Experience he deftly merged R&B with psychedelia. With the switch of his backup to Cox and Miles his sound was more funky and much less trippy. My preference was for the trippy Jimi, so others might disagree.

 

Steely Dan, "The Royal Scam."