When Jason Isbell announced he was splitting amicably from Southern-Rock stalwarts Drive-By Truckers after only being featured on their last three records, it came as quite a shock to fans - though maybe it shouldn't have. Anyone who thinks that Drive-By Truckers is anything but the Paterson Hood/Mike Cooley show is kidding themselves and when you can only get one or two songs on average featured on each album then maybe it's time to head on down that solo record road and Isbell has done exactly that.

Sirens of the Ditch is Isbell's debut and Truckers fanatics will find it easily digestible. It would be difficult for Truckers fans not to enjoy it since it isn't far off from an actual Drive-By Truckers album. All but Cooley make appearances and play throughout Sirens and Hood even produced most of it. But make no mistake, this is Isbell's record for sure and he makes a pretty damn good front man.

Album opener "Brand New Kind of Actress" is a fiery starter that would be right at home on any Steve Earle record. "Down In A Hole" and "Hurricanes and Hand Grenades" even shows that Isbell has some savvy old school R & B chops, the latter being eerily reminiscent of Ray Charles' "You Don't Know Me." "Shotgun Wedding" and "Chicago Promenade" are such good Alt-Country numbers that they'd make Ryan Adams jealous. Isbell isn't quite in the Earle/Adams realm of Alt-Country greatness yet, but if he keeps building on such solid efforts such as this it won't be long until he's mentioned right along side some of today's Alt-Country staples.