Between his four solo albums and years with Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell is far from a new name among Southern singer-songwriters. But on Something More Than Free, he presents 11 tracks so fresh-faced and downright beautiful that you’d think he was a no-name musician writing for his life. In fact, the sparse, raw arrangements and vivid storytelling are most reminiscent of Heartbreaker, the solo debut of another heart-on-sleeve troubadour: Isbell’s former tourmate Ryan Adams. On “The  Life You Chose,” Isbell crows, “Are you living the life you chose? Are you living the life that chose you?” with acoustic guitar, strings and the pitter-patter of percussion behind him. He’s asking a girl with “Jack and Coke in your mama’s car,” but the song plays like a call to arms for anyone at the back of the bar with a broken heart and a head full of regrets. Isbell’s writing is empowering, but sensitive and humble. On the aching title track, he won’t “think on why I’m here or where it hurts. I’m just lucky to have the work.” With the excellent Something More Than Free arriving fresh on the heels of his 2013 breakthrough Southeastern, let’s hope his luck continues.