Isbell peaked with the Southeastern album. That album was as good as there ever was IMO. Nashville Sound was meh compared to his other works. If We Were Vampires is a great lyrical piece though.
Songwriting is an art. Like many artists before him, he has “made it”, gotten married, sobered up, kids etc. living a life of comfort. Distancing yourself from the hollows of hardships and pain and that is the place where art truly flourishes.
My favorites over the last few years are:
Tyler Childers
Whiskey Myers
Brent Cobb
John Moreland
Ryan Bingham
Turnpike Troubadours
Kacey Musgraves