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- Date Released: March 25, 2008
- Genre: Country/Folk
- Style: Americana, Alt-Country
- Label: Bloodshot Records
Son of Steve makes a name for himself.
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We Say...
Justin Townes Earle clearly does not lack in confidence. Seeking recognition as a distinctive country talent was going to be difficult enough, toting the mixed blessing of his father's surname — that Earle the younger is also flouting that middle name, bestowed in honour of Steve Earle's hero Townes Van Zandt, is indicative of a fondness for a challenge, or a relish for impossible struggles.
Fortunately, nothing on this, Earle's fine debut album, lets the side down — its best moments, indeed, would earn their places in the catalogues of either of the men whose names he carries. Earle trades largely in a sparse, acoustic interpretation of country, his baleful and mostly downbeat songs only fleetingly illuminated by harmonica and violin. Tracks like "Turn out My Lights" and "Who Am I to Say" will inevitably put listeners in mind of Steve Earle's "My Old Friend the Blues" and "Lonelier Than This," but they have a life of their own. Earle probably has more in common with more left-field presences like former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell, or perhaps Todd Snider at his less playful moments.
Earle has the sense to leaven his balladry with some more upbeat moments. "Ain't Glad I'm Leaving" is gorgeous deadpan self-mockery, surely a reverent inversion of Hank Williams' "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave),” and "What Do You Do When You're Lonesome," an irresistible shuffle, is a deceptively upbeat invective that might have pleased Faron Young.
Earle is a way yet from anyone referring to Steve as "Justin's father," but he's still young, and he’s certainly learnt from the best. -
They Say...
Let's get the obvious out of the way first: Justin Townes Earle's father is Steve Earle, and the sort of folks most likely to be interested in Justin's debut album The Good Life are the same kind of music fans who've been following his dad's work for years. Thankfully for Justin, that's not because he sounds all that much like his old man; Justin's voice is sweeter and clearer, and his clear fondness for old-school country gives The Good Life a pleasing feeling of understatement that's significantly different from Steve's tougher, more rock-oriented work. But if Justin is reaching back to the glory days of the Grand Ole Opry on numbers like "What Do You Do When You're Lonesome," "Hard Livin'," and the title tune, he also reveals a more contemplative side on thoughtful, no-frills singer/songwriter pieces such as the confessional "Who Am I to Say," the period gunman's saga of "Lone Pine Hill," and "Turn out My Lights," a plaintive meditation on loneliness and heartbreak. On the latter songs, Justin's music more closely resembles Steve's, but while the themes and approaches are similar, Justin isn't afraid to sound vulnerable, and the youthful modesty of both the songs and the performances works in their favor; this doesn't suggest the work of someone following Steve Earle's template but of a songwriter who has dealt with a set of similar demons and has a corresponding but distinct perspective on how they've impacted his life. The simple arrangements and hands-off production add to the gentle but decisive impact of The Good Life, and the result is a fine calling card for a young singer/songwriter who may not have worked out every last detail of his sound but clearly knows where he's going, and it happens to be a place worth visiting.
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| 01. |  |
Hard Livin' |
2:48 |
|
| 02. | |
The Good Life |
2:47 |
|
| 03. | |
Who Am I To Say |
3:08 |
|
| 04. | |
Lone Pine Hill |
3:03 |
|
| 05. | |
South Georgia Sugar Babe |
2:47 |
|
| 06. | |
What Do You Do When You're Lonesome |
3:32 |
|
| 07. | |
Turn Out My Lights |
3:32 |
|
| 08. | |
Lonesome and You |
3:29 |
|
| 09. | |
Ain't Glad I'm Leaving |
2:32 |
|
| 10. | |
Far Away In Another Town |
3:05 |
|
10 Total Tracks, 30:43 Total Length
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Credits
- Jim DeMain - Mastering // R.S. Field - Producer // Richard McLaurin - Engineer // Richard McLaurin - Mixing // Pete Finney - Dobro // Pete Finney - Guitar (Steel) // Pete Finney - Lap Steel Guitar // Bryan Owings - Drums // Steve Poulton - Guitar (Electric) // Steve Poulton - Producer // Steve Poulton - Mixing // Brad Jones - Bass (Electric) // Brad Jones - Organ (Hammond) // Brad Jones - Engineer // Skylar Wilson - Piano // Skylar Wilson - Organ (Hammond) // Skylar Wilson - Wurlitzer // Keith Brogdon - Drums // Chris Scruggs - Lap Steel Guitar // Manfred Jerome - Tambourine // Adam Bednarik - Engineer // Adam Bednarik - Mixing // Dustin Welch - Banjo // Dustin Welch - Vocals (Background) // Amanda "Pearl" Shires - Model // Joshua Black Wilkins - Artwork // Joshua Black Wilkins - Design // Joshua Black Wilkins - Photography // Justin Townes Earle - Guitar (Acoustic) // Justin Townes Earle - Harmonica // Justin Townes Earle - Vocals // Justin Townes Earle - Guitar (Tremolo) // Justin Townes Earle - Guitar (Baritone)
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