Review-Steve Earle-"Townes"

First I want to apologize to my readers for not posting my new reviews in a timely fashion these last couple of weeks. I have been extraordinarily busy working out a career change.

Steve Earle knew Townes. Perhaps no other artist knew him better. Townes' career influenced Earle's own rocky, drug addled career road with Earle ultimately emerging triumphant as a rebellious but legitimate American Troubadour. Townes as we all know was not so fortunate. Fortunately for us the music of Townes Van Zandt has shown itself to have tremendous staying power in spite of Townes' well publicized demons.

It is fitting at this point that Steve would go back to the songs that first influenced him and so many of us out there-"To Live is to Fly," "No Place to Fall," and the now iconic "Pancho and Lefty." All of these are represented here in versions so spare and understated it is easy to miss just how much passion went into this project. Every element here is in place to underscore the perfectly melancholy power of Townes' original lyrics. Earle utilized his son Justin Townes Earle and his wife Allison Moorer for support on subdued background vocals, other instrumental highlights include Shad Cobb's melancholy fiddle, Tim O'Brien's perfectly placed mandolin flourishes and Tom Morello's surprisingly perfect electric guitar accents.

The high point is "Lungs" which sends Earle's already raspy voice through an effects processor for an eerie effect that captures the sad place this song was written from. Add a spare acoustic guitar, hollow drums and a whining electric and you have the a perfect interpretation of this song's hollow desolation.

Perhaps Steve Earle has exorcised an inner demon or two with this collection of 15 of his mentor's best songs. Maybe he has made some peace with Townes' troubled legacy. He has certainly helped to elevate the work of Townes Van Zandt to an even more enduring status.

Steve Earle-"Townes" Four out of Five stars.