Steve Earle & the Dukes - Townes (listen) This tribute to Townes Van Zandt is such a no-brainer - Earle has famously said "Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that" - it could easily collapse under its own weight. Ol' Steve pulls it out though, at least on the four songs of it that are available here. I can't even comprehend the depths he will plumb with his version of "Flying Shoes"
Steve Earle & the Dukes - Washington Square Serenade (listen) I love Steve Earle, and am one of those who has said "I don't really like his new stuff all that much" about all of his records since El Corazon (tacking in The Mountain, which is disliked solely by idiots) and was led into the wisdom of correction with a playing of this record the other night during a crawfish boil at dusk, when all corrections should take place. This album is tight, and sweet and smart. Even the song I thought would blow this deal is great if you watch the bugs crawling in the mortar around the brick that is its subject matter.
"Sparkle and Shine" is among his best love songs. So simple it cuts through all the packing that makes up love songs and gets right to the love.
Also, y'all should be hip to the art of Tony Fitzpatrick, who does among other things, most of Earle's cover art.
A good friend once showed me a list of rules for artists Fitzpatrick published. The one that stuck with me goes something like: there is a certain kind of person that brings their slides to your art opening hoping you can pass them on to the gallery owner. That person is called an "asshole." Sound advice.
;-)
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