STEVE EARLE
Guitar Town (Expanded edition) (MCA)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Sixteen years into Steve Earle's recording career, the artist has been through more ups and downs than nearly anyone in the music business, having gone from the rough and tumble young man with attitude to spare to a drug addicted wreck to the older and wiser (and sober) man he is today. What hasn't changed is his musical integrity. He always rode a tall unicycle down a narrow fence between rockitude and alternative country, and he's got CDs in the country bin and a kick-ass EP recorded with The Supersuckers over in the punk bin to prove it.

Guitar Town is where it all started back in 1986, when a 31 year old Earle unleashed his brand of rock-based, country-tinged Americana that won him a decent sized following. It should have been a much larger following, one to match the size of the talent he displayed in the writing of magical songs like "Goodbye's All We've Got Left," "Good Ol' Boy Gettin' Tough" and the beautiful "Little Rock 'n' Roller." Earle's greatest gift was (and remains) his ability to transport the listeners to a place they've never been and make it seem completely familiar, as he does in "Someday," a song about being trapped in a small town.

"Now I work at the filling station on the Interstate - pumpin' gasoline and countin' out of state plates - They ask me 'how far into Memphis, son, and where's the nearest beer?' - and they don't even know that there's a town around here."

His desperation is tempered by the knowledge that he has a '67 Chevy, of which he says "she's low and sleek and black - Someday I'll put her on that Interstate and never look back."

The place becomes real, the feelings become yours. Earle gives them to you through the honesty and simplicity of his lyrics and, in all cases, a memorable musical hook to complete the package.

At sweet 16, Guitar Town still sounds fresh and vibrant. This reissue includes improved sound quality and a bonus track, Bruce Springsteen's "State Trooper," recorded live by Steve Earle and the Dukes on the tour in support of this album. It's a nice rendition and a fair tip of the hat from Earle to the man who paved at least part of the road for the No Depression artists (revisit the Nebraska album in case you've forgotten). New liner notes by Earle add a nice touch. If you haven't got Guitar Town and you already know you enjoy Steve Earle's work, there's no question you'll love this, so it's a 99.999% safe bet. If you don't know his work and you're in the mood to discover something wonderful, this is a real fine place to start.

© 2002 - DJ Johnson