Justin Townes Earle
Midnight At The Movies
Bloodshot Records – 2009

Being the son of legendary country outlaw Steve Earle and carrying the name of the late, great Townes Van Zandt, one might think Justin Townes Earle would either dive headfirst into a radically different style than his forebears or eschew a musical career altogether. Thankfully, he’s not only filling those big Americana shoes, but actually bypassing the self-abuse Steve and Townes once engaged in. Here, Earle deftly explores a wide range of genres and subject matter with the wisdom and self-assurance of a man twice his age.

The title cut is a soft ode to the innocence of a bygone era, done up with such purity one almost feels as if the curtain is actually rising at a small town theatre. Along with bandmates Cory Younts, Bryan Davies, Josh Hedley, Brian Owings, and Skylar Wilson, Earle wisely makes use of a large array of instruments, including fiddle, banjo, piano, dobro, vibraphone and mandolin to create a modern masterpiece firmly planted in classic roots.

“What I Meant To You” is a heavenly romp through Tin Pan Alley, “They Killed John Henry” is a rollicking testament to Earle’s folk influences, and “Mama’s Eyes” finds him explaining how he’s attempting to beat the devils that plagued his father- “I am my father’s son,” he admits wryly, then offsets that statement with, (but) “…I’ve got my mama’s eyes/Long thin frame an’ a smile…” A breezy blast through The Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait,” replete with ballsy mandolin lines, proves this old soul’s got a young heart after all, and album closer “Here We Go Again” establishes him as a songwriter to be reckoned with in any generation. A delightfully eclectic collection of rock, folk, jive, and pure country that just gets more addictive with every spin.

-Bobby O’Sheares

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