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A Masterpiece

10/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Inspired by Earle's attendence at a Bruce Springsteen concert, this singer/songwriter masterpiece lovingly exploits the conflict between the hero's desire to stay in a small town and the need to leave. Set in 1980's Reagan-era America and featuring Duane Eddy-style reverberated guitar lines blazing through dangerously infectious melodies, Guitar Town's dusty, blue-collar vignettes relentlessly engage and tug at the heart strings, and Earle's stark character development revives desperate ("Someday") and exhuberantly hopeful ("Guitar Town") emotions from the listener's childhood. This 'Dylanesque-country' sound inadvertantly awakened a young, rock-loving, college-educated country audience yearning for the disappearing rock sounds of John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen. Earle set the mark on the top rung for this type of new country, and with the public expecting only the best, Nashville delivered its finest and most daring projects of the post-Hank Williams era. Easily the most groundbreaking Nashville recording since Waylon Jennings' "Honky Tonk Heroes" sessions, Guitar Town was named one of Rolling Stone's Top 100 Recordings of the 80's and was praised in the rock press (Robert Cristgau's "The Village Voice" and Dave Marsh's "Rock and Roll Confidential") long before receiving favorable country reviews. Guitar Town continues to exert a massive influence on songwriters 16 years after its release and is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the 1980's "New Traditionalist" movement in Nashville. Earle may never understand the full impact this recording will continue to have on future generations of songwriters. As his music continues to move towards exclusively political themes, it becomes clear he will not visit Americana territory again, but since he virtually defined the genre with this monolithic MCA debut, he can leave well enough (or, in this case, near perfect) alone."

Steve Earle... like Waylon... does it his way

Michelle Thompson | Roxton, Texas | 02/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Earle could have been in the top with Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakum, etc back in the late 80's and early 90's but due to the political bull**** from the record labels, producers like Tony Brown, etc.... they just don't know what the heck they're doing. You can't make a true artist do things politically correct, for then you rob them of the talent of what they are all about. So, just like the rebel Waylon Jennings was... that's Steve today. Just try it out... if you like true country music... this is great! Don't forget...Exit 0 is another great album by Steve Earle."

Guitar Town

rauladelante | where in the world am I? | 04/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Guitar Town" is essentially a roots rock album with a heartland, hillbilly twist. Steve Earle wrote six of the ten tracks, and cowrote the other four. His voice cuts through the listeners ears, giving you chills. From start to finish, the record is filled with outstanding songs that you'll never forget. As a songwriter, Earle uses razor sharp lyrics, particularly noticable on the title track: 'Everybody told me you can't get far on thirty-seven dollars and a Jap guitar.' He wrote that song after arguing with his girlfriend on the telephone while he was out on the road doing concerts! *Fearless Heart* is a fantastic rock ballad--watch for the spine-tingling guitar solo. Earle brings in jangly guitars on tracks like *Gettin' Tough* and *Goodbye's All We Got Left* and also includes some hard, natural country on songs like the bouncy *Think it Over*, the working-class *Hillbilly Highway*, and the acoustic *My Old Friend the Blues*. *Someday* is the best cut of the record. This wonderfull storytelling song includes a beautifull electric guitar solo after the second chorus, and a timeless hammered-chord acoustic strum. Steve closes out the album with the smooth *Little Rock 'n Roller* and the mandolin-drenched *Down The Road*. Steve Earle delivers each and every song with all the confidence and conviction of the long-time veteran he was when this recording was released. Using studio musicians rather than his band seems to be the only flaw, but the remarkable high quality of the songs overcomes that. Definitely an essential recording for any alternative country/roots rock music fan.Thank You!"