Finally getting a chance to sit down with the new Steve Earle double LP "Townes" and its as good as I hoped and then some. Pristine sound with a mix that puts the band right in the living room with you. Lots of acoustic instruments that sound very natural and clean. Earle does his hero Townes Van Zandt's songs great justice with uncluttered arrangements that let the songs themselves shine through.
I came to know Townes' music only in the last few years and it's been one of the great discoveries of my long and varied musical journey. Townes was a tragic genius to be sure but mostly I think he was just a genius. I don't know if there's another musician in the last 40 years whose sound I would deem as more authentic than Townes'. He was a man with obvious demons who, when he sang, opened the door to his soul and laid all of his life bare in a way very few musicians ever have.
If you don't know anything about Townes I'd suggest renting the documentary about him entitled "Be Here To Love Me". It's a well produced and interesting insight into the man who may just be the most important songwriter most people have never heard of.
Back to the album, the New York Times did a great review/profile of Steve Earle a couple of weeks back that is well worth a read. It explores a bit of the relationship between Earle and his mentor, hero and sometimes tormentor Townes Van Zandt.
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