How’s this for pressure? You’re Steve Earl’s kid, your middle name is Townes, and you’re about to release your debut record on the premier alt-country label in the country. That’s the position Justin Townes Earle finds himself in. On these songs from The Good Life, his debut full length out soon on Bloodshot Records, you can certainly hear both his dad and his namesake.
“Who Am I To Say” does in fact sound like dear old dad at times, but before drugs, age, smoking and a hard living altered his voice to the point that it’s now just a low growl. The song itself is an autobiographical tale that attempts to deal with his dad’s myth and his flawed relationship with him. But on “Hard Living” you can also hear Justin’s attempt at creating his own style. That song is an old-timey piano, violin and banjo romp, and is unlike anything I’ve ever heard from Steve Earle.
You can buy his six song EP here. Here’s two songs from The Good Life out on March 25th on Bloodshot.
Here’s three songs from the first EP – Yuma:
I am so loving the emergence of the modern indiefolk (and altfolk) second generation. Ruth Ungar (Jay & Molly), Ben Taylor (James & Carly), Teddy Thompson (Richard and Linda), Sam Amidon (Peter and Mary), Sarah Guthrie (who is third generation, of course), The Wainwrights…it’s like musicianship has become a potential family business, and we all benefit.
Heck, Jakob Dylan is playing Bonnaroo; maybe he’ll reverse his father’s career and go unplugged. An improvement on his Wallflowers sound, maybe?