Albums of the Year Number 9: Harlem River Blues by Justin Townes Earle Those who are a fan of Steve Earle will recognise much in his son. Not least the fact that he’s named after his father’s hero Townes Van Zandt. And when you hear this album there’s much, much more to link the two. Justin’s voice has much of Steve’s gravelly timbre, breaking with what feels like perfect emphasis. There’s the clear country roots with a rock sensibility, and there’s the stories of the working man, topics that would feel as at home in a Springsteen song as anywhere. And his arrest following a drunken argument with a concert promoter earlier in the year wouldn’t look entirely out of place in his father’s biography. There’s something unique about Justin though, and you can hear it in the title track, which although clearly firmly rooted in the country/folk/rock tradition, also drips with a stunning gospel backing. Later, ‘Move Over Mama’ shuffles along in a much more traditionally rockabilly feel than you’d be likely to hear from his father (although it’s not entirely unknown). However much of an overlap there is between Justin Townes Earle and his father, though, this is an excellent, polished album that feels like Tennessee just taken wholesale and bottled ready for export. Spotify Link

Albums of the Year

Number 9: Harlem River Blues by Justin Townes Earle

Those who are a fan of Steve Earle will recognise much in his son. Not least the fact that he’s named after his father’s hero Townes Van Zandt. And when you hear this album there’s much, much more to link the two. Justin’s voice has much of Steve’s gravelly timbre, breaking with what feels like perfect emphasis. There’s the clear country roots with a rock sensibility, and there’s the stories of the working man, topics that would feel as at home in a Springsteen song as anywhere. And his arrest following a drunken argument with a concert promoter earlier in the year wouldn’t look entirely out of place in his father’s biography.

There’s something unique about Justin though, and you can hear it in the title track, which although clearly firmly rooted in the country/folk/rock tradition, also drips with a stunning gospel backing. Later, ‘Move Over Mama’ shuffles along in a much more traditionally rockabilly feel than you’d be likely to hear from his father (although it’s not entirely unknown).

However much of an overlap there is between Justin Townes Earle and his father, though, this is an excellent, polished album that feels like Tennessee just taken wholesale and bottled ready for export.

Spotify Link