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The recording is tight, but relaxed and engaging, and with wife Allison Moorer on backing vocals, there is a lasting spirit on this CD that makes it special. Add Contemporary Folk to the list - theme here: the 'hardcore troubadour' bids 'goodbye to Guitar Town', settles in NYC's Greenwich Village and writes about the Big Apple. Since the mid '80s, Texan Steve Earle's music has ranged from hard rock to more traditional rock / mellow rock to bluegrass. It won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk/ Americana Album. Pissing some traditional fans off, the tone is folky, often acoustic-solo with moderate percussion behind him (even tasteful drum machine). Earle's songwriting is legendary, but too many people do not know him. GENRES: Mellow Rock, Contemporary Folk. BUY IF YOU LIKE: Townes Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp.MUST HEAR TRACKS: "Down Here Below," "Sparkle & Shine," "Jericho Road," "Tennessee Blues."
The booklet includes liner notes written by Steve Earle, all the lyrics to the album and some nice photographs. Washington Square Serenade (DIG) being Steve Earle's 2007 release is considered an alternative rock album but to me it sounds like a regular rock album with descent enough lyrics and melodies that one has heard before both better and worst. Groups such as Ministry and The Cure can be considered alternative rock whilst this sounds like top 40 rock music with political lyrics. We also get a list of whom plays what on the album. 3/5.
First time I've heard Steve Earle. I wish I had heard him earlier. All I have to say is from the first cut to the last, I liked it all. Some simple clean catchy tunes and others more complex and deep. Excellent. I'll have to check out some of his other work.
Will this be Steve Earle's over-looked forgotten masterpiece.It took me a while but I finally got on to Washington Square Serenade.This is top notch Steve Earle like none before. a must have.I wanted it to be soo good when it came out then was turned off by Satellite Radioand City Of Immigrants, both of which were heavily played on the radio.Take out those 2 songs and you have a perfect album.Some have said WSS comes off as Steve talking or rambling through songs rantingand raving about more Steve Earle complaints. This is not the case.WSS is full of acoustic serenades about life, women and love.The facts are I have become VERY fond of WSS.I think it is going to take over the #1 spot.The beginning notes of Tennessee Blues immediately grab you and is a previewof the rest of the cd.minus Immigrants and satellite radio songs.I can't get enough of Down Here Below, Sparkle and Shine, Down in the Hole.It's a national treasure to have this type of music marked as "American Made".If you are into driving acoustic finger-picked ballads that rock - look no further.Steve Earle has miraculously come out with what is essentially a masterpiece.Maybe even his best yet. Which doesn't seem feasible to accomplish such a feat.Real musicians "age like wine" and Steve Earle is a "real" musician.In time - - It only gets better.Highly Recommended for ALL Ages
This is a great Steve Earl album. If you like his work, you will love this one.
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