Audio CD review:
Steve Earle - Just an American Boy

Steve Earle - Just an American Boy

Band: Steve Earle Title: Just an American Boy Rating: Release Date: 23 September, 2003 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Audience Intro 2: Amerika v. 6.0 (Tthe Best We Can Do) 3: Ashes to Ashes 4: (Paranoia) 5: Conspiracy Theory 6: I Remember You 7: (Schertz, Texas) 8: Hometown Blues 9: The Mountain 10: (Pennsylvania Miners) 11: Harlan Man 12: Copperhead Road 13: Guitar Town 14: (I Oppose the Death Penalty) 15: Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song) 16: Billy Austin 17: Audience Intro 18: South Nathville Blues 19: Rex's Blue's/ Fort Worth Blues 20: John Walker's Blues 21: Jerusalem 22: The Unrepentant 23: Christmas In Washington 24: (Democracy) 25: What's So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding 26: Time You Waste (Justin Earle)

Editoral Review S. This double live CD, recorded with the Dukes on their tour supporting Earle's 2002 album Jerusalem, takes its title from "John Walker's Blues," Earle's song about John Walker Lindh, "the American Taliban"--a song that got him Dixie Chick-ed off adult contemporary and country rock stations across the U. Subtitled "an audio documentary," the album coincides with the release of a feature film that follows Earle as he tours, mounts a play, and campaigns against the death penalty. Earle talks quite a bit between songs; his monologues are affable, entertaining, and leftist. Along with Woody Guthrie and D. Boon, Earle's one of those rare musical activists who understands that successful political songs must have music that's exceptional and politics that are personal. There are extraordinary renditions of some of his finest soapbox songs, including "John Walker," "Harlan Man," "Christmas in Washington," and "Billy Austin. " A couple of tunes that sounded stiff on Jerusalem--"Ashes to Ashes" and "Conspiracy Theory"--receive far better, and more rocking, treatment here, while "Copperhead Road" is turned into a Scots-Irish reel, which works surprisingly well. The highlight is a take-no-prisoners cover of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love & Understanding. " --Mike McGonigal .. You can see a complete list of all Steve Earle discography, or go back to the Steve Earle tabs