Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now [CD]

It is inevitable that the follow up to a successful album will be compared to it, I think that all Justin Townes Earle fans would be satisfied and even welcome Harlem River Blues Part 2, and listening to this record Earle was obviously not willing take the easy way out and for this I thank him.
The sound of this album is different from his previous albums and EP, but not so much as to see no connections at all. The country influence of his previous work is still there, his hard-hitting and emotional lyrics are as present as ever ("Won't Be the Last Time" ranks up in his finest ever), and his distinctive voice and ragged delivery is still here. I will say this album is predominantly slower than Harlem, but this is not a bad thing (the emotion of the slow songs makes up for it) and there are upbeat songs ("Baby's Got a Bad Idea," "Movin' On," "Memphis in the Rain") scattered throughout.
I encourage anyone to pick up the record, but please do not simply compare it to Harlem River Blues, let it stand on its own as a new and great direction that Earle has gone in.

Key songs: "Am I That Lonely Tonight?," "Baby's Got A Bad Idea," "Won't Be The Last Time," "Movin' On"

I usually don't do reviews and just read others, but I felt compelled to write one about JTE's latest. I'll admit that I'm probably the not the most objective person in the world since JTE is absolutely one of my favorite artists, but do yourself a favor and buy this album immediately. Harlem River Blues was an amazing discovery for me and is one of my all-time favorite albums. I even went into this album with a preconceived notion that there was no way this album could compare. I'm here to tell you that it does in every way. I was looking forward to this release like no other artists and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.

The first time I listened to it, I rushed through it and didn't give a true listen. Much like Harlem River Blues, I gravitated to just the title track and didn't realize what pure gold was in the rest of the album. I kept playing it and really took the time to listen to each song. This album is fantastic on so many levels. If you're looking for one single standout track to match "Harlem River Blues," you won't really find it, but what you will find is a truly fantastic album.

As opposed to Harlem River Blues, JTE decides to start off a little slow with "Am I That Lonely Tonight," and this is one that may not impress the hell out of you at first, but you'll remember it and keep coming back to it over and over. I love starting the album over just to hear this song. "Look the Other Way" is hands-down one of the best tracks on the album. It's upbeat and will remind you the most of the title track from "Harlem River Blues." It's a true showcase for JTE's outstanding voice. The title track "Nothing's Gonna Change the Way you Feel About me Now" is similar to "Am I that lonely tonight," and is a slower melody, but his voice will stick in your head and you can't get it out. This is probably one of the more underrated tracks on the album.

"Baby's Got a Bad Idea" stands you right back out and get you groovin'. It reminds me a lot of "Move Over Mama" from HRB. It's an excellent rockabilly song that will have you tapping your toes and trying to keep up with the beat. I'm sure that even those who don't care for the album as a whole will even admit this is a superb song. "Maria" is one of my favorite songs on the entire album. It may get overlooked because it's sandwiched between two of the more catchy songs on the entire track. "Down on the Lower East Side" may not come out demand your attention, but it's one of the best on the entire album. This song takes you to your favorite jazz bar and could be played to any audience and everyone will like it. Smooth, melodic, and fantastic jazz sounds. A little similar to "Slippin' and Slidin," but more jazzy for sure.

"Won't be the last time" admittedly isn't one of my very favorites, not necessarily because the song itself isn't good, but almost all the others are so damn good. You may compare this song to "Learning to Cry" from HRB. "Memphis in the Rain" is absolutely fantastic and brings out all of JTE's best twang. One of the very best tracks on the entire disc. "Unfortunately Anna" is a very heartfelt slow song that probably suffers a little bit from being after "Memphis" and setting up for the fantastic finish of the final two songs.

Some may disagree, but the finish of the last two songs is absolutely fantastic and my favorite part of the album (I know I've said that way too much, but I can't say enough about this album). "Movin' On" is my absolute favorite song on the disc.....at least for now. Slow starter, but one of the grooviest damn songs I've ever heard. Play this song a few times and see if you can help but tap your toes to the beat. This is followed up by "Oh Darling" and a truly superb finish. Starting off with almost a mariachi flavor with horns, this song will leave you wanting more of the album and you'll probably want to restart it immediately.

Like me, if you go in looking for a title track resembling "Harlem River Blues," you want find in the beginning and you may even question how in the hell can someone compare this album to HRB, but go back, crack your favorite brew or bottle wine and listen to this album again on a beautiful sunny day and you won't be disappointed. Already one of my favorite albums and confirms yet again that Justin Townes Earles is one of the best damn artists alive. Can't wait to go see him on tour when he heads down to Georgia in May. As mentioned in the title, you may question it at first and even scoff at the idea, but once you listen to this album all the way through a few times, you'll likely realize that this absolutely is as good as Harlem River Blues. Do yourself a favor and buy this album NOW!

Dear Music Appreciators,

The oldest son of the revered "Hardcore Troubadour" seems like the kind of guy who is just as likely to be spotted in the pages of GQ as he is to be walking down your local railroad tracks with a bindle over his shoulder. Wearer of hats and scarves and bowties and vests, Justin Townes Earle is a snappy-dressing free spirit with a history of drugging and drinking who writes and sings Americana style songs infused with country, folk, and blues elements that will put a tear in your beer and a swing in your step. This is Earle's fifth studio album (four LPs and one EP) which may just qualify him for a bit of a Ryan Adams comparison...young, prolific, singer/songwriter with a history of substance abuse and a Bloodshot Records connection derails a string of easy-to-love albums with a darkly confessional down-in-the-dumps record that challenges fans and turns critical expectation on its ear - Ryan Adams put out a record like that called 29. But where Adams' record (his third release of 2005) may have been too much of a long and winding road, Earle's effort clocks in at a respectful 30:23 and contains just enough up-tempo horn and organ soaked Memphis soul moments and old fashioned storytelling sense to keep the whole affair interesting. "Baby's Got A Bad Idea" features a growly rock vocal, punchy horn chart, and rollicking piano, while "Memphis In The Rain" swaggers through the titular city and its "whitewashed buildings and overgrown yards" in search of a "girl without a name." "Down on the Lower Eastside" contains the most artfully understated vocals of the album woven up with jazzy, muted trumpet and soulful organ flourishes. Lovers of story songs will likely want to wrap their arms around the emotional delivery and lyrical imagery of a track like "Unfortunately, Anna. The album ends with "Movin' On," a shuffling, winding confessional that sounds loose and groovy and brings to mind a countrified Paul Simon - reminding the listener that although this may be an annoyingly long-titled album that defies expectations and contains more than its share of haggard moments, at the end of the day Earle is still very much the lovable, nattily dressed rake who can capture the attention of anyone who hasn't completely sold their musical soul.

Sincerely,

Constant Listener