'washington square serenade' represents change on all fronts for Earle. There's a change in mood from the last few intensely political releases. This is a more personal album, reflecting his own life, a move to the big city, married life, more settled, more satisfied. Yet Earle has always been a liberal artist favoured by urban americana fans, rather than heartlands country. Musically there are changes too: electronic beats, world music. From Steve Earle, Mister Organic, Mister American Roots. Who'd have thought? Yet this too reflects Earle's move to New York, as kick off song 'Tennessee Blues' waves "Goodbye Guitar Town", in 'Down Here Below' a NY celebrity hawk whose position at the top of the food chain serves as a metaphor for the city's lords of the universe, contrasts with the lot of ordinary folk. But in part he also speaks for Earle: "He looks up and down on Fifth Avenue and says "God I love this town". The programmed beats and urban ambience is most fully integrated on 'Satellite Radio' and perhaps surprisingly sounds completely natural for Earle. Which cannot be said for the world music tourism of 'City of Immigrants', perhaps the album's weakest track. 'Sparkle and Shine' celebrates the new love of Earle's life, as, less successfully, does the gloopy duet 'Days Aren't Long Enough'. The middle section of the album, tracks six to ten, stands out prinicipally because these songs are just what we expect from Earle, and could find a home on any of his other albums. The album closes with a strong cover of Tom Waits' 'Way Down In The Hole'that pulls things back on track at the last. Recorded as the theme music for acclaimed US tv series 'The Wire', yet to screen on a mainstream UK channel, now the fifth version of the song so recorded, they can all be previewed at Wikipedia.
A refreshing return from the polemics of the past few years, and an enjoyable listen.