Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wide eyed country boy in the big city?, 1 April 2008
'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.
|
|
|
11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Takin' The Reformed Roots-Rock Rebel to New York City, 4 Oct 2007
4.5 stars
"Take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy. In the case of Steve Earle, you could amend that to say: You can take the reformed roots-rock rebel out of Nashville, and you can relocate him to the folk mecca of New York City's Greenwich Village. ." Matthew Fiander
What was it that moved the rock rebel to move to NYC from Nashville? Whatever it was, it spurred Steve Earle on to writing some brilliant songs and putting them to the test with this new CD. With this new CD we are now aware of his move to the big city and the big time. This CD has a feel of sleek city music that is bare and brilliant. Just Earle and his guitar and the drums.
There are 12 tunes, which tells the tale of the move from Nashville and Steve Earle's new life in NYC
.
'Tennessee Blues' Earle talks about leaving Guitar Town. Although we know when he sings 'Goodbye, Guitar Town' he is not going back.
'Down Here Below'- this is a great song, full of lyrical poetry
'Satellite Radio'- a wonderful take on the new gig Earle has - that's right on satellite radio- a tune full of staccato music.
'City of Immigrants' musical take on the social and cultural diversity of NYC-this could be a hit song for Earle.
'Sparkle and Shine' Earle has written about his wife, Allison Moorer and how she sparkles and shines.
'Come Home To Me' a plaintiff wail of a man for his woman- lovely tune.
'Jericho Road'-= Joshua fit the battle- still walk in down the Jericho Road, the tough road of life.
'Oxycontin Blues' a family tale of a father and loss of his job and turn to alcohol and the son's turn to pills to relieve stress- poignant tale of today.
'Red Is The Color' Red sky the color of night- hard workin song of life.
'Steve;'s Hammer for Pete'- song of protest for Pete Seeger- will there ever come a day when he can lay this hammer down?
'Days Aren;t Long Enough' sung with Allison Moorer, a lovely ballad that seems just right.,
'Way Down In the Hole' "Walk with Jesus he is gonna save your soul, gonna keep the Devil down in the Hole"- one of Tom Waits great tunes.
Let the tunes tell the tale of this great CD.
'in a city of immigrants
I don't need to go travelin'
Open my door and the world walks in
Livin' in a city of immigrants
Livin' in a city that never sleeps
My heart keepin' time to a thousand beats
Singin' in languages I don't speak
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of black
City of white
City of light
City of innocents
City of sweat
City of tears
City of prayers
City of immigrants " Steve Earle
Highly Recommended. prisrob 09-29-07
Washington Square Serenade [Ltd Ed CD/DVD Combo featuring 35 minute documentary and 3 acoustic performances]
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Home Sweet Home, 26 Oct 2007
This is a fantastic album. Steve Earle writes and sings from the heart. The album is the best he's made for many a year. All the songs are strong and convey emotion and a sense of peace with the world. It rocks!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
~ Bruce Springsteen
~ Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
~ Steve Earle
~ Levon Helm
~ Neil Young
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Amazon Home