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Though my knowledge of country music is
sadly limited, Steve Earle's music transcends those context-reliant judgments
so unfortunately necessary to discern quality from quantity in the homogenous
realm of popular music. Everything he does, from covers of Nirvana's
"Breed" and the Beatles' "I'm Looking Through You," to
his own wonderful lyrical and melodic creations, to resurrections of old folk
and country songs, is musically complex and impeccable. His husky Texan
voice seems universally appropriate and novel across his spectrum of sounds
and styles, and the lyrics he writes for himself and others often have that
poetry and social salience missing in so much modern music.
I first heard Steve Earle at the
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in October, and since have bought a few of
his albums and borrowed some others from friends. I've liked everything I've
heard. Until a few days ago, my appreciation of the man, though substantial,
stopped at his music. Though there's a definite liberal slant to his lyrics,
I'm generally loathe to ruin good music with the stupidity of those behind
it, and thus avoid their often dubious philosophical social or political
beliefs. Musicians should do what suits them and avoid what doesn't. Steve
Earle, however, is political because his politics are sound. Not that I'm
preaching one perspective or the other, but I always admire a person who's
seen more than one side of an issue and chooses that which appeals to his
sensibilities. Having grown up in Texas in a markedly conservative political
atmosphere, Earle's politics carry a refreshing authenticity rarely found
standard-issue San Francisco liberalism.
Having said that, I have to point
out that his most recent and most political album The Revolution Starts
Now, is a bit of a disappointment compared to most of his older stuff.
Anyhow, regardless of your political views or prior musical experiences, give
Earle a try.
His site, including a very
interesting weblog can be found at: http://www.steveearle.com/
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