Award Winning Justin Townes Earle Announces New Album 'Harlem River Blues'
Monday, 23 August 2010
Written by Nigel Sachdev
Nashville born New Yorker Justin Townes Earle will release his new album 'Harlem River Blues' in the UK on September 20th through Bloodshot Records.
The son of legendary troubadour Steve Earle, Justin won the Best New and Emerging Artist at the 2009 Americana Music Awards. His last album, 'Midnight at the Movies', was named one of the best records of last year by Amazon, received four stars in Rolling Stone and found a sweet spot in the blackened hearts of fans and critics alike. GQ Magazine named him one of the 25 best dressed men in the world in 2010. He also appeared on HBO's Treme with his dad, Steve Earle, on whose Grammy Award-winning Townes record Justin also guests.
Woody Guthrie once said of Justin, "Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple." On 'Harlem River Blues', Justin chose the simple route. The record's not a wall of sound produced to the rafters. It's rockin' and reelin' at times, sweet and slow at others-and it's great. Like good fried chicken, a well-cut suit and a handmade guitar, there's heaven to be found in the beautifully crafted simpler things. Compared to the much-lauded 'Midnight at the Movies', 'Harlem River Blues' is more mature and increasingly nuanced, while still embracing the raw voice and clean sound of previous standout tracks like "Mama's Eyes."
'Harlem River Blues' kicks off hot with the title track's choir of backing singers and electric guitar, slow dances through a decrepit tenement on "One More Night in Brooklyn," and swings à la Jerry Lee Lewis on "Move Over Mama." "Working for the MTA" is a modern day railway ballad, embracing the labor movement in classic folk singer style over some heartbreaking pedal steel from Calexico's Paul Niehaus. With percussive guitar, killer standup bass lines by Bryn Davies and a guest appearance from Jason Isbell, this record hums along like a 6 train jumpin' the tracks and heading straight for the Tennessee state line.
The album straddles not only the Mason-Dixon, but time itself. As versed in Mance Lipscomb as he is in M. Ward and sporting Marc Jacobs suspenders, Justin Townes Earle is a man beyond eras. With 'Harlem River Blues', a record that's perfect for late Indian summer nights on either the front porch or fire escape, Justin's found yet another way to be a timeless original.
'Harlem River Blues' is released on September 20th.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
Woody Guthrie once said of Justin, "Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple." On 'Harlem River Blues', Justin chose the simple route. The record's not a wall of sound produced to the rafters. It's rockin' and reelin' at times, sweet and slow at others-and it's great. Like good fried chicken, a well-cut suit and a handmade guitar, there's heaven to be found in the beautifully crafted simpler things. Compared to the much-lauded 'Midnight at the Movies', 'Harlem River Blues' is more mature and increasingly nuanced, while still embracing the raw voice and clean sound of previous standout tracks like "Mama's Eyes." 
