Reviews (page 2 of 7)
I’ve always liked Steve Earle, although haven’t listened to a lot of his music. Time to remedy that a bit… I’ve always been a big fan of truckin’ songs. “Guitar Town” is a really fine specimen of this genre. Steel belts, truck stops, boots and motels? All to a rockin’ country arrangement? Count me in! We’re off to a great start. Clearly Steve Earle knows his hay around a good hook. “Goodbye’s All We Got Left” is such a great sounding song it makes me wish he was breaking up with me. Spoiler alert: at this point I hit add to add this album to my library. It’ll take a real surprising disaster to derail this. “Hillbilly Highway” is a simple but very compelling seemingly autobiographical song about a musician and the choices we make in life. just a straightforward great song. “Good Ol’ Boy (Gettin’ Tough)” has lyrics as compelling today as in 1986. We are seeing what 35 years of where exacerbating inequality in the land of plenty gets us. Maybe this song should have been a little angrier and more demanding back then... Loved “My Old Friend The Blues.” This song would have come in handy over the last few years. I’m sure it will again soon. “Someday” is another great song about not getting by in America. Again, a perfect sentiment in 1986 that sadly makes me wonder if we will ever progress… “Think It Over” is a sweet little breakup song that you can dance to. “Fearless Heart” is a really sweet love song with very clever lyrics and a great arrangement. Couldn’t ask for more… “Little Rock ‘n’ Roller” is a touching song. Full of those hopes and promises that likely will never quite come true. Sort of a country “Cats in the Cradle”. I’m fine with a little too much sap these days. “Down The Road” is that classic ‘keep on keeping on’ advice to those who can’t find love. A classic ending to a classic country album. What a great debut album! Definitely see why it’s on this list. Listened to it 3 times already and expect it to be in heavy rotation for a while.
im IN guitar town!
Rather enjoyed this and was getting Springsteen adjacent vibes even before the live version of State Trooper appeared added on the end. Good enough to listen again, although outside my usual scope of listening.
Pretty chill, I would listen to this if I was riding on a tractor
Enjoyed this! Some songs were better than others but most were well written and fun.
You realize that without Steve Earle, you don't get Sturgill Simpson or Tyler Childers. Great artist. He likes the steel guitar a bit more than I do, but still great.
Really pleasant
Classic
great ole country music
Know of Steve Earle, but never really listened to him. Familiar more with music of his son Justin Townes Earle who died too young. First thought is that it’s solid country rock. It’s country-ish rock with some Springsteen vibes. I’m enjoying this. Definitely way more used to country music now compared to years ago. This doesn’t feel like the annoying more pop mainstream version of country I normally don’t gravitate toward. It’s more of a rocker with country influences. I like the ballads too. Solid overall. Feels like a 4 and an easy album to throw on and enjoy. Will probably explore more Steve Earle.
I actually own this and had forgotten how good it is, especially for a debut album. And he's only gotten better. 4.2/5.
short and pleasant
loved!
Decent
It's better Bruce Springsteen.
My Old Friend The Blues stood out, and Someday is one of my fav Steve Earle songs. 4.5/5
Great Country / country-rock album. Recorded in the mid 80’s but had a more traditional timeless sound.
Fun country stuff I'm familiar with Copperhead Road and some of his later work, but never heard his first album. I liked it quite a bit.
This was an enjoyable album but it didn't really hit like a fantastic album for me. I'm not sure why. The songs are well written and played. But it's just kinda good, rather than great.
Was a great album! Steve earle is so great!
classic album great tunes
That Little Rock and Roller song is definitely about Justin Townes Earle, which is tragic but makes sense. There was a moment in the eighties where soft chimey synth and lyrics about childhood was really in vogue. John Lennon did it. Loggins had that song about Pooh. Any time in the history of rock before or after, that would be considered entirely uncool, but here we are. Steve Earle apologizing to his young son for not being home, and promising that when the kid is old enough he can ride in the big boy tour bus. Justin Townes Earle would go on to have a somewhat tortured life. I saw him perform once and there was a dark cloud over the guy. From his banter, you got the sense that his perception of reality was a bit skewed, as he was literally existing under a shadow of somebody else’s fame, buckled by the weight of expectation. A few years later, he died of a fentanyl related drug incident. It appears that dad’s lifestyle may have had an impact on JT’s upbringing. But for a moment, in this track, it was cute and innocent, and nobody had been hurt yet. The final track advertises that if you haven’t found the right one, as in your soul mate, keep looking. Good advice on a surface level. It’s interesting to see that Steve Earle’s been married like seven times! What I find most funny about the seven marriages thing is that Steve Earle ain’t much to look at these days. He looks ok on the cover of Guitar Town circa 1989, sure. But in 2026, he should really think about embracing the bald look. Ok, enough bullying. A lot of people here have commented on how cornball this is. I had a different reaction. This took me back to simpler times. This soundscape is the flavor of my youth, of going to baseball games, of hanging out with my uncles in the garage, etc. This is the sound of my first beer. I understand this music and I do miss it. And, what’s interesting about Earle is that he doesn’t always sing about simple life subjects. He was born in the land of plenty, but now there isn’t enough to go around. My simple life country-folk relatives may still be able to agree with that. The guitars here (on an album called Guitar Town) are actually very good. That image of an endless highway full of hillbillies, well, he’s right. That does exist and it is a thing. This album is a moment of time, and with the exception of a few singles, Earle wasn’t quite able to strike the iron in quite the same way again. These few songs however, I’ll definitely return to when I’m feeling country.
Super easy listening from Steve. Just missing a real banger for me make it a 5.
Country rocking in the turbulent 80s.
This was just very enjoyable to me, no notes really
The album has enough twang and introspection to separate it from straightforward Americana - all for the better. Enough variation to keep you interested in the next track. (I really could have done without Little Rock n Roller though…) A gem of an album otherwise.
Wow. I had never listened to this album before, had only heard the song "Guitar Town." Not sure how I missed it but I'm very glad to be listening now. This album, though more country leaning than a lot of what I listened to at that time, falls right in line with the Springsteen/Mellencamp/Petty 80's albums and I'd put it right up there with those guys. It's a tad over-produced but some great songs. The song "Little Rock n' Roller," about a phone call to his toddler son Justin Townes Earle, is poignant and gorgeous. And it closes with a great bluegrass-tinged song "Down the Road." Guys like Toby Keith owe a ton to Earle but he did it so much better and in a way that really highlighted the struggles of working class people like on the great "Someday." I have a ton of respect for Earle and his body of work.
Really strong debut. Steve Earle is one of the best alt country/country rock artists out there imo. While hugely inspired by the outlaw country guys like Willie Nelson, Springsteen's influence is all over this one, both thematically and musically - a cool, more raucous cover of State Trooper is even on the reissue. Great mix of heartland rock and Hank Williams-esque, slower country ballads. While the bigger hits for him came later, this is well worth a listen. Fave tracks - Good Ol Boy, Someday
Loved this album
7 - GOOD
Pretty good! Four stars
Steve tastefully blends elements of rock, country, and folk into his strong debut record, which was apparently one of the first country music albums to be recorded digitally. The more you know. Yeah it's a bit cheesy at times, but it was the mid-80s, what do you expect lol. All in all a nice listen - doesn't overstay its welcome at only 35 mins - and makes for a great "driving down the interstate, wind in your hair" kind of record.
Great album Made me feel relaxed
Bridging the outlaw country 'heartworn highways' singer-songwriter Austin scene and the more polished 80s heartland rock sound, this is a great bit of Americana - twangy but dark, cynical and jaded, with some great barroom guitar tones and a mix of sad bastard and big and blustery hard driving songs. He's a story-telling lyric-driven song writer, and I don't pay close enough attention to really appreciate what he's doing there.
It makes a lot of sense when you learn that Steve Earle spent the first part of his career working as a jobbing songwriter in Nashville. He is a craftsman as much as an artist, his songs are sturdy and reliable. This album leans more into heartland rock and pop than pure country, big emotions, whole chested deliveries and a rich authenticity of voice. This album is packed with bangers but unfortunatley for mine loses a bit of steam in the last couple of tracks. There is a lot to love here though, and Earle as a figure deserves his flowers.
Steve walked so Ryan Adams could run for a bit then turn into a drunk philanderer
Maybe it's just because I listened to some Springsteen right before, but this is better than I was expecting. Goodbye's All We Got Left, Good Ol' Boy, Someday and Think It Over are all real solid country songs that blow most modern country out of the water.
Guitar Town is the debut studio album from American singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released on March 5, 1986. It topped the Billboard country album charts, and the title song reached No. 7 on the country singles chart. Earle was also nominated for two 1987 Grammy Awards, Best Male Country Vocalist and Best Country Song, for the title track.
This sometimes sounds like a parody of country music, but I think that's more because it was influential to the genre. I much, much prefer this type of country over the post 9/11 country music.
Cowboy punk
Nothing ground breaking but all very well put together 4*
i like it, it’s good
This album is an example of being appreciate something while simultaneously being able to admit that it isn’t my cup of tea. Guitar town is in my opinion a perfect specimen of late 80s country music. Steve Earle lays his heart down on every song, sometimes singing about feelings thag resonate with me today. The song Good Ol’ Boy (gettin tough) is a prime example. Overall I’d give it a four, though there may only be one or two songs I will re-listen, I can appreciate his authenticity and artistry.
The promise of country perfectly realized, not stomped down into banal, repetitious, smarmy, over-produced shit. Yeah, we're talking about you, Nashville (hah where this was almost surely produced!). Anyway, come for the country, stay for the rock, or vice versa, or throw stupid labels in the trashcan and light them on fire. Then burn the motel down.
Loved this. Familiar with some Steve Earle but his motivates me to explore more.
3.5
Good album, such a good old country sound
That was alright. I knew the name but had never knowingly heard his music. It seems like a good segue to the 80s of real country music where the protagonist is still fighting against the man rather than voting for fascists. I'll listen to more Steve Earle...
I love Steve Earle. I think he's a great songwriter. I dug the Mountain and Copperhead Road. Album is from 87 and sounds like it - the vibe of it kind of reminds me of the Bodeans Outside Looking In (which is way more 80s sounding imo) with better songwriting and better musicians. I actually love that Bodeans album so I don't mean that as a slight. The only dig I have on this album is that it's a bit polished for me, but I like the songs enough to still revisit them.
A good time. Lots of lyrical echoes of this album in current country.
Steve Earle doesn't sound like Nashville (despite where it was recorded), but Nashville has been trying to sound like this album for 40 years. None of Earle's contemporaries were as uncompromising as him. He is a hell of a storyteller, a good singer, and heck of a songsmith, just shy of the top of the Americana singer-songwriter pantheon.
Not really my taste, but an understandably vital album. Noted as one of the first Country albums to be recorded digitally, it brought the genre to a modern age. "Guitar Town" also heralded the birth of Alt-Country. The current musical landscape would be very different without it.
3.5. surprising
I missed the boat on this (and anything country adjacent, for that matter) in the 80s. There’s something so fresh and refreshing about this album, even almost 40 years later.
This site needs motor alt/outlaw country.
I wish life was this simple. I think ill move out to the country. Think It Over singlehandedly bumped this up to a 4 for me
Enjoyed this one way more than I thought I would
A simple album with great lyrics and even better musicians!
Nicht country rock
Good album.
Nice country vibe
I really enjoyed this album. Great songs, great voice.
I was getting Jimmy Buffet vibes on this one
Very nostalgic
This is a big one for me, a frequent flyer in the CD player of our Corolla for the first years of my marriage. The production feels dated but the songs still hits like a guardrail. Funny, irreverent and heartbreaking. "Someday" still chokes me up a little at the chorus.
Random observation: “My Old Friend the Blues” sounds similar to the song “Greenville” by Lucinda Williams, which came out several years later. Perhaps she borrowed from it? Check it out. It reinforces a thought I had about this 1986 album — that it was a touchstone for the whole “alt-country” movement (Wilco, Son Volt, The Jayhawks, etc.). I didn’t immediately warm to this, owing to the glossy production sheen, and I wish his backing band had more bite, but on subsequent listening there are a lot of really good songs here. I also read that he toured this album opening alternately for Dwight Yoakam and the Replacements, which is pretty fucking cool.
Never heard of him before but I love this type of country music. Great songwriting and love the pedal steel work on it!
Really liked this and not really a country fan, feels like a good listen for when I need to feel something
I owned this on cassette back in college when I went through a big Steve Earle phase. Seems like it's definitely his most straightforward country album which put him on the map before he got steadily weirder and more interesting. I Feel Alright from 1997 should have been on this list instead of this, but this album is super solid.
I'm a fan of Steve Earle, not familiar with this album but it feels a bit more country than the stuff I am familiar with. Really digging the twang and of course some solid song writing. I pretty great first album but definitely not as good as some of his later stuff. I really need to dig deeper into his library because I enjoyed this album and forgot how much I like him.
The last few years have seen me listening to more country. I've largely avoided Steve Earle because I'm not actually a huge fan of Copperhead Road, and country-rock generally, even though I really liked his acting on "The Wire." Is this album a little cheesy? Yep. A bit clichéd? Also yes. I still had a good time. Its rootsy, melodic, lyrically basic, but I think does a good line of straddling that country-lyric line of being simple but evocative. Earle's got a good ear for storytelling, so if you enjoy that part of country there's stuff in here you'll enjoy. There are also elements that sound a bit bluegrass-y to my ear. Mandolin and harmonies that are very in that old school country-ballad tradition. All in all a very solid listen. Lots of fun, 4 stars.
Good classic guitar-based country music. Very much an influence to bands like My Morning Song. I enjoyed this album a lot.
This was great from a genre I don’t normally fw
I really enjoyed it. Some tracks were not as strong as the hits but it was a pleasant experience.
That’s some pure 80s country right there. Nashville twang. I liked it
Good album! Catchy rhythms and easy to nod along too. First time hearing Steve Earle and I will look into him further.
Best country album I've heard in this challenge (granted, that's a low bar)
Not generally a country fan, but this has some country-rockabilly sounds to it. I have heard the album once before in my youth and remembered liking it. Decades later it still sounds good.
Very strong album. A bit cheesy in places, but Steve Earle can sure write the hell out of a song.
Really striking. I'd heard of Steve Earle but never listened to him. Listening to all the albums on this list is often (too often) an academic exercise. But this actually affected me emotionally. Surprising and effective songs. Sincere work in a vast sea of insincerity - if I hear Irish guys using a fake twang ever again (or even Elvis Costello, for that matter), I'm just going to put this album on and try to put it out of my mind.
The only problem with this album is that some of the songs in particular the ones that I assume the record company thought would be bigger singles have a kid 80s "tinny" country music sound like a Ricky Van Shelton. Steve Earle is not Bruce Springsteen. He is his own artist and as great as this is he probably has 5 or 6 better albums.
Charming guitar, a little country sound
Good Country rock w/ heartland 80s rock vibes 3.5 rounded to 4
I am not a fan of most modern country, but I grew up with a granddad who loved country. He listened to basically everything from the 40's right on through to the earl 80's. His country tastes more or less stopped with anything that came after the "Outlaw Country" of the late 70's early 80's and I more or less inherited his tastes. But i wish he had heard Steve Earle. I know he hadn't because if he had we both would have been big fans. This is just great country/blues, ol' time rock n' roll music by an amazing songwriter. I now consider myself a Steve Earle fan an look forward to exploring the rest of his catalogue.
I hate country but this shit slaps
This album reminds me a lot of CCR. Smooth singing with a good voice and a country-ish sound. I really enjoyed it!
I liked dis
Ziemlich entspannt und mit viel Blues im Country Zum Autofahren??
Mientras más discos de country me salen en esta lista, más me enamoro del género,. Steve Earle no es la excepción y entrega un álbum lleno de un country un tanto más rocker de lo que había escuchado antes, pero la mezcla me encantó. Quiero escuchar más de Earle.
Goat
I really enjoyed this one. This may be country but it’s just on the verge of rockabilly. I’m going to listen to the next couple records, as well.
Solid, more of a Copperhead Road guy, but loved hearing some of Earle’s earlier music.
Simple, quality country. This was a welcome change from recent entries. Focused and consistent but not repetitive. Fearless Heart was the standout.
A fun, efficient, album. He is unrecognizable to me on this cover given what he looks like now. I hear the influence of Bruce (seriously, listen to "Guitar Man" and "Working on the Highway" back to back), Tom Petty, and John Mellencamp in addition to the classic country he must have grown up with.
4.1
Som bem legal, uma música country bem melódica e marcante
Catchy and well executed.
Pretty fun and light-hearted :]
Country rock album, very cool for 1986. Not familiar with Steve Earle discography, but this was enjoyable.
Thoughts before listening: The title track on this album is an all time banger. I really enjoy Steve Earle as a personality and as a singe. However, I certainly prefer this era of his career when he was an up and coming wannabe star writing catchy Texas country rock songs. His later work is fine, but it can be a bit heavy handed at times...even I typically agree with his politics. Review: Great sound by a great performer. It is interesting to me that this is on the list though. I mean it's a classic of the underground alt-country/Americana scene, but I don't necessarily get the impression it's had the reach I'd expect for this list. Guess I was wrong. This is very solid country rock, but other than the title track, nothing really blows me away. That title track however is an all timer. I'll give this 3 stars although its influence and importance to the alt-country scene probably deserves more than that.
Classic first album, it's been a while since I've listened to this and while I personally prefer some of his output from the mid-90's onwards there's some great stuff on here.
Surprised myself & enjoyed album.
I love Steve Earle. Not heard this in full before. Not his best and I wish El Corazon was recommended so others could have got more variation. But it has Someday. And Fearless Heart. And it's fun.
With a few exceptions, the songs on this album could have been written by John Mellencamp had he been raised in Texas instead of Indiana. Very good album.
I normally don't like country. This however, I did. A little bit like Jackson Browne, Steve Earle has a pretty good voice. And the storytelling was good as well.
I'm partial to a bit of country music. I do find myself smiling at the common themes sometimes, my wife and I often make up fake lyrics when country music comes on the radio e.g. my girl left me, but I still got my dog and truck, pour me another whisky etc. Ok, it doesn't sound funny, I get it. Anyway, this is a really nice album, eminently listenable.
Very easy to listen to
One loves the directness and pristine, historically informed approach but it reads a little dry early in the record. "My Old Friend" is great and the last three cuts are strong, too, and maybe slightly more alive (even if some regrettably tinny synth notes sneak in). Transcendental Blues is better but this is still classic and a pleasure to revisit. One's happy that Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam and other traditionalists are out there, teaching us what we need to know and keeping the legacies alive.
ganz cool, also auf jeden fall angenehm zum anhören
Solid 80s country album. Listened to it passively in one sitting.
I enjoyed this one
Solid!
old country. twangy
I quite liked this one, and reading about Steve Earle as I listened I liked it even more. Good country, very naive of the life that was about to follow him. It was a good mix of up-tempo and more ballad style, and I particularly enjoyed "Little Rock 'N' Roller"
Honestly didnt really like this album, I thought it was too slow for me. While I can appreciate the guitar and the singing, It felt hard to get through the album and kept stopping for a while. But funnily enough, the last song was my favorite as I write this.
i have been obsessed with the songs hillbilly highway & guitar town but never gave the whole album a listen till now :D
Overraska over kor godt eg likte denne
Som en high school prom för vuxna
Like
Best heard while enjoying a Lone Star and playing chicken shit bingo at the Little Longhorn.
I really liked this one.
can't let gang know i fw this
Honky tonking at work today, pretty good.
Early Earle. Great talent and a good album. I’d like to live in a guitar town.
Simple but heartfelt. A lot of yearning for a better life, wanting to get out of a place you feel stuck. Extremely relatable if you grew up in a small place. I'll always have respect for older country music like this for that reason. To go on a tangent, as a kid I would seek out the radio stations that played country like this or classic rock. Growing up in the southern USA it was either that or listen to the vapid stadium country/pandering country/hick-hop (whatever you wanna call it). Music like this album were a bit of a saving grace. It's simple, sure. A little hokey at times and with a smidge of casual racism. The emotional depth is easy to notice if you aren't just hating because it's country. The love songs were a little surface level though, I'll admit
Light 4, Steve Earle rules. Is he the only Wire cast member to appear on this list?
Rather enjoyed this one
I dont think this anything special but also I really enjoyed it bc its totally my shit. like I put on an album to write my paper so my brain could be blank and this was slightly too enjoyable yktv.
7/10 - It is a classic country album but I liked a few songs. I think I like country more than I originally thought
Old school country/folk, reminiscent of John Denver
I love Steve Earle's music. I hadn't heard this one before, but I'll be listening to it again. He's a such a great writer and performer.
Great album. Takes me back to happier times. 1986? Jeez, 39 years! His best album (for me).
good country but why does some of this album have the most 80s synths ever???
solid guitar jams
I previously only knew Steve Earle for "Galway Girl", which I grew to hate with a passion after 5 years living in Galway. So I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this - kind of like a country Bruce Springsteen. I think it straddles (pun intended) the border between country and rock really well. Alt-Country is a genre that I've only recently come around to, but I'm liking what I've heard of it so far. The run from Hillbilly Highway to Someday is particularly great. It does get a bit too "Yee-Haw" for me in places though.
I wasn't feeling this at first, but by the end felt like it was quite enjoyable. Good instrumentals and vocal work. 'Little Rock 'N' Roller' was my fave.
Maybe like a 3.75 rounded up. It's easy to listen to, blues-rock. No song comes on as overbearing, and the album isn't that long, but it's just a Copperhead Road or two short of having enough hits to be a memorable album.
Oh dai, sarà che in treno avevo le montagne innevate di fianco, ma mi è parso molto figons
Really great album. Classic country singer songwriter. Big fan.
7/10
Liked this way more than i thought i would! Need to listen a few more times to figure out exactly what works, but the clean sound stands out. I think country is a blind spot for me I need to explore.
Sort of a cross between John Mellencamp and John Prine. The sort of country music that feels more like roots rock, with clever and effective lyrics that make feelings of small town confinement and ambition seem like especially American emotions. The sound is nice and clean and uncomplicated, with each song drawing from the same tonal palette but still feeling unique in construction (the distinct and catchy lyrics - ie. "goodbye is all that's left to say" - are a big part of this). Though the country twang and southern references probably make this considered country, i think it's more of an ancestor of Wilco or (Pat nailed it) Ryan Adams, than Toby Keith. I would like to drink some beers around a firepit in my Dad's backyard and listen to this album while he's talking to himself about politics.
Knew the name and actually saw him play at a festival a few months back, but had never really dug into any of his recorded stuff. I grew up listening to a lot of Ryan Adams, who I guess we’re not supposed to like anymore because he was a bad dude to Phoebe Bridgers and Mandy Moore. C’mon man. This album reminds me of early Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Bruce, Mellencamp, more Americana than country. Great songwriting and vibe. Favorites were Guitar Town, Goodbye’s All We’ve Got Left, Good Ol’ Boy, Fearless Heart. This State Trooper cover is also pretty nice.
He's like Hank Williams meets John Prine
This is the kind of country I used to associate with the genre before listening to it. Just down on your luck, life kinda sucks but its a hot day with your buds and you can still have fun even if you never leave your hometown. Its fun, and I love the distinct sound Earle has.
What a great country album. Loved his guitar sound. Lyrics about shitty rural life and the dream of escaping it. Good luck bud!
Initial thought was not more good ole boy American country rock - which really is not flavour of the month currently. However after 3 listens its really growing on me - with a couple of really good tunes (esp Someday, Fearless Heart) and I am suddenly realizing were the Saw Doctors (a formative band for me!) got a lot of their inspiration from. The sun is shining and I'm feeling generous so going to give it a low 4.
4.0
This hits hard. I’ve never really listened to Steve Earle but I love his classic voice and the modern country instrumentation.
I was surprised by how much I liked it, especially the last half of the album
A bit of a discovery. Like country with all the fat trimmed off. Lean. Great tunes. Four stars from me. Not a physical purchase but added to playlists.
I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the first few songs of this album, usually this isn't really my thing.
perfect "Americana"
This album presaged the coming explosion of alt country and roots rock. Guitar Town is an excellent listen. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-guitar-town-by-steve?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Wonderful artist and album
Loved it. No real A+ songs (which is why it’s a 4 and not a 5) but fun and pop/rock/country feel. Reminded me a little of Tom Petty.
Phenomenal album. Steve Earle is seriously underrated. Glad to see him on here.
Little Rock n roller takes on a whole new meaning after the passing of his son.
While I think I prefer his later work, this album is really good. It slips though the folds of country music and stands apart as something unique
I always say that I'm just not a country fan. Then this generator generates "county" music that I like. I liked this, I liked the singer-songwriter stuff. It did get a little twangy, at times, but I just liked it. I would probably classify this more as Americana a-la Tom Petty than I would full on country. Or maybe I like country more than I thought I did.
A buddy of mine has often called me a "god-damned proper American." I think that means I'm built to like this record, and I do. It doesn't quite do enough for 5 stars but I'll happily go 4. Also he hates Trump which is cool.
Hyyy -haaa cowboy 🤠🤠🤠
I don’t think I’d heard of Steve Earle until I started reading Dorian Lynskey’s 33 Revolutions Per Minute. However, I’ve line danced to “Copperhead Road” countless times in my life, but I just never knew who sang it, or if I did, it never stuck in my memory. Regardless, based on what I know about Steve Earle, I’ve been looking forward to listening to this album, so I hope it lives up to my expectations for it. While this wasn’t a five-star album for me, I still thought it was really good. I’m not terribly familiar with a lot of country music from before 1990, but I’ve enjoyed the few country albums that I’ve listened to that came out before the nineties. This album had a really great ‘honky-tonk’ sound, combined with a few elements of eighties pop music. The guitar playing was great, and I enjoyed Steve Earle’s singing, and I really loved the songs that featured organ playing. I really love when country music uses an organ, so “Guitar Town” and “Goodbye’s All We’ve Got Left” were a couple of my favorite songs on the album. However, the pedal steel guitar on “Fearless Heart” was my favorite part of this album musically. The songwriting on this album was pretty good too, but some of the love songs were a bit drab and unoriginal in my opinion. One of the things that excited me the most about this album was knowing Steve Earle’s political positions, but I was a little bummed that there were only two songs that featured any social commentary. They were good songs, but I would have loved more of them. Maybe I just wanted a conduit for my distaste for Donald Trump and the GOP now that the 2024 election is only a few weeks away. I digress. I really enjoyed the overall sound of this album, and it definitely has a mood that feels pretty distinct to the eighties that I’m struggling to put into words. I guess it feels like it was driven by songwriting and not by some producer trying to sell records, and I think that’s something that’s definitely missing from post 9/11 country music. While I wasn’t blown away by Guitar Town, I still thought it was really good, and I’d be inclined to listen to this album again some day, especially on a road trip.
Very reminiscent of Garth Brooks, fun album
Nice country album. Highway songs, my kind of music. Love it!
Not the best singer/songwriter of all time - but it’s not a mistake to put his name in the conversation of the top 20. Very solid piece of work
Americana jams.
I expected this to be a redneck delight but was pleasantly surprised. Steve Earle is a fantastic songwriter and genuinely multi-faceted.
Fn country album
Really good, this is the kind of country music I like.
Nice country album
didn’t listen yet but will do
Today is yet another album that I’d never come across before. I wasn’t expecting to like this since Apple Music describes it as country. However, this ended being a jaunty little half hour of fun. It doesn’t go too far into the Wild West, but is still definitely sitting in the country music genre. Perhaps I enjoyed this more than expected because the guitar playing is generally interesting throughout. Either way, I’m happy I came across this. It’s a bit of a gem.
Don't know much about country, but it was really good.
Great revitalization of country music. Still sounds incredible and really fun to listen.
As a general rule, I don't like country music. There are some off-shoots to the genre I don't mind, country-rock, country-folk and alt-country. I first heard about Steve Earle when Guitar Town was first released after reading an article, maybe in Rolling Stone, about the new wave of alternative country artists, Dwight Yoakam, Lyle Lovett and Earle. I bought Guitar Town and I immediately enjoyed it. It was more of a quasi- country, alt-rock sound that wasn't too cheesy or too C & W, but what would be best described now as Americana. It was edgier than regular country that was listenable even to a rocker's ears. Earle has gone on to a varied and interesting career with many fine albums, but it all comes down to good solid songwriting and a great live performer. His first album is an essential debut.
Nice
You can thank Steve Earl, Johnny Cash and the like for propping up my Country stats when it comes to rating records from the 1001 list.
The riff in Guitar Town sounds like it clearly inspired the riff in Chattahooche. That was great. Solid country.
One of my favs. I love Steve's style, sound and mostly his lyrics. He tells the best stories. I put him in the same camp as some of my favorite song writers: John Prine, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Steve Earle feels like a character actor. He's never the main star, but whenever he's on screen, I'm gonna watch it. He's basically Steve Buscemi for country music. I think this album marks a moment in country music, where it "outlaw" country was becoming "alt-country," and exiting the mainstream. The figures of outlaw that we love, continued covering and promoting Steve's music but he never really took off into the mainstream. He just kind of always did his own thing, which is something I love and respect out him as an artist. Even this record, its undeniably a country album. He has blues, roots, folk and even bluegrass. But he also just throws in these weird synths throughout (which arguably are the worst part of the record), but I love that he just wanted to make his own music and celebrate music that inspired him. Which is what this album represents to me. Just good old fashioned songwriting. While this isn't my favorite Steve album, I do think its a building block or elemental album that ultimately pushed the genre forward. And not only for alt-country artists but for the indie folk artists that I spent a lot of time with in the 2000s. Its all connected.
Sehr schönes Album. Überaus gelungene Countrymusik. Der Titeltrack ist fantastisch und geht nicht mehr aus dem Ohr.
Awesome! Reminds me of Bonnie Raitt!
Enjoyed it, especially considering I’m not much of a country fan. Rounding up because of how much Steve Earle supported Bubbles on his sobriety journey.
I've always liked this album, but it sounds a little more corny than I remembered. Still good, though.
Was meaning to listen to Earle’s discography! Good stuff! 3.5
Quite good 80s country rock actually 👍
Confession: I haven’t really listened to Steve Earl. Boy, have I been missing out. This is exactly my kind of country music. No gimmicks, just straight up. His vocals on this album remind me of Ryan Adams, who I suspect listened to some Steve in his youth. The only song on the album that shows its age a bit is the ballad, Little Rock ‘n Roller- due to the dumb synth tones. Other than that, this album totally holds up and I’ll definitely listen again. 4.2.
Twangy guitar tone says it's country, but there's a lot of pop/rock sensibility here. Solid songs, good energy, sort of neo-outlaw attitude. The kind of authentic country that country lovers love. 4.4
Nice and soothing. Good for the soul.
A solid album, the last two cuts not living up to the promise of the previous eight. But fair enough! I will be coming back to this one.
After hearing GUITAR TOWN it isn’t much of a stretch for me to hear a through-line of Country Rock from Hank Williams through Steve Earle straight on through Garth Brooks. One of the more enjoyable Country albums I've heard in the past 4 decades.
Steve Earle pulls off a real magic trick on his debut: make old country sound new by sounding like old country. Doesn’t hurt that he’s an incredibly talented songwriter—something he would put on display in the coming decades, as he became an elder statesman of Alt-outlaw-country. It’s all here on display even in his earliest work: the defiance and the rough edges, the deference to tradition and the polished song-craft, the heartache and the longing. “Guitar Town” is a perfect opener and a true thesis statement. “Hillbilly Highway” is a lonesome story song with a chorus that defies you not to sing along. “Someday” should’ve been a much bigger hit. This record sounds like ‘80s Country revival but it also sounds out-of-time, like it could’ve been made during another decade. Earle would go into explore other folk and rock territory, and he’s a famously opinionated and restless spirit. Still, he should consider one nostalgic look back, and tour this record, playing it from start to finish, because everything he is as an artist is already here.
Country mit Blues-Einschlag, erinnerte mich am Anfang auch ein wenig an Springsteen. Gute Laune ist garantiert. Erstaunlich (für mich) wie Country mich snsprechen kann.
I'm not typically enamored with country but this was an enjoyable country guitar focused album.
“Country rock” sometimes makes me cautious as that can involve a giant tasteless mish-mash of girls-n-trucks songs with 80s guitar solos, but this is a very humble fusion of the two genres’ basics with some great songwriting. Really enjoyed it. Best song: Goodbye’s All We Got Left
If Steve Earle is what it takes for the author(s) to acknowledge country, then I'll take it. Earle straddles the line between country and rock and delivers an outstanding freshman album. He will go on to be one of the prominent producers and experts in music to be relied on by many rockers. 4/5
Not bad, I like songs that tell stories so much this was a good one
What’s not to like here? This is just about everything I could want out of this genre in this decade. 4/5
Really enjoyed the album. Goodbyes All We’ve Got Left, My Old Friend the Blues, Fearless Heart all great. Solid country album, 4/5!
One of its best
Roots rock meets country singer songwriter, chill 80’s that could of been decades older
4/5 It's really good...but there are many other country artists and albums that aren't on this list.
better than I thought, never heard of him before - he is country, but not pop nor is it willie nelson
generally it was fun to listen to, but down the road was a little boring. i’ll probably enjoy it more second listen around. 5/7
I liked this! I don't think I've listened to very much country from the 80s. Every song was decent and sounded well-produced. "Hillbilly Highway" is the highlight for me. This was the perfect length of time for this album, too. He gets an extra star for being a baby boomer Bernie bro.
Yes, it's definitely a country record. A good one at that. The longer it plays, the more 80s it gets. Notes: - "Guitar Town" a Country Song. - "Goodbye's All We've Got Left To Say" Nice chorus melody and more variety (structure+instruments) - "Good Ol' Boy" Did I just hear "pickup truck"? - "My Old Friend The Blues" more folky (+ "tropical delay+slide") ...and the 80s show in later half - "Someday" an ending guitar solo - "Fearless Heart" great "12 string sounding" guitar interlude
very solid country rock, missing a real catchy song to really stand out but overall easy road trip listening music
I'm a little fence on this one. I don't think it quite ranks with some of the other 4 stars, but it's a better than most of the 3 stars. Given the genre that it's in and that it's far more genuine than most of the country music of the time, I'll round up.
Pretty good. It's the country side of Americana or the rock and roll side of country. Overall enjoyable but not quite 5 stars
this album is begging to be played outside on a warm summer day. i couldn’t do that today but hopefully i will soon
Cowboy stuff
I'm going to assume, without looking, this gets the "not country enough" badge on here. As a Springsteen apologist, I enjoyed this record more than I thought I would. There's also shades of John "Cougar" Mellencamp here, though if he was strictly from Nashville. I enjoyed the blend of country and rock here, with some really nice folk and Americana notes thrown in. I think the production might be a little too "bright", for lack of better descriptor, but it doesn't stop me from calling this one a 4.5. Favorite tracks: "Hillbilly Highway", "Good Ol' Boy", "Someday", "Down The Road"
I like it…and I think that multiple listens will make me like it more. He has influenced performers like Chris Isaak in my opinion….He kind of has that new country sound before others did. Really good album.
Album 303 of 1001 Steve Earle - Guitar Town Rating : 3.5 / 5 Meh. Sounds like most of the country music that was being released in 1986. Give him his due for a fine debut album. Good songwriting. Just not really my thing but I'll give credit where it is due.
I'm not a big country fan, but I enjoyed this more than I expected. The songs were concise, and there was very little bloat. At first I thought it felt like a Springsteen album, and then the last song was indeed a Springsteen song. So... there you go.
Was pleasantly surprised he had more songs than Copperhead Road. I haven’t listened to much country so can’t say if this is influential or not, all I know is it was a good album. Hearing Little Rock N Roller after hearing about his sons death is pretty rough
Singles ------------------------------------ Hillbilly Highway (#37 US Country) Guitar Town (#7 US Country) Someday (#28 US Country) Goodbye's All We've Got Left (#8 US Country) Standouts: Guitar Town, Think it Over, Goodbye's All We've Got Left, Hillbilly Highway, My Old Friend the Blues, Someday, Little Rock 'n' Roller, Down the Road Exceptional US Country. 4/5
Reminds me of the time I lived in Idaho for 3 months for work
I'm a sucker for classic country music, this was fun.
He debuted as the best roots songwriter, and then just kept getting better.
Noniin ja näytetään esimerkkiä dollylle joka oli näyttämöllä korvissain toissapäivänä... Parempaa ja ei ärsytä ei... hyvää counrty ei vängähdä ärsyttävästi muttei kuitenkaan radio twang free country.. Steve early teki countrysta omansa.. respect..
Love Steve Earle! I like to blast Copperhead road! Great voice!
A classic. Love Steve Earle's song writing and voice. Progressive country, but also one of the early Americana albums. this one influenced so much of the music i like today (REK, Jeff Tweedy, tyler childers, jason isbell, avett bros, Jim james etc etc..).
Sentimental record for from gowing up
Not sure if this is four stars or just three stars that hits better bc it is in my sweet spot.
Guitar town is one of my favorite songs ever. Hillbilly highway is stellar. I wanted one or two more great songs on this album and I would go five stars. The other songs are decent but not anywhere near the title track. Still, solid album.
I want to go on a road trip just to listen to this album while I'm driving. Very good beginning-of-the-week or beginning-of-the-weekend energy.
Ended up liking more than half the songs, which I didn't expect at first!
There's a guitar! First country album in the list (so far). His accent is very strange. But in all its simplicity and country cliches, I like this album.
Really enjoyed. Sweet old time country kid.
A really solid alt-country album. It's not Copperhead Road but still very good. If anyone actually sees this, I recommend the work of his son Justin Towns Earle (RIP) he's actually how I discovered Steve.
Entspannter Country Rock.
Good album, I enjoyed Someday and Think It Over the most.
I like this more the more I listen to it. Interesting that the rock press picked it up and country ignored it at first, as parts of this sound very stereotypically country. Then again, maybe that's the reason - it was novel for rock but typical for country. Well written songs and some great country twang.
All pop music is derivative of what came before. This is the defining aspect of **POP**ular music. Very few things come out and break the mold – the very notion is antithetical to the process: Iterations on themes that evolve over time. So, this debut album is derivative of that which comes before, while being the height of the form. The chronological iterations of the genre at large will soon descend into alt-pop-rock-country madness. (You know what I'm talking about.) Competent. Clean. Evocative. Absolutely not my taste.
Way better than I expected
It's a good one of those
Nice country album, seems to be a very early start to the "I got me my truck" era of country but it's a good listen
thoroughly enjoyed
I don't usually go for country but I was surprised by this and enjoyed it
Goodbye's All We Got Left to Say is good! Love the guitar in Fearless Heart Overall a pretty solid classic album that could go toe to toe with some Tom Petty or John (Cougar) Mellencamp albums.
I liked it. Nice country album. 4/5
I like this. Sounds like unashamed American confidence of the 80s. Reminded me of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. I enjoyed the instrumentals and harmonies on Down The Road.
Steve Earle is cool. I’d consider him “real” country music. The twang ain’t faked. The drawl is real. The reverb is awesome. There’s a clear influence on artist like Dwight Yokam and others who I’d consider the last real country artists. Great album.
Fantastic twangy country music
favorite tracks - hillbilly highway, good ol boy, fearless heart, down the road least favorite tracks - goodbyes all we got left
Excellent country rock. Great, clean production. I’m picking up Bruce vibes on a lot of these songs. “Little Rock ‘n’ Roller” is such a sweet, heartbreaking song!
Good country rock.
Very solid country rock Favorites: Guitar Town, Hillbilly Hoghway, Down The Road
Quite surprised to know that this was Steve's debut album, for this feels and sounds as worn and lived out as many lives. A sign of things to come, as the saying goes. Short, sweet and solid. Favorites: Guitar Town, Goodbye's All We've Got Left, Hillbilly Highway, My Old Friend the Blues, Someday, Fearless Heart, Little Rock 'n' Roller.
Like a great road trip, whooshes by with moments of poignance, insight, kicks and chug.
I don't really listen to country all that much but I quite enjoyed this
Really enjoyed this, upbeat easy listening. Country but not annoyingly so.
Fills the gap between Springsteen and Johnny Cash, which is a pleasant place to be. Musically and lyrically great, and really fun.
3.5-4 stars - it was good, i enjoyed it more than I thought I would
Really great stuff on here. I know a lot about his work with Lucinda Williams, so I expected greatness from the start, and greatness is what I got! Good stuff all around.
Deeply cool, thogh there would be better records later, especially Transcendental Blues, as I recall. The production is tinny and a case can be made that SE over-sings (overtwangs?) on some cuts. Still, lots of lovely moments and authenticity to spare, which more than overcomes the '80s effect. This is an obvous template of more than half (and definitely the better half) of the Americana to come.
Very good
I love Steve Earle. I don't love every song on this album but it's still a phenomenal debut.
Great country rock.
Country
Steve Earle's debut album and considered one of the first in the alt-country genre. I actually consider Earle's next few albums more alt-country. This one has more of a traditional country feel to it and even towards the dreaded pop-country. Each song tells a story with classic country themes: I'm down and out, a breakup song, not living up to expectations and living on the road. Two songs really stand out to me: "Guitar Town" with its great rhyming lyrics and twangy guitar and "Little Rock "N" Roller", a tear- jerker about calling up his son, Justin Townes Earle (RIP) while on the road just to talk and don't tell Mom. I can't say this is my favorite Steve Earle (that would come in a few albums) but there are some outstanding songs and overall, it is a good liste.
I love this stuff unironically. 4
You know, this is an album that grows on you as you listen to it over time, kind of like a comfortable pair of old jeans. I've heard it before a few times here and there, but enjoyed it more this time around. I also enjoyed the album more as the songs progressed. It's a classic sound of stripped down, rock-tinged country. The songs are warm and catchy with some really earnest and engaging songwriting. It's a sound that doesn't really get old, even 30-odd years after it came out. Fave Songs: Think It Over, Someday, Goodbye's All We've Got Left, Fearless Heart, Down the Road, Little Rock 'n' Roller, My Old Friend the Blues
All I could think about during this was Wheeler Walker Jr. Pretty interesting to see where he got his whole fucking sound from. A lot less references to sucking dicks and tits. So I guess that's okay? Little Rock n' Roller got some emotion out of me. It's a solid album.
Steve Earle is everything the critics think about Dwight Yoakam, only his voice is pleasant to listen to and he writes a hell of a lyric. Long live Waylon. Best track: Guitar Town
This is probably the first country album I've listened to that I actually enjoyed. I was dismissive of the first few seconds because I'm generally not a big fan of the southern twang vocals. But as the drums, lead guitar and background keyboards rolled in, I got hooked lined and sinkered and soon embraced the twang. It's by no means perfect or consistent, but it did capture my interest and brought a few bangers along the way.
Solid alt country rock album. Not a huge fan of Earle's vocals, but it has the heart and intensity required for this kind of music.
Really good country music. Nothing more, nothing less
4.5
Nice.
Already knew this well. Not my very favourite of SE, but perhaps pips others to the list because of its greater significance. Nevertheless a really strong album.
This was very good. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen again, but it was really well done.
I'm sure Steve Earle wishes that he had the same mop of hair today, that he had 35 years ago, when he recorded his breakthrough record. At the time, he was being compared to Dwight Yoakam,for having the crossover appeal to a mainstream pop and alternative market. Some radio DJs at the time referred to him as the “Redneck Springsteen”, and his blue collar rage holds a fair amount of water here. Cars, guitars, hillbilly fun, smoking a lot of cigarettes, breaking girls hearts and living in motels are the palate in Earle's world. The title track and Someday are my two favourite tracks on the record, but the rest of the songs are all fine. My biggest complaint is the production: his fine band, the Dukes, sound thin and too far in the background for me. Still this is as fine a country record as has been made since the 60's, and well worth a spin on the Victrola.
I'm a SE big fan but like his folkier stuff more. I'm guessing a brother like Steve will not have multiple offerings on the 1001 list so feel I better give my overall SE ranking to this one.
Wow surprising. I like the songs and his voice.... it gets a little too twangy at times, but this is solid from start to finish. Really enjoyed Fearless Heart.
Loved it. Just what I needed.
4
I really liked this one. This is real country to me. My one criticism is I can barely hear the bass. Some songs you can’t hear it at all.
Good country music. I enjoyed it. First half was a bit better.
Good stuff. I knew Guitar Town but had not listened to the entire album before.
Twangy. 0RS
Scratches that exact type of country music I like. More rock than country but still a solid country twang
Just solid working class country
Sad, real world
Wasn't as familiar with this as the albums that followed, but liked it a lot. That dude lived hard.
false
I’d never listened to 80s country, but I liked this. I also liked the stuff that came on afterwards on Spotify.
Pretty solid country album! Obviously in love with the first track, and most of them are about on par for Steve. Some slower and less interesting songs, but a good time overall.
Really good album
we do enjoy Steve Earle
Not only is this album rootin, it is also tootin 3.5
Extremely hit and miss for me. A few tracks were real standouts and a few were a struggle to get through. Would definitely have to pick and choose on revisiting
Country. I didn’t like this but my cats did.
vocals are a good performance in a style i'm not fond of. otherwise nothing is particularly noteworthy but it all works together quite well.
Kompetent singer-song-writing utan åthävor. Bra gitarrer. Stark trea
nice chill country, lackluster vocals
Dig. This man's a badass & he's got a lot of great stuff in his discog. I think this is the first time I've heard this one. Don't remember hearing it before anyway. But dig. 3.49
Decent. I’d rate it 3.5 if I could. Although I like some of his other work more. I saw him in concert in 2018 and it was pretty good.
Pretty meh. I’ve listened to this before. It’s never clicked for me for some reason.