Guitar Town

𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯 still carries that familiar honky-tonk pulse, but here it feels far less mechanical than on many of the older country records I have heard. The production is lean, the guitars have more bite, and the songs move with a roots-rock energy that keeps the album from settling into a predictable groove. Steve Earle brings enough grit and personality to make the traditional country elements feel fresh rather than old-fashioned. Nothing here is especially flashy, but the album is consistently strong and easy to enjoy. One of the more enjoyable country albums I have heard, and one I would gladly return to.

some ok country

I love the songwriting and attitude, though I would probably enjoy a stripper version better as the 80s production diminishes it a bit for me. I also like that state trooper cover.

Roza lo country todo el tiempo, y ya sabemos que a mí el country...

No me llegó a entrar el primer cuarto del disco, pero el segundo se me hizo mucho más llevadero. Las letras son buenas, pero no excelentes. Tiene una búsqueda de ritmos melódicos y "más escuchables" digamos. No es diferente, no te hace volar la cabeza con su propuesta, ya que al ser country/folk/singer-songwritter tradicional lo que debería destacar es la voz o las letras. Es una escucha divertida. Que realmente te transporta hacia una película con casas de maderas, campos verde y no tan verdes. Bueno, basta de colores, hablemos de música. El disco está bien y es eso, un disco que está bien. En algún momento volveré a él y seguramente es un disco que crezca en mi. 3/5.

Labeled as part of the Outlaw Country genre, Steve Earle has broken that mold and established himself as a great American songwriter. That is on display on "Guitar Town" in flashes. This being his debut, his best is yet to come but there are moments throughout that make this a solid album. Most surprising might be the strength and clarity of his voice before all the years of alcohol, cigarettes (and many other things) caught up with him.

Pretty run of the mill country. Quick decent listen

It doesn’t outright annoy me so not an a 1 but I definitely don’t love it.

Listened to the album twice total today. Even though I'm pretty used to listening to a bunch of different genres, country just never really clicked with me — not totally sure why, but I've never been a huge fan of the genre. I think the main reason is I just don't have that American folk culture background. Can't say a bad word about the album or any of the songs, but none of them made it onto my playlist either, and honestly I don't think I'll remember any of them next time I hear them. That said, I get why it's on those "albums you have to hear" lists. So yeah, guess I'll end this with a big ol' yeehaw

Not my favorite- kind of the intersection of rock and country but a little too hackneyed at times for me

Um leið og lögin þín fjalla um pallbíla, þá er það ás. Svo skemmir líka fyrir greyið manninum hvað þetta er gersamlega generic og óspennandi. Farið út með þetta.

Pleasantly surprised! Lovely for an iced coffee on Jordan’s porch. Wild voice, idk how country artists do this with their mouths. Also pleased to learn about “outlaw country artists”

I'm not used to seeing thay young Steve Earle on the cover. 😂

Honestly this sounds like the music Key and Peele were ripping off when they did that sketch about Deep South country songs, even though it was a decent listen.

Country for non country fans who like rock and great songwriting. All the wankers on here dissing Steve, go listen to your Moz albums in your mom’s basement.

끝까지 못들음 3근처?

I was, at most, vaguely familiar with Steve Earle and his contributions to the country music scene. I was actually more familiar with his acting career, particularly his appearances on shows like The Wire. So Guitar Town came as a pleasant surprise and turned out to be an enjoyable listen. I’ve never been a huge fan of country music, but I’ve discovered that the older I get, the more I can revisit an earlier decade of my life, dig into genres I may have overlooked, and find myself enjoying them far more than I ever would have in my youth. There’s probably a fair amount of ’80s and ’90s country that deserves this kind of excavation.

This was a just fine country album. It didn't wow me, but it was a fine listen.

The sounded like a generic country album. It was easy listen though.

Guitar Town

3.5

Not Steve Earle's best, but still really enjoyable. 4 stars

This isn't my favorite Steve Earle album, but it's a pretty solid debut. I do think he gets better later when he sort of expands his musical palette a bit. "Fearless Heart", "Someday", and the title track were my favorites. 4 stars.

Not another cuntree album! I just about managed Sweetheart Of The Rodeo ok and that I guess was just about a worthy 1001 inclusion but this cheesy, dated, clip-clopping yeehaw rootin tootin diversion to Guitar Town was definitely unnecessary. I’d rather be spending my time in Chess Town with Windom Earle.

It's rootin' tootin' country, but the upbeat tracks were foot-tap worthy. That's where the votes are going. The slower ones I was less interested in, and some grated a bit, but overall it was an easy enough listen I guess. 2.5 rounded up.

the man plays guitar

Heard of him but never listened to any before. The sound is clean and accessible (to a fault), kinda well assembled (in a pedestrian fashion). (Some plodding bass and basic drums in my ears as I edit this, deadly boring.) The arrangements/style/lyrics/delivery seem to foreground their conventions, lean right into them, fall into them and get swallowed - as another reviewer said, if someone told you this album was a parody of country, you might believe them. The lyrics are kinda okay, but sketchy, repetitive. A bit of reading on the side indicates Earle has had a colourful life, has lots of political views that are controversial in the USA but I would agree with - I don't detect such views on this debut album, maybe I would like a later album better but I'm reviewing this one. Main issue for me is that I have early and persistent thoughts that I just don't really like "this type of music". I wonder for a while, is that maybe just a prejudice of some sort, against country, or perhaps a particularly Australian reaction to Americanana and/or Earle's accent? I have liked various styles of country-ish music much more than I like this album. On due reflection, I think my taste profile just doesn't like music to be this simple and predictable in its chords, rhythms, structures etc etc. This is not morally bad music, but it's plain old boring. 2/5 would be too generous to represent this album's impact on me, so I'll have to say it's Bad, 1/10.

I would give it a 2.5 stars, nothing wrong with the album, pleasant enough, but unforgettable.

country is not my thing but i didn't hate hate it. i feel like i didn't even hear it...

I like this. little old school rock and roll, a little countryish. I'd listen again.

I’ll admit that I always go into country albums with a chip on my shoulder, which is because I’m always expecting the crap the genre has morphed into in the modern day. So when a country album subverts this prejudice of mine, it works in its favor review-wise. Now, Earle didn’t exactly avoid that sound I hate… but he didn’t exactly land in that sound entirely either. A lot of tracks pick up undesirable sounds while also avoiding other ones; some of the tracks even go in the right direction (in my opinion) with a more bluegrass inspired sound. So, not a perfect album, but for a country album, it could have been a lot worse.

Bollocks country shit.

31/07/2026 I am thoroughly starting to dislike country music, one or two songs were okay here. They get a pass. Spotify listeners: 3.5 million

I could just about stomach American Country music if I was on a long road trip over there. It would be fine playing in the background from one of those radio stations that persist in calling themselves by numbers as I meander through a dusty desert used as the backdrop for some cowboy film. But sat here in West Yorkshire the music to me as no relevance other than to point out some of the nearby towns do now resemble Tombstone and the O.K. Corral. The only purpose this album serves to me is to give it a low score so that the Folk Music genre currently showing as my favourite (which it ain’t) in my summary is reduced. 1/5 30/7/26

Not a huge country fan, but I've always appreciated Steve Earle. Has more of the old country, southern rock sound. This album is no different and was enjoyable to listen to

I don't know why, but I liked this one more than I thought I would. Interesting. The earlier parts of the album got me interested the most. Some of the lyrics are kinda... country... yeah... but overall I was more interested than I thought I would. Neat For some reason the line "now there ain't enough" in Good Ol' Boy makes me think of the way Billie Joe from Green Day sings

No standouts

Every song blends in to one, generic country

Meh. Not for me.

Super mid country This is like the exact kind of country I don’t like (and country pop) Just not super interesting, doesn’t hold my attention 2.5/5 Favorite: Little Rock n roller

Everything one loves and hates about country.

A little too country/twangy for my taste but it's good for the genre it is.

This was a lot more honky Tonk than I thought it was gonna be. I’ll never return to this but it was solid. And had a couple of hot licks.

I like this more than many country tracks I have heard, but that's not saying much. One reviewer said thus album "saved" country music - one has to wonder why anyone bothered. Roots music is close enough.

Seems like with this album, Steve can't figure out whether he wants to poorly imitate John Fogerty or Bruce Springsteen more

I’ll use the listening notes to react live this time: From the title I thought it was going to be a rock album - turns out it was more country. Hillbilly highway really doesn’t appeal to me. Gettin tough, I’ll admit, is catchy. My Old Friend the Blues sounds like 00s country Very southern. Someday sounded good. Oh State Trooper is indeed a Springsteen cover.

I'm sorry, but this country country just isn't for me. Didn't even realise that the autoplayer took over... 2/5, why is this on the list

Sure as shit was on the hillbilly highway. Wasn't that bad though tbf

Meh. slow rock

Didn't hate it as much as I thought I was from the early tracks. Can't say that it was particularly a joy to listen to, though.

The hottest and garbage-iest of hot garbage. 0.5/5.0: Unlistenable

started out enjoying this and it slipped pretty hard as i continued listening

Buen country-rock.

Haven't heard of him before. The heartland rock vibe sure is here so my mind wants to make a Springsteen comparison. But this album is soooo boring I don't want to compare something so mid to Springsteen, Bruce doesn't deserve it. Then I realized that this guy literally did a State Trooper cover as a bonus track for this album and dear god, he somehow managed to make the song uninteresting. What a talent 2/5

No me gusta demasiado el country, por lo que el disco no me entusiasmo, incluso siendo bueno.

# Album Name: Guitar Town # Artist: Steve Earle # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Meh pretty generic american country tunes. Couple of good tunes. # Top Tunes: Guitar town / hillbilly highway # Would I listen to it again? No

Here is the thing - i really like Steve Earle. I like his music and as a person. Even though this isnt his best album or music - i still really like it...but...is it essential listening? It's just not, there just isn't a reason this needs to be on this list, despite how much i like his sound.

3.5

2.0

Bland, but passable enough country rock in an instrumental sense, although with a typically awful vocal performance for the genre akin to a sheep undergoing an exorcism. Not amongst the absolute worst things I've had to contend with on here, but still pretty rubbish.

++: Hillbilly Highway Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough) +: Down the Road +-: Guitar Town, Goodbye's All We've Got Left, Think It Over, Little Rock 'n' Roller -: My Old Friend the Blues, Fearless Heart --: Someday 3,7/10

Just fine, not my fave genre.

Han er uendelig stolt af sit Hill Billy ophav. Kæft en gang bæ. Det er så skidt, at det kunne misforstås som at være en parodi på genren.

Pickup Truck Country

I can hear tones of the heart of rock 'n' roll and the blood of America in here or something like that, it's a nice and satisfying country rocker with some occasional more-standard country songs, sounds good but not necessarily something special or new

3.6 Good album, good story telling nice blend of country and rock. I prefer his more raw stuff.

Really uninteresting country. Like so bad.

Maybe just too country, but not old fashioned enough to be, for my taste. This means nothing I’m sure to anyone who reads this. Never mind. 2/5.

Expectation: Dull American singer-songwriter. Outcome: More honky-tonk and good-ole-boy country than anticipated, but it's another dull American singer-songwriter who, in my opinion, doesn't deserve to be on this list. Immediately after this, Spotify played what I gather is Steve Earle's big hit, Copperhead Road, which is an order of magnitude better than anything on Guitar Town. Rock and folk influences, bagpipes (?), foot-tapping tune. Good stuff, shame it's not on this album.

Not drinking nearly enough cheap room temperature beer to enjoy this one as much as I should. A whiff of Springsteen about it

Not only is this album rootin, it is also tootin 3.5

Fine

im IN guitar town!

(15/100)

Very nice

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

I thought Steve Earle was someone completely different to who actually started singing when I first played it. Very confused! I am not sure who I mixed him up with…. Haha Anyway, First of all I hated it but the more I listened the more I started enjoying it and it grew on me a bit. Still not my sort of thing though.

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.

533/1089 - Corny country + default DX7 patches? I might vomit.

Aside from the title track being pretty catchy, the rest of this record just sounds like a typical, generic late 80s or early 90s country album. It’s tough to get through because it leans way too heavily on that standard, overly polished Nashville studio production of the era, which completely washes out the raw edge you usually want to hear from a country project. Steve Earle is often praised as an outlaw country pioneer, but this specific debut feels a bit too safe and radio-friendly to back up that reputation. His backing band plays flawlessly, but the arrangements quickly settle into a formulaic, mid-tempo crawl that makes the deep cuts fade into a repetitive background blur. He clearly has a natural gift for working-class storytelling, but the uninspired musical backdrop fails to do those stories any real justice.

Idk pretty mid. There were a couple that I enjoyed but nothing that great.

Pretty chill, I would listen to this if I was riding on a tractor

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

Lord give me strength. For I have just endured another Country album, and this may have been the worst one yet. Guitar Town by Steve Earle is the kind of album you play to someone from Alabama who has strong feelings for their cousin. This album made me truly question whether or not this was supposed to be parody. I painstakingly looked at every album I have given a 2, and the few albums I have given a 1, in a vain attempt to find something I enjoyed about in this album. For the 2 star albums, I usually mention a song or an aspect of the album that was bearable, or rarely something that might have been pretty good. Alas, I was unable to for this album. Now, maybe it was because I only listened to it once, and it might have grown on me. That does happen with a lot of the albums on the site. However, in rare instances like this, when I hear the sound of a good old Country boy with a voice like that, it makes me regret my blood oath to this website and myself to listen to every single album from top to bottom all the way through at least once. This album has the certified makings of generic hick County music, which is the most unbearable, most unpleasant kind of noise to listen to. I made a prediction a few 1 star reviews ago that most of the albums I unfortunately have to bestow with a 1 would be Country, and also unfortunately I've been right on the money so far. I just don't like it. The instrumentation here is generic, the lyrics are a joke, the names of the songs make me regret not listening on private mode, and the singer makes me want to consume a gallon of bleach. I hate giving 1 star reviews, but for instances like this where I just can't pick out anything even resembling enjoyment, I've gotta do it. And yes, it's becoming a bad trend with the Country albums. It seems that I'm not alone in the assessment that this album just doesn't belong here either, as it has a very low rating on the site. I'm about to contribute to that. You know that when an album has me ranting like this, in which I could go another several lines just dogging on Country, that it's bad. This album did nothing but enrage me and I was happy when it ended. It's not even 40 minutes long but feels like it took 10 hours to get through. I wanted to be nice and give it a 2, but I simply can not do that. Good Country exists. It's few and far between, but it does exist. On the other end of that spectrum are the albums that sound exactly like this. Let this be the shining, and hopefully last example, of the kind of music I hate the most on this website. Yee Haw.

This was bit nothing. It was fine and that was it.

Kinda boring

It’s corny, but not entirely charmless. A little hard to rate - it’s not something I’ll listen to again, but relative to other country albums, it’s fine. Solidly middle of the road. 2.5⭐️

not bad

For howdy

Went back and forth a lot in this one of liking a bit of it, and then not.

I probably would’ve been fine had I not heard this before I die. Not bad tho

nice chill country, lackluster vocals

Definitely not for me. Country and western

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

I wanted to like this and thought it started ok, but after a few songs in I had enough. Finished the album since it’s a short one, but it reminded me that I’m not a fan of that style of music.

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.

Enjoyed this! Some songs were better than others but most were well written and fun.

Pretty meh. I’ve listened to this before. It’s never clicked for me for some reason.

It's country, and it sounds like every other country album. Which is to say it sucks.

Muy gabacho... pero nice

Not bad, not my cup of tea really but listenable.

Can something be offensively middle of the road? If so, then this is what this is.

Motning special here

Bit slow for me

Good album. Good songwriting. Maybe songs are sinilar bit all good.

This is fun. I like it. I don't have much more to say than that.

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.

The irony of an album released in 1986 having the lyrics "It's gettin' tough/ Just my luck I was born in the land of plenty, now there ain't enough" Boy, you ain't seen nothing yet

Nope

when people ask me "what kind of music do you like?", i used to say some corny shit like "i listen to everything, except for contemporary country." now i can confidently say some corny shit like "i listen to everything, except for country."

Very sprinsteeny

Dire. Put it off after four tracks

p558. 1986. 2 stars. Poor man's Springsteen, with additional pilfering from Buddy Holly and extra yeehaw. Nothing special here.

not for me, thanks

Pretty alright country rock, but I don't remember what any of the songs was about Standouts - 3/4

Really pleasant

Listen, it's fine. But there's not a lot more to be said.

Not the worst country music on this list

So this is country. To the commentators who think it is like Bruce Springsteen to me It bears as much resemblance to Bruce Springsteen as my chest does to Arnold Schwarzenegger's in his prime. That is to say not very much. Country not Americana when two songs in a row are: "Hillbilly Highway" followed by: "Good Ol' Boy". Especially when hillbilly is pronounced "hiiiiiiiiiiillbilly" with a pronounced drawl. Well my ears didn't bleed but thankful I didn't listen to it in one go. Thankfully only one album by Steve Earle so I never have to listen to him again. His most famous song "Copperhead Road" is not on this album and very like Springsteen but this album not so much.

*Standard country from a time when country was a regional genre.

Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 🎸😐🎸 Production (30th Anniversary): 😐👍🆗 Music: 🇺🇸🤠🤡 Rating: 🌃/5

Depuis un bon paquet de semaine, je me lance tous les jours dans cette putain d'odyssée imposée par l'ouvrage 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Dans son introduction, le rédacteur en chef Robert Dimery assume l'entière responsabilité de cette compilation et avoue lui-même que le choix global des albums présentés est hautement subjectif. Il a d'ailleurs l'honnêteté de préciser qu'il recherche ici des opinions individuelles, informées et articulées, plutôt qu'une fade cohérence. Eh bien, Robert, tu vas être servi avec mon opinion individuelle, car s'il y a bien une chose que cette nouvelle proposition m'inspire, c'est tout sauf de la fade complaisance. Michael Lydon, dans sa préface, a l'audace de comparer l'écoute d'un album à l'exploration d'un livre ou d'un film, affirmant que chaque morceau nous entraîne plus loin vers l'inconnu, au-delà des sommets terrifiants et des piscines de calme. Il souligne même que les albums finissent par rester en nous des mois, voire des années. Ouais je veux bien, mais pour Guitar Town, le seul territoire inconnu que j'ai exploré, c'est l'ennui profond d'une route poussiéreuse où le paysage ne change absolument jamais. Quant à l'idée que cet album reste en moi des années... disons que je l'aurai oublié avant même d'avoir fini mon café. Lydon écrit que nous sommes ce que nous écoutons. Alors... si je suis ce que j'écoute, aujourd'hui, je suis un routier fatigué en train de manger des œufs brouillés froids dans un diner désaffecté du Tennessee. Oh putain, non merci. Tout d'abord, je vais aller droit au but et vous annoncer la couleur immédiatement : je lui colle un 2 sur 5, et honnêtement, ça ne vaut pas un demi-point de plus. Ensuite, soyons clairs, précis et chirurgicaux : ce n'est pas une bouse infâme, mais... ce n'est vraiment pas mon truc. Je pense qu'il y a une différence fondamentale entre un album qui est une insulte à la musique et un album qui vous laisse dans un état d'apathie catatonique. Si Guitar Town était un naufrage total, si c'était techniquement à chier, inaudible, joué par des manchots alcooliques avec des guitares désaccordées, je pourrais au moins en rire. Je pourrais cracher mon venin avec la ferveur d'un inquisiteur. Mais non, car le pire avec ce disque, c'est sa compétence. C'est carré, c'est propre et les mecs qui accompagnent Steve Earle savent tenir un manche, la production fait exactement ce qu'on attend d'elle. Et c'est ce professionnalisme sans âme qui justifie ce 2 sur 5. Cet album ne mérite ni mon mépris total, ni mon admiration, il mérite juste mon indifférence polie. Replongeons-nous deux secondes dans le contexte. Nous sommes en 1986, la pop est dominée par les synthétiseurs fluos, le rock se perd dans la laque pour cheveux et les pantalons en spandex, et la country music de Nashville est en train de s'embourber dans une soupe sirupeuse et inoffensive pour radios FM de supermarché. C'est là que débarque Steve Earle avec son étiquette de "Nouveau Traditionnaliste" et son aura de soi-disant rebelle. Guitar Town est censé être l'album de la rupture, l'album qui ramène la country à ses racines prolétaires, au rockabilly poisseux et aux histoires de la vraie classe ouvrière américaine. Sur le papier, le concept se tient et Earle se pose comme le héraut des petits patelins étouffants, le porte-voix des cols bleus qui usent leurs bottes sur les pédales de leurs pick-up. Mais entre les intentions louables d'un artiste et le rendu plastique gravé sur le vinyle, il y a un gouffre dans lequel je viens de trébucher lamentablement. Car à l'écoute, qu'est-ce qu'on a ? Une country-rock dangereusement aseptisée par les standards de production des années 80 car le problème de cette époque (et ce disque en est le pathétique étendard), c'est cette obsession des années 80 à vouloir tout lisser. La caisse claire a ce petit son sec, mat et synthétique qui te rappelle sans cesse que tu écoutes un produit calibré pour l'industrie, et non pas une jam session sauvage au fond d'un bouge poisseux du Tennessee. Le fameux twang des guitares est là, bien sagement rangé derrière la voix. Tout est millimétré pour passer sur les radios FM grand public sans froisser les oreilles de la ménagère. C'est une rébellion de pacotille, un outlaw de carte postale. Le pire avec ce skeud et que je ne peux même pas le haïr viscéralement. Pour haïr une œuvre, il faut qu'elle provoque un sentiment, un rejet, un dégoût profond. Guitar Town ne provoque qu'un bâillement poli. Au bout du troisième morceau, une sorte de léthargie s'installe et les pistes se fondent les unes dans les autres pour créer un seul et unique continuum de guitares acoustiques grattées avec vigueur et d'accents du sud exagérés. Tu cherches désespérément une rupture de ton, un truc bizarre, bancal, qui te sortirait de ta torpeur. Et... que dalle. Je comprends tout à fait pourquoi cet album a sa place dans la grande histoire de la musique américaine. Il a probablement servi de pont pour amener des amateurs de rock un peu tièdes vers des sonorités roots et il a rassuré les programmateurs radio. Mais de là à dire qu'il faut l'avoir écouté avant de mourir ? Foutaises. Si ma dernière heure sonne demain, je vous garantis que je ne regretterai pas de ne pas avoir mis Guitar Town sur ma platine.

Modern country music from the mid 80s.

fine. ok.

It's not awful, it's just obvious.

He’s a blues man who likes his whiskey and the blues - I suppose I ought to like this but something about it feels too hackneyed to embrace.

4.5 I was pretty big into steve earle and the rest of the texas troubadours about 15 years ago. Probably isnt a 5 starer but Im rounding up for nostalgias sake and because my hairline is starting to mirror steve earles hairline these days. Listen to the guitar by Guy Clarke for another guitar named song. Hopefully we get a guy clarke or TVZ album, if we dont i might have to submit one for my user entry

This is likely a competent country record, but it did very little for me. I find the twang simple and repetitive. Ready for the next record.

182.

I like some of his stuff, but not everything

Classic

My entire image of Steve Earle comes from a song by the Magnetic Fields: "Acoustic guitar, you think I play hard? Well, you could have belonged to Steve Earle." Given that Merritt offers two further examples of abusive guitar owners, intense flamenco guitarist, Charo, and space demons, GWAR, I would be forgiven for thinking that when he says "play hard," he means "play hard." So I expected a choppier, acoustic forward sound from Steve, more Americana than the cornball, Nashville Springsteen than I got. Indeed, if Nashville is the Guitar Town of the albums title, it is the lead and lap steel players that do the work here: the work of dragging the record from heartland to deep South, from standard American songwriting to country songwriting. It's not much of a move, the differences between American cultures and the various centres of American music being superficial. But perhaps that is the sense in which Earle is an abusive guitar owner - on this record at least - he allows the tool of his trade to be cucked by the gloopy trappings of genre. As I said to you yesterday, Earle is on the cover, oogling wall-mounted guitars, with a perfectly good guitar slung over his shoulder. He is walking around Guitar Town, gagging for guitars, when he has a devoted and dutiful guitar at home. There is something unfaithful here, untruthful - is Earle a country man or not? That question doesn't come up with Charo or GWAR - whatever they're doing, they're sincere about it. They play hard. 1.5 “Out of shot, Steve Earle’s father: ‘That one you’ve got will do you for all the fucking good you are.’” Just use this for my review. Can’t do any better. Or fairer. 1.5/5

Jamais écouté avant. Un album de country assez standard, un peu surproduit, aux accents rock springsteeniens (le charisme et le E-Street Band en moins). Steve Earle a néanmoins le bon goût de ne pas céder aux clichés les plus ridicules du genre (santiags, stetson, bourbon, flingues, champs de maïs et racisme) pour des récits réalistes sur les désillusionés du rêve américain dans les États-Unis de Reagan. Finalement, ça s'écoute plutôt bien, même si rien n'est particulièrement marquant ou bouleversant. Top : Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough) Flop : Little Rock 'n' Roller

Every song sounds like it should be on an episode of Hart of Dixie. I’m not a country fan, but this was ok!

Decent. Like 1/3 of it was pretty good but everything else was super boring.

What a way to start the month... This thing is tedious as hell. Vocalist sounds unbelievable annoying due to its twang. Instrumentation is just modernly produced basic country mixed with some elements of Heartland Rock, like bells, pianos and big choruses, but instead of feeling passionate, like Bruce Springsteen, it makes the songs even more cornier. Nothing redeemable or worth talking about from my point of view.

America, so much to answer for.

Not bad for country from the mid 80s. I didn't hate it. 6/10 Top song Guitar town

Favorite track(s): Goodbye's All We Got Left, Hillbilly Highway

great ole country music

What can I say except it's miii-iiid? It's not very goood. What can I say except it's boriiing, aah-aaahh-ahhh!

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.

2/10 - Country feels very copied and pasted to me.

There's a few decent songs. Not my style but not offensively bad. 4/10

Low rent John Mellencamp. Is it rock? Is it country? We don't know, and neither does Earle. It just feels like someone who wrote some boring lyrics and put it to a simple guitar melody. Just kinda boring.

Дропнув на половині. Стереотипне радіо-кантрі. Хз, можливо це був якийсь прорив у 80х, але зараз мені було важко слухати

Якесь веселе навколо кантрі, не моя чашка чаю.

Generally I like Steve Earle but this album is pretty pedestrian 80’s country rock, the title track and someday are great and there are a couple of other inoffensive ditties but nothing that really stands out like S.E at his best. Its good, not great. 3.2

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.

The songs where he sounds like Springsteen are good. The cheesy line dancing numbers not so much. It's a mixed bag.

short and pleasant

I really, truly do not understand what would place this album above any other generic country record. I guess this was made before a lot of them?

Steeve Earle wasn’t yet Steeve Earle.

Made for bbqs and sunsets by the pond.

This album answers the question, what if jimmy Buffett did country guitar rock, but didn’t do it well. Mediocre at best. 2 stars. Not sure why this is here.

loved!

I totally vibe with the message here, and Steve seems like a good guy, but I am wondering if that’s really enough to put this album on this list.

As if cliché ridden country pop wasn't bad enough this guy tops it off with that awful pseudo rock production which has all the edges filed off the guitars and drums so they don't get too exciting. If this is essential in any way, it has to be as a bad example.

Please no

country as hell bruther

I grew up in the 80s listening to mostly country, and I don't remember ever hearing this guy's name. Reading the Wikipedia article of the artist, I did remember having listened to Copperhead Road. Anyway, this does not sound at all like the country I was hearing in the 80s; though it does sound a lot like today's "Americana" genre (which is just what they call country now because mainstream country is rap now). All that to say, it sounds far more modern than most of the country of its time, with the possible exception of Dwight Yoakam who released an album in 86 as well. This is both forward-looking for its time and old school all at once. Even though it's forward-looking, I'm not sure I'd consider groundbreaking or even especially unique, though I might say that about Yoakam's 86 release. I enjoyed the album, but I don't think it's something I'll come back to. And I'll probably listen to Guitars, Cadillacs, etc, etc now ⭐⭐⭐.499999

Oh this one... So it begins with track 1 that is called "Guitar Town" and after 10 seconds he already sings "Hey, Pretty Baby". Is he talking to his guitar or does he want to impress some random women (or in his own words a baby)? In track 3 he sings "down": Well that is how I feel me after only 3 (!!!) tracks into this album. Track 4 "Good Ol' Boy": I'm assuming he's singing about some random dog he saw walking down a random street is his hometown. But I can be wrong. Track 7 "Think It's Over" Well I wish. Too bad I had still 3 tracks to go or even worse: 4. Thanks to the reissue on Spotify. Track 10: "Down the Road" he sings "You have still miles to go." I would walk 1000 miles or even more to get rid of his music. Really! Track 2: "Goodbye's All We've Got Left" Well at least Steve is a honest person. He sings "I dont't think that it'll get any better." And yeah like i said he's honest: It only got worse! But thanks Steve to mention this already. You were absolutely right! 1/5

i mean i can appreciate but can't resonate (((''''':

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: None Something about country music drives me insane. Why is it so grating on the ears?

Decent

Have you ever wanted John Mellencamp but with a generic voice and lack of songwriting talent? 2/5

Solid unashamed country rock. Mainstream Larry Normanesque. Not my favourite genre by a long shot. But not in a hurry either to find the off or mute button.

Number: 133 Date: 05/16/2026 Artist: Steve Earle Album: Guitar Town Year: 1986 Style: Singer Songwriter Honky Tonk Familiarity: None (1) Rating: 3 Before: ======= Never heard of this artist or album. During: ======= I don't listen to country music at all so don't have much to compare this to but the opener immediately reminds a little of The Replacements album Hootenanny, albeit a very tamed down version. Too bad that album is not on this list. 4 Guitar Town 3 Goodbye's All We've Got Left 3 Hillbilly Highway 2 Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough) 2 My Old Friend The Blues 3 Someday 3 Think It Over 3 Fearless Heart 2 Little Rock 'N' Roller 2 Down The Road ----------------------------------------------------- 2.65 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= I'm not much a fan of most country music but this was decent. Apparently it is an important album in that realm. 3 my personal rating 4 suitability for this list 4 impact ----------------------------------------------- 3.7 composite rating

Slick guitar work and you can tell the singer put passion into this. Unfortunately it peaked on the first song and mostly just went down afterwards.

Overall, I thought that this is a solid album. It's labeled a country album, but a lot of this could be put into a compilation of roots rock without turning a lot of heads. You can see some of Earle's social justice views in the songwriting, but a bit more hidden than the later work. At times, the 80's production sticks out, for instance with the use of synthesizers at times, but nothing too egregious. I like some of his other records more, but this is pretty good.

Light 3

Steve, at the crossroads of Cash's country, his hero S Van Zant songwriting and storytelling and springsteen/mellencamps blue collar rock. Loved this since 1st heard when was a rocker/punk, don't listen to them much anymore but do still listen to Steve. Doesn't get the flowers for his influence on that space between rock and Country, in my book. Sure it's country, - folk/rock/alt. whatever but it sure ain’t that right wing, conservative, fake Christian mainstream shit. Genuine and great album. 5Star

Country ist immer gut zum anhören

5/10 It was a fun listen although I'm not big into this type of country. Still enjoyed.

cornball country

This was neato.

Jesus CHRIST this sucks! I'm no fan of country, but this is far and beyond some of the worst crap I have ever heard.

Really generic country album. Didn’t hate it, but it didn’t have any standout qualities. Pandering to an American audience here with this inclusion

I can't explain it but if this came out in 2026 it would be awful but since it came out in 1986 I like it.

I generally do not like country music. I will dip into “country and western” of the Hank Williams, George Jones and Johnny Cash variety. So the twang (voice and guitar) had me on the defensive, but it wasn’t bad. In fact, I learned that the Proclaimers “My Old Friend…” was a cover. Good song craft here.

Steve, you seem cool and all, but Country music will never not be unlistenable.

absolutely not

Not my style, but it was fun to listen

It's better Bruce Springsteen.

2 stars None of it stuck out to me and it just wasn’t for me. It wasn’t for me, but wasn’t offensive or too long.

I don't know, it sounds like outlaw country but it's full of 80's cheese. Hillbilly Highway is a fun song and Someday is a decent alt country tune, but the rest of it is giving off Footloose vibes. I don't consider this to be a must hear album, it seems like the beginning of the end of pop country.

Ok

It’s just not my style yk, struggled to finish listening to it

Very american

(2.75)

My Old Friend The Blues stood out, and Someday is one of my fav Steve Earle songs. 4.5/5

i had a friend in college named Bob. Bob was smart. Bob wrestled. Bob was from western maryland. Bob played he guitar in our house all the time singing about refrigerators. Steve Earle reminds me of Bob.

won't lie, saw that it was "country rock" and got scared. i should've looked at the date and realized it was pre-9/11 so the chances of it not sounding like shit were drastically higher. with that said, i like this! it sounds like something i'd listen to in a gas station. a welcome vibe. 7/10 FAVOURITE SONGS: GUITAR TOWN, THINK IT OVER, DOWN THE ROAD

Some songs were really soothing.

A real pleasant listen although it is not my preferred style of music. favourite: "Someday"

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.

Hillbilly Trash

Pitié stop la country

Its Country and Western. No idea why its on the list...makes a change from British indie perhaps?

Brilliant

Eh, good enough

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.

Guess what. It’s Meh. Nothing really to write home about :/

The older I get, the less tolerant I seem to be of this overplayed heartland country rock sound; it often feels like a cliché of a cliché. But much to my surprise, this one actually strikes a chord or two with me (I especially enjoyed “Goodbye’s All We’ve Got Left,” “Hillbilly Highway,” “Good Ol’ Boy,” and the standout track for me, “Someday”). Guitar Town (ugh, stupid title, but then my previous wordplay is not much better) actually features some tasteful lead guitar melodies, and the songwriting is pretty catchy. Now, I’m not a big connoisseur of country, so I might be off here - but I do find myself questioning whether this was really that impactful or truly an outstanding record. But I’ll happily leave that to others to judge. From what I’ve read, though, Steve Earle seems like someone with decent political views and that might already be something. Addendum: Back in the day, I used to listen to Ryan Adams a lot (rightfully cancelled, by the way), and it only now strikes me how much his sound and songwriting feel like a near one-to-one copy of Steve Earle.

I enjoyed it but didn' overly love it or anything. It's quite alright for what it needs to be.

hm, eintöniges Countryalbum

geht so, maximal durchschnitt, eher bissl weniger

Chillig Country

I'm learning quite quickly from this list that I am just not a fan of country music. This definitely has merit, but it just ain't for me. Favourites: Guitar town?

Не люблю кантри!

Some things on this list have improved my opinion with exposure. I've softened on some of the jazz, perhaps, and maybe artists who are an acquired taste such as Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen It's had the opposite effect on my perceptions of country - I've disliked it more and more as it went on. This is bland music with nothing to say and nothing to create interest. I haven't given 1* for a while, time to break that run!

Was a great album! Steve earle is so great!

otro disco de country que me salga y voy a quemar texas. no es que sea malo, pero es que es un disco más del montón noma.

Always liked Earle's snarly country voice, but his big guitar sound isn't on this first album. Check in later, he's got a lot of albums over the next 40 years.

This really annoyed me when I listened to it last night, but it doesn't bug me as much today. While I'm not a country music hater, there's something about this album that I don't love. I think it's just boring? The songs kinda just plod along and they all sound pretty similar. I also don't particularly like Steve Earle's singing voice. Not a terrible album, but also not great.

classic album great tunes

This is when country music began to die. "Guitar Town" happened to be recorded digitally at a time when only a handful of country albums were recorded with the then-new tech. However, the equipment didn't capture the unique feeling the old country songs had. I'm glad "Guitar Town" sounds nice, which isn't much, but it's a start. "Little Rock 'N' Roller" shows what the album should've been like. 2 stars for "Guitar Town".

I'm not a fan of country music, and to me this album sounds like many others in the genre. When it was released in 1985, it became a sensation on the U.S. country charts, but today it feels repetitive—the same sound and formula throughout. That said, my perspective comes from not being into country music; for fans of the genre, it might be a great listen. I’d recommend giving it a try and forming your own opinion.

I'm really not a country music guy although I did listen to John Denver a lot when I was young. I ended up listening to all of it, but it took a couple of sittings. One thing I did notice is that there were some places where he sounded like The Bodeans' early stuff which I really like.

I like some country music. I really do. Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson are among my favorite songwriters/performers. What I don't like is the nasally, whiny twang of some country music vocals. Guitar Town is all about the nasally, whiny twang. I think there some decent music hiding behind these vocals. Also, I try to reserve 1/5 for music so annoying that I can't even finish it. I was able to make it all the way through Guitar Town.

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.

Ålreit dette.

Tja, veldig country, men stabilt. 2.5

Country-musikk, fint nok det men ikke min sjanger.

Very boring and totally countrified. 1 of 1001 albums I will listen only once.

Ok 2/5

mid '80s country music. good handful of little humble songs about earle's own life, his dreams, experiences and his own perspective growing up the way he did. meh. meh meh meh meh meh. i'm not a country guy! i'm not! i'm really not. as a listener i like to be challenged with all sorts of audible noise all over the spectrum and the more country i hear the more they just blend in together. is the sound fine? yeah. it's fine. it's clean, it's good. but it's not for me too much. i'd love if a country head could tell me what sticks out to them when it comes to this. i feel like i could play this on the texas roadhouse jukebox and people dining there would like it.

Super easy listening from Steve. Just missing a real banger for me make it a 5.

Not a fair review because I can't stand country.

5/10 Got a beer in my beer and a Chevy in my truck

I hate country

Country rocking in the turbulent 80s.

Country something

Good

This was just very enjoyable to me, no notes really

Maybe I've listened to this several times, but it still feels new, still feels different, and at the time wasn't like anything I'd heard. Maybe it's because it sounds a bit like Texas to me. For a debut album, I think it shows really strong songwriting and listenability - lyrically kinda meh in spots. It didn't fit the cookie cutter country songs of the late '80s early '90s. It's refreshing to hear something different than original, musically. I won't listen to it often, but there's some really good tunes on here and you can learn a lot about songwriting. 2.5 out of 5.

some pretty decent poppy country. its alright but doesn't really stand out to me very much

My Old Friend the Blues sounds like a Bob Dylan cover. I'm surprised it isn't I don't remember him in Bridge to Terabithia. Probably because my brain suppressed sad memories to not traumatise me

Okay

It was easy to listen to, I can see how this would be a nice comfort album for someone. Rating: 2.4

not for me

Let's say a low 3. The music itself is ok, the text and culture behind it is too American to enjoy (cannot relate...).

Pretty good, those chords are beautiful

At first I thought "mediocre", but this actually passes well as a parody of country music. Feels very uninspired and boring and I was waiting for it to be over.

It takes a lot for a country record to entice me and this doesn't have it

it sounds too Nashvilley, dead and cold for a country album. I have no doubt Steve earle has some absolute banger albums -- but this ain't one of them. Production killed it for me as well.

read on the wikipedia this is one of the first country albums to be recorded digitally. sure explains a lot about the flat, cold production. there are decent songs on here but as a whole it fails to stand out. managing to feel bloated at a relatively short 34 minutes and 10 tracks, it lacks the depth of emotion and warmth that i need from country music. i would never go as far as to say i don't respect this album, but i do think a line could be traced from something like this right into that red solo cup, beer, ford f150 shit i despise.

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.

Yeehaw.

Dumb

music is love

Enjoyed this much more than I was expecting. A classic country sounding album that gets a little more country as it goes on. It's a solid 3.5 in my book.

With help you country albums enter this list I expect the ones that are actually accepted to be total bangers. This was not.

No me gustó para nada

Man, I tried. I really tried. But No. I can listen to some country, especially if it has decent guitar work. But what always pulls me out and screams No! is that damn twang. I hate singers with that twang. Randy Travis is a prime example. And Steve Earle is doing his damndest to be like Randy here. It's terrible and ruins every song. This is one of the Very Few albums on the list that I simply cannot listen to twice. There are occasional bits where he's not all twangy, but they are few and far between. Some songs have decent music going on with nice little guitar flares, but not enough. Calling this a 1 and never looking back.

Meh. It’s ok. Never really been one for country music. Probably won’t be paying this one a visit anytime soon. Two stars is about right for me. Standout track - Someday

No thank you

Me gusta el country-rock, se me hace agradable para escuchar. Las letras son bastante similares y no me termina de enganchar del todo, pero me gusta la música

This is not an album I needed to hear before I die. It’s not bad but not great either. So far I’m disappointed with this whole 1001 albums thing.

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

This is some self-loathing music to drink moonshine to. It’s almost comical in how much it sounds like parody of country music. And it shows a shift of when country was about wanting a better home to live in, and becomes more about the Don’t Tread on Me while I lick boots and pretend refusing to get an education makes me smarter. A boring and vapid listen, and not worth the time.

Lame. Gay. Gay and lame. 0/10 0.00%

I have a sudden urge to commit a domestic assault. But like... For America.

Why

boring. I'm not a fan of country and because this is a classic country album I didn't like it.

Listened in the car. For a country album it's totally fine. I didn't really like it but it sure beats the stadium country that we get these days. It's fine.

Boring

a nothing.

i cant do this type of country im sorry :(

Loved this album

Super stereotypical country, sappy and twangy and nothing I haven't heard 100 times before

wiwi wawa ass guitar album, not awful but also not like super impressed or anythin...

Just sucks

Some authentic twang to seep into your soul

Very much old country

yeehaw

No

My god this was dull.

Nothing sticks out, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless

Overall: 5/10 Very mediocre country music. There were some good moments but I mostly found it corny and lame. Fav Song: Someday

Not into country but enjoyed Someday

Not the worst country ever, but don’t plan on listening to this again

country, bye.

As a wise poet once said, “I’d rather scrape my bare pussy across the hot concrete than listen to country.” That is the epitome of my feelings toward country music. I do believe that there’s a country album I’ll enjoy, but it was NOT this one ❤️

This one may be the best in its genre: Awful. Terrible.

By industry standards, Steve Earle took a long time to get going — despite his extensive songwriting career, he released his debut album at age thirty-one. Perhaps it's for the better — he had more life experience to write these songs: he'd played bass in a local band, did some blue collar jobs, and married three times. The result is a record at the intersection of country and heartland rock, a classic example of both genres. The music is fairly simple, the lyrics describe the everyday life of an average American worker from the South, life on the road, the prospects (or rather, the lack thereof) of small towns, and personal relationships. Bruce Springsteen, to whom Steve has often been compared, did something similar on a larger scale; to me, he reminded of a less produced Bryan Adams. A pleasant album for a short drive.

Каноничное, даже карикатурное кантри, словно из учебника. Очень понравилось в самом конце, когда альбом закончился.

As far as twangy 80’s country rock music goes, I guess this could have been worse.

🎧Middle-of-the-road country album

This is the style of country music that gives country music a bad name.

Is this supposed to country? It is supposed to sound so stupid? Geez. There’s no reason I needed to hear this.

7 - GOOD

I had such high hopes for this one, but they were quickly dashed.

Quite generic country/roots, not my cup of tea at all. It's ok, not going to say anything else. But it's one of the albums that I will quickly forget, even if they're technically good and quite pleasant to listen to. "Goodbye's All We've Got Left" was my favourite piece, will possibly go back to it once in a while.

I went in a little concerned it would be bad country but it began leaning more toward Americana fused with John Mellancamp style rock.

It felt like a country version of John Cougar Mellencamp. I don't know why I needed this in my life.