Guitar Town

Steve Earle had a long career as a singer/songwriter who recording an extensive catalog. Guitar Town is is debut album, which was very well received as a a country album. This is a collection of country rock songs that that aren't particularly noteworthy or memorable.

First listen Saved 0/10

Not bad, appreciate some American county/rock now and then. Much better than some of the modern stuff.

First time listen but I had heard a snippet of the title track before as well as other Steve Earle songs. I liked this album enjoying pretty much all of the songs on it with the title track and someday being personal favourites. An enjoyable 35 minutes and will be occasionally listened to in the future.

This missing link between modern country and 60s country

What a delightfully twangy and old-fashioned sound, while still being perfectly crisply and sharply recorded. I hear shades of Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, Chet Atkins, and 80's/90's country artists like Randy Travis, Vince Gill, and Alan Jackson. Production quality is excellent, musicianship is top notch (that pedal steel guitar is wonderful!) and overall just a great album. Five stars.

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.

Pretty good. Sounds a bit like Tom petty on some tracks

When I was 13 someone told be I like like Steve Earle. Now over 25 years later I finally know what he sounds like. Not entirely terrible. I like some of the guitar sounds.

Steve Earle spins good stories in a country rock hybrid. Never would have listenEd to this on own but enjoyed it.

This was country before it sold out. It’s not my genre so I can’t really judge it very effectively, but it was well crafted

Interesting start to modern country. Unfortunately I do not care for most modern country.

Country has never been my jam, but this seems very current to modern country for 1986. So.

Forget it Steve Earle, it’s Guitar Town. I can’t believe Americans genuinely listen to this and this isn’t just pretend music you play pretend American with. It can count itself lucky it doesn’t get a 1.

Basic. Good guitar and vocals

I thought these songs were very basic, nothing grabbed my attention but country is not my thing--even though this falls on the rock side mostly.

I'm not a big fan of country music and this album did nothing to change that

So close to a 1* here.

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.

Why do so many reviewers compare this country cringe with Springsteen? I finally realised why I like some country and absolutely despise others. If you're going to put on this "good ol' boy" accent then you are going to set yourself up for all the cliches. Unlistenable garbage.

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.

I really wanted to like Steve Earle. I’ve known of a few artists I love that were in some way compared to him, but never actually listened to his stuff. Turns out this was just 40 minutes more country than I wanted to listen to on a Wednesday morning. Sadly, all I heard here was a contribution to the blueprint of the bro-country, d-bag noise pollution of today.

Sehr schönes Album. Überaus gelungene Countrymusik. Der Titeltrack ist fantastisch und geht nicht mehr aus dem Ohr.

Good

Actually really nice. Would definitely listen again.

Some decently enjoyable country. Doesn't do anything too interesting with it, but it's a fair way to spend 30 minutes. Gets you in that country mood.

Very very not for me. 1.5

I don't normally like country music, but if I had to listen to a country album, I wouldn't mind listening to this one. I liked his voice and the production of the album.

1.5

Nice suburb

Pretty cheesy, some of it awful, some not too bad. Overall I guess it just about scrapes an average 3 stars.

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.

Gosh this is lame. This might be the quintessential lame country music. For that I give it a second star. There was a song I thought was alright on the backside. Overall boring and bad.

If Tom Petty sucked at writing songs and Bruce Springsteen didn’t suck at performing them it would be this guy. I really don’t like this era of country music at all and this is no exception. Trucks, the ridiculous Texas accent, my pretty baby, the good old boys, granddaddy, highway, my git-tar, this shit sucks. One extra star for not being out of tune and proficient lap guitar playing. Everything else is bad.

It's fine. I wouldn't say this has cultural relevance since I've never heard of him. I'll never listen to it again.

- War leider nicht so meins. Bissl zu kitschig und etwas zu viel Country, zu viel generischer Rock - Mag seine Stimmung leider auch nicht ganz so gerne. - Das ganze Album ist irgendwie ein bisschen unspektakulär an mir vorbei gegangen. 2/5

2,75 / 3

A great bit of country pop that manages big themes while still keeping the vibes up. Nice.

Was meaning to listen to Earle’s discography! Good stuff! 3.5

Quite good 80s country rock actually 👍

Decent album.

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

Well recorded & executed but not really my thing at all.

Not a country fan but pleasantly surprised. At times it felt cliche but the songwriting stood out to me. Verses weren't complex by any means but they were tight and catchy enough. After reading into Steve Earle's bio it makes me curious to hear more of his folk and rock albums that he released after he broke out of the genre.

Country, 1986 -> 2

Ei tämä kasaricountry kyllä edelleenkään nappaa! 2/5

Just sitä mitä sopi odottaa. Nippa nappa kolmoseen nousee, vaikka eihän tällaista levyllistä usein jaksa.

Onhan se kantria! 3/5

not my music

Country is not for me, but this was fine. Solid production and good musicians.

I could not listen to this.

I’m not too versed in country, but this sounded like pretty standard fare. I don’t entirely understand its inclusion.

Country never disappoints, happy times, good songs here

Nice and soothing. Good for the soul.

This is the type of album I really want to be into, but I can't get all the way there. Some good songs, but the overall effect is less exciting than I want it to be. It's good, but still a bit disappointing for me.

Not sure if I’d classify this as a country album, it gives me more Bruce and Zach Bryan overdone Americana vibes. Nothing offensive that made me want to turn it off, I really enjoyed Good Ol Boy and Hillbilly Highway. It feels criminal listening to anything other than 70’s “country” on here though

Easy Listening. I can't hate it. It isnt like the best country music ever but it started alt- country. This is essentially liberal country which is so cool to me. I think some of the songs are corny and I've heard these same melodies many different times, but I like it. I don't think it is a 3. I think I would leave this as a 2 cause it has good songs even if they a little forgettable and Think it over has a surf rock riff which works really well

There’s no copperhead road but what there is is a pretty good country rock record

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.

This album isn't bad, but it doesn't stand out as exceptional either. It feels very mediocre and middle-of-the-road, falling short of being worthy of a "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" list. I'm not the biggest fan of country music, so perhaps I'm not the best person to fully appreciate it, but I can confidently say I won't be revisiting 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.

Another dull country album that just did absolutely nothing for me

80s country. 'nuff said.

A bit hit or miss for me. The misses are mostly just in a style I don’t enjoy, but the hits are solid examples of 80s country rock.

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.

3.2 - It was good, but I'm not sure there is much substance behind it.

Didn’t grab me at any point, but I can see how someone could really vibe this. 2.7/5

nothing interesting for me

Is it rock or is it country, it's country-rock. For Bruce Springsteen fans who lean more towards country than rock.

Easy to hear elements of his more rock future in this country album. Alternating suspended to straight cord riffs, etc. Some good songs. Poor man’s Dwight Yoakum who has a similar style but who’s had many more good songs.

An ok country album with meh vocals.

Decent country record that’s easy to listen to. Mostly relaxed tunes with some upbeat tempos as well. Not an every day listen, but I’ll revisit it.

Not for me.

Not really my thing, but sure

No stand-outs for me on this, although I've heard and enjoyed a little of his later album El Corazon. 3 out of 10.

Not too terrible for country. Would I listen again? Probably not.

Hell to the yes. Earle is a cornerstone.

solid country album, not overly distinctive, but good.

3.3 stars rounded down.

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.

Zieht die Cowboystiefel an und lasst es rocken. Schöne Platte mit gefälligem Country Rock.

Pretty earnest stuff going on here that I could see growing on me. Earle has always been on my radar but never really dug in my spurs to what he's all about. The "80's Springsteen" comparison is not without merit, although he's clearly got his own thing going on, and certainly more western. Can't help but to think about how these songs would sound more stripped back. "Little Rock and Roller" is a great song for instance, but the 80's production complete with digital keys, chimes, and swelling synth strings are a bit distracting. At the heart of this collection, however, is clearly a legend with a lot worth saying, however. I'm looking forward to the next time this ol' tumbleweed comes a-blowin' my particular direction.

Not a big country music fan. Some of this was barely ok but I wouldn't want to listen to it again.

"Guitar Town" by Steve Earle is a country music gem that marked his debut album in 1986. This record is a vibrant blend of traditional country sounds with a modern edge, reflecting Earle's songwriting prowess and musical depth. The title track, "Guitar Town," sets the tone with its lively tempo and Earle's gritty vocals, showcasing his storytelling skills. Tracks like "Goodbye's All We've Got Left" and "Someday" exhibit Earle's ability to convey emotion and narrative through his lyrics. What makes "Guitar Town" stand out is its authenticity. Earle's genuine love for country music shines through, and the album feels like a heartfelt tribute to the genre. Overall, "Guitar Town" is a timeless classic that remains a cornerstone of Steve Earle's career and essential listening for country music fans.

Awful, twee, country bollocks.

Best wel chille country

Fuck fuck fuck. I found myself tapping my foot to some of this. Dare I say it but this is the first country record of this style where I didnt really hate every song. Dont get me wrong, it’s shit and corny and his vocals are so fake and strained it’s ridiculous, but I didnt hate every song like usual. A strong 1

Really easy to tick off country bingo with this one. Shocked that it came out mid 80s and is considered an essential album, thought it sounded pretty dated for the 60s that I originally thought it came from. The whole shtick was laid on a bit too thick throughout but none more so than little rock and roller which would make a great parody song. Laughed a lot. Surely this guy is nobodys favourite, even people who like country can't be into this.

Steve Earle lays it on a bit thick. From his appearance, you expect something with a bit more substance (his own life is quite interesting) but this is a bit too generic. Nice voice, but dreary songs. I liked Little Rock 'n' Roller.

Shite Country music

Please Steve, I've had enough...

Old country, lots of twang, quick songs. Not something I’m much a fan of but I get the appeal. 2.4

Cleary not my preferred style, but I kind of enjoyed it.

Boring country pop-rock

The 80s synthy production of this bro-alt-neo-trad-honky-tonk thing makes it feel kind of cringy and outdated. A few not-so-bad songs tho, I guess.

Sure is Country like.

Steve Earle does country that's a bit more energetic and accessible to rock and pop fans. It's still very cheesy and feel-good background music with the standard 80s pop production, but you can see how it can pull in fans of Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles. It doesn't innovate much or create outstanding hits, but it does offer a form of easy-listening alt country that a lot of people could sorta like. Favorites: Guitar Town, Good Ol Boy

I'm not typically enamored with country but this was an enjoyable country guitar focused album.

It was ok

Rating: 5/10 The album was extremely derivative overall. Did not care for it besides Someday and a part of Fearless Heart.

This never had a chance for me. I don't think it deserves a 1, so here's a 2. Will I listen to again: 0%

Max music

Despite the fact that I don't really enjoy country music (largely because of the horrors of modern pop country), I'm always happy to get a country album on here because they are usually pretty good. I didn't particularly vibe with this one, but still it's a good piece of country music history 3/5

Sounds really quite dated. Guitar town sounded nice but I don't think I'll be moving there.

If you have to put Steve Earle on here, why isn't it Copperhead Road?

I liked this. Just classic country. Also, I knew I recognized the guy from somewhere, he was in the Wire and in Treme. Pretty cool, didn't know that he did country music.

“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

Not for me. Not a fan of his voice and country is not my favourite style.

Yee-hah? Yee-nah.

This could have been one of my favourite albums of all time! Except for all the cliche Country sounds, lyrics, and attitude. Did he really write a song called 'Hillbilly Highway' and expect me to be able to appreciate it for its fine Nashville nuances? I'm sure to a stetson wearing aficionado, they could tell the difference between a Steve Earle song and a Waylon Jennings. I personally can't. It is truly so by numbers rubbish, that I hope I never hear another song by Mr Earle. That being said, I did like the tone of some of his guitar playing, just not the style. Then the slide guitar kicked in....... 0.

Yet another country album that is alright as a background listen but misses the certain special element that makes it stick out of the many releases in country music.

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

I got about half way through before it bored me enough to start yawning, I had to check a few times to see whether the track had actually changed or if it was the same snooze fest. It obviously speaks to some people because the man has had a long career, but sweet baby Jesus write something different Steve.

It's not the worse C&W I've heard, but it's still C&W

I wasn’t really impressed wtih anything… state trooper was good.

What’s not to like here? This is just about everything I could want out of this genre in this decade. 4/5

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.

Cringe country

Rating: 6/10

Really enjoyed the album. Goodbyes All We’ve Got Left, My Old Friend the Blues, Fearless Heart all great. Solid country album, 4/5!

I know every song on this album. Except for Mountain with the McCoury Brothers, this is my favorite.

Pretty solid guitar album with the real Americana field. Not really my expectation for some reason. I liked it though.

Even when country meets rock, in the end you're still left with saddle pain.....

Country. Normal.

One of its best

Twangy and a little corny. A farmers delight.

Guitar Town gets nothing more than a "meh" from me. Nice use of steel guitar, but other than that I was mostly bored by this unimaginative album.

Lol oh God no. Wtaf

I am thankful this is on the list. I definitively now know what I do not like.

pretty middling but occasionally sweet lil country record. i feel bad that i haven't given good reviews to country albums so far with this project, because i am a country defender! its just that a lot of the popular stuff is quite bland- same as any other genre. this record felt like springsteen, if you took away the interesting production/instrumentation and a lot of the songwriting talent. there were a few tracks where some really interesting storytelling shone through, but i don't really like this guy's voice overall, both literally and more generally as an artist. 6/10, fav tracks: down the road, someday, little rock 'n' roller

More like Cum Town 5/10

this is so not my shit but as an immigrant i sure can relate to a song about leaving your small town someday

Much more open to different kinds of county these days but this isnt hitting

Roots rock meets country singer songwriter, chill 80’s that could of been decades older

Classical country.

Better than most country But still country. 2

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

I have visited Guitar Town. Briefly. I will not be returning.

Short, sweet, and to the point with a nice punch. Encompasses everything I enjoy about alt country, the Heartbreakers, and Springsteen.

Would be a three and a half. Solid album. Glad I listened.

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

mundane hillbilly crap. this was as annoying to listen to as country and western. I want the 39mins I spent listening to this horsecock back.

Can hear the foundations for modern country. If his voice was a bit stronger, it would be pretty good!

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.

Clearly I'm far too European to get this shit

I didn’t think I was going to like it at first but I ended up enjoying it pretty much

Gave up after 3 songs. Clichéd and plodding.

Songs about heartbreak - what did you expect? Guitar Steve certainly carries the Johnny Cash tradition. He knows how to kick some shit out of country. A very decent debut.

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

I really tried to enjoy this. However, there was far too much slide guitar and country twang for my liking. No thanks.

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

Sympa, très honnête, un peu ennuyeux pour moi

Monstrously important album from an historical perspective. Alt Country/Americana wouldn't exist - at least in the way we know it - without this effort. The missing string on the cover photo is a perfect reflection of what's inside. Sounds like he's not sure what he's doing or why, but he has to do it so here goes! His later stuff has aged better. But his commitment to making this music at this moment has given us so much that it's hard not to love it anyway.

this album is begging to be played outside on a warm summer day. i couldn’t do that today but hopefully i will soon

Meh

Not good. Hokey country music.

Solid country album. The songs really seemed to come from a genuine place, not some guy who had grown up in LA and decided to write about the 7 hours he once spent in “the country”.

Cowboy stuff

It's a decent enough album but nothing on here really grabbed me and after a while it felt a little one-paced. I was expecting a bit better than this

Not quite my cup of tea personally but a really good example of what good country music can be that doesn’t follow the typical modern day formula of the likes of Kieth Urban etc

I tried, I swear.

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"

Runs a bit too pop-country for my tastes with the high production levels and twang and whine. That being said, there are some solid musical choices here that hit southern rock elements I enjoy and some decent lyrics. Not for me, but I get it.

Country is normally not my vibe, and this album was no exception.

Country Musik, schön anzuhören, in Deutschland eher unbekannter Musiker, eingängiger Sound.

Not really a fan of overproduced country rock which sounds quite mainstream. It just isn't my thing.

Hated this

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.

Good, but nothing remarkable.

it's heartland rock 🤷‍♂️ guitar town goodbye is all we've got left someday down the road

It's not Steve Earle's fault that you can hear Nickelback and modern country coming. But you can. Never liked his songs as much as I feel like I'm supposed to. There's a tacky Bruce Springsteen thing going on trying to emphasize vocals with phrases that don't have much hook. Having never looked at release dates before it's striking to me that Steve Earle's appearance in Heartworn Highways is so long before his first album. I like the Heartworn Highways stuff more than any releases I know. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

I like Steve, I like him more and more as he gets older and rougher around the edges. But this one is good too. My wife heard this one and said “This is Gido music”.

Liked it

Guitar Town is one of those songs that is played at every wedding reception ever! What a fantastic tune! Steve Earle is a country rock artist from the 80's. He really gained traction with Guitar Town, then really took off with Copperhead Road. Steve is a staple of the genre, and I am happy to see him represented on this list! Favourite songs: Guitar Town, Someday, Hillbilly Highway, Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough), Think It Over, Fearless Heart, Down the Road Least favourite songs: My Old Friend the Blues 5/5

Niet bijzonder maar ook niet kut

Ja, he. Country. Not great, not terrible

Steve Earle is perhaps best known for Copperhead Road, which is not on this album. Guitar Town's rock elements are distinctly '80s, while the country is influenced by honky tonk. The end result is kind of a corny record with maybe too much polish for it's own good. However, it is earnest and harmless enough that I wouldn't immediately write it off.

Country just is not for me. This was heading for a 3 at first but as it went on it dipped to a 2. Dull

Woof, country, getting through this might suck. It starts super generic, and continues to sound super vanilla in the production. It's also very telling when the first song Spotify plays after an album is already miles better than the last 40min-1hr of listening (Mama tried, Merle Haggard -- and I really don't like country).

Im sure it is good if you're a country fan, but I rarely see the appeal.

This was a really fun country album. Leaned into that rock space which I liked. And only 30 minutes. Kept a few and glad this was on here!

Never heard of this chap, it's a country-rock sort of album. Some pretty good heartland songwriting, the kind of evocative stuff that is typical of country music, and the music isn't bad. I can't say much of it grabbed me though, I've definitely heard more interesting country music on this list and elsewhere. I'll keep a couple tracks, but this was pretty middle of the road to me. Favorite tracks: Guitar Town, Someday. Album art: About as middle-of-the-road as the music itself. Guy with guitar, standing in a town, with some guitars. Font is cheesy as hell too. 2.5/5

Didn't know this album or any of the tracks. Pleasant surprise. Great songs.

This starts out being obnoxiously country. There's the briefest of pauses where the music becomes tolerable but it then rapidly descends into interminable slide guitars and cowboy boots. Euch.

Steve Earl reckons he’s the Country Bryan Adams, forgetting that Bryan Adams is the Country Bryan Adams.

You know, I really don't like big Fifties musical numbers, of which there are none on this album.

Ouch, really trying to turn me on to country at the moment aren’t you 1001? It’s not working with this one.

not bad but a bit boring

Decent. Bit like Springsteen but more country

Felt like a mellencamp/Springsteen ripoff with country added in. Songs were good and I liked the lyrical content more than typical for country, but I couldn't get past the 80s sounds

Outstanding & one of his best.

Too twangy for me but food guitar

count even finish it, not a country music guy rn

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.

What is a listen to Steve Earle without Copperhead Road? That shows my bias. This album sounds like someone turned the country up on a John Mellancamp style of rock. At least the first six songs - the last four sound more like country-first (a little softer or a little twangier). Whatever the case, I don't mind it. I still pine for Earle turning up the hard rock on his style of country rock but I can get behind this style of country music...from time to time.

I recently reviewed N.W.A. If I were to describe the exact opposite of N.W.A., this would be it. Probably didn't need to hear this before I die, but it was ok as far as country goes, I guess. Favorite tracks (I guess): My Old Friend the Blues, Someday, Little Rock 'n' Roller (what can I say, I'm a sappy dad).

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

Not my jam

Singer songwriter AND country? Oh boy, my two favourite genres—THBBBT! :P

Listened Before? N Pretty good! It's kind of a dichotomy between a country album and an outlaw rock album (ie Springsteen or Mellencamp). Everyone knows Guitar Town (the song) but after that I kind of found it just background music. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist; Guitar Town

Not a country fan, but I found this album to be very easy going, very folky, and very pleasant. There's nothing earth shattering happening on here, but soulful lyrics and good compositions make for a good listen.

It wasn't so bad, for a country album.

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

If you played this album for me and told me it was a parody of country music, I probably would believe you. Its so cornball its like its making fun of itself. The only redemption is that Steve sounds a little bit like Springsteen, but its not enough to get the album to 2 stars. 1/5

Too much twang for my taste.

What kind of music do you usually have here? Oh, we got both kinds. Country and Western

Seriously sounds like the most generic country possible. Is it the first of the generic country so it makes the list? Very much doubt it

Not bad, I liked it but didn’t really love it. Might grow on me though if I listened to it more

Not really my style, and I fail to see how it stands out from any of the other folksy/country type artists. It wasn't unpleasant, but nothing special. Fav tracks: Fearless Heart, Guitar Town

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.

I like the title track, which opens the album in a high energy, exciting fashion. But as the album continues, I find little that is new or interesting. I’m not crazy about country music, and this album in particular has a bit too much hokeyness for my taste. But it has its moments.

Not really my thang

I made it to "My Old Friend the Blues" before I had to stop. This is bad country dad rock, and I don't get why it's notable for that time at all. The first thing I noticed is that the production value is good but I hate the way it's mixed. This might be more related to a stylistic thing from that timeframe because some of Dwight Yoakam's stuff sounds similar but in any case, I don't like it at all. Secondarily, I really struggled to appreciate Steve Earle's vocal. At times, perhaps intentionally, he was flat and his vibratos were misplaced and lamby, particularly on the ballads. I like country but not this.

shit. not my cup of tea at all

To be fair? It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It had a calming quality in traffic and was able to appreciate bands like City and Colour and artists like Dustin Kensrue a lil more deeper.

Not my type of Music but I didn’t hate the experience. 3/5

Gewoon country album. Niet al te speciaal

He debuted as the best roots songwriter, and then just kept getting better.

Eighties country is such a bore. Can anyone ever *seriously* suggest a track like "Hillbilly Highway" is in earnest and not a parody? Can someone really tell the difference? WHO, goddamnit???! It's so... predictable. And hackneyed. And bland. I'll give one extra point to my initial 1/5 grade, though (translating to a 6/10 grade for more "general" purposes than the one of this list of "essential album"). And this for four reasons: 1) Nice instrumentation sometimes make up for the eighties cheesefest that the production of this album is: that tremolo guitar on the first two tracks, some banjo on another... You get the honky tonk picture now, I guess. 2) Steve Earle looks like a nice dude, and he didn't have an easy life... 3) He was part of the cast of one of the best TV series of all time (and you can hear his voice on a couple of cuts from its soundtrack). That TV series is *The Wire*. He played the part of a recovering drug addict "sponsoring" another one who was knee deep into the throes of addiction. It's a part where he was convincing to say the least. 4) Apart from a couple of artists such as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, I'm not a country music aficionado anyway, so I can readily admit that I'm not the best judge in this overall genre anyway. And Earle looks like an "authentic" player of this genre. That makes him convincing somehow, even if I'm not convinced by his music (at least on this record). But that's only one extra point, alright? You can't change a leopard its spots. So next, please. Number of albums left to review: 330 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 300 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 163 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (including this one, many other records are more important to me): 216

Country nope

not super into country. was bearable.

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..

2.75

Lyrics: Steve Earle's lyrical prowess shines through in "Guitar Town." The album's storytelling is a testament to his ability to capture the essence of American life, particularly that of the working class. The lyrics are vivid and evocative, painting pictures of small-town struggles, dreams, and the pursuit of a better life. Earle's narratives are often deeply personal, reflecting his own experiences and observations. His songwriting is rich in detail, offering listeners a glimpse into the lives of the characters he creates. The album's title track, "Guitar Town," encapsulates Earle's skill in crafting narrative-driven songs. It tells the story of a musician navigating the challenges of the music industry and the pursuit of fame. The lyrics convey a sense of restlessness and a desire to break free from the constraints of a mundane existence. Music: Musically, "Guitar Town" is a dynamic fusion of country, rock, and folk influences. Earle's sound is rooted in traditional country music, but he injects it with a rock 'n' roll energy that sets him apart from many of his contemporaries. The album features twangy guitar riffs, catchy melodies, and Earle's distinctive vocals, which carry a raw, authentic quality. Tracks like "Goodbye's All We've Got Left" and "Hillbilly Highway" showcase Earle's ability to craft memorable hooks and deliver them with a genuine, unpolished charm. The instrumentation is tight, featuring a mix of acoustic and electric elements that complement Earle's storytelling. Production: Produced by Emory Gordy Jr., "Guitar Town" benefits from a production style that strikes a balance between polished studio work and the earthiness that characterizes Earle's music. The album has a timeless quality, avoiding excessive production flourishes that could have dated it. The clarity of the recordings allows Earle's lyrics to take center stage while maintaining the energy of a live performance. The decision to keep the production relatively straightforward enhances the album's authenticity, aligning with Earle's commitment to storytelling and substance over style. The arrangements serve the songs well, letting the narrative and emotional resonance shine through. Themes: The overarching theme of "Guitar Town" revolves around the pursuit of dreams and the challenges faced by those striving for a better life. Earle's lyrics often explore the tension between the desire for success and the harsh realities of life. Songs like "My Old Friend the Blues" and "Someday" delve into the complexities of relationships and the emotional toll of a transient

3,5. ungur steve earle skítlúkkaði. þekki af eigin raun að hárið kemur og fer. full mikið honký tonk fyrir mig en þarna er samt texas köntrí inn á milli. á skilið aðra yfirferð.

Niet te doen

Country. Normal.

I didn't like this. It sounded like lowest common denominator music for simpletons. But further into the album it started to remind me of people I did enjoy, there were brief flashes of Elvis, a Jonny Cash baseline or a Ryan Adams b-side. Country music can be complex, interesting and innovative and this was none of those things.

Country Singer/songwriter, mangler sgu lidt charme

Typically American. Hooters music

Country music 🤮

Springsteen did it better, earlier. 2/5

Direkt nach dem Hören kann ich mich an keine einzige Melodie erinnern, außer, dass es irgendwie nach Country klang. Tja, war wohl wieder nix für mich. Musik muss mir direkt ins Blut fahren und mich begeistern. Ich schwöre, es gibt Lieder, die genau das bei mir bewirken. Auch wenn ich nach bislang zehn Alben, die ich mit einer Ausnahme ziemlich fad fand, fast schon selbst schon an meinem Geschmack zweifle.

Not really a fan of this. There's occasionally some interesting guitar work, but overall it was just very bland 80's country rock.

Better than expected. I am often taken aback by interesting country music. I don't love it still, but I like it. 3.25/5

Cliche mid-tier country.

Love Steve Earle! I like to blast Copperhead road! Great voice!

Loved the 80s-ness of this album but that’s about it

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..).

There are about 50 better Country albums I’ve been hoping would pop up. But I’ll take it. Needed a a change in genre.

The only song I’ve heard from him is Copperhead Road. I enjoyed hearing some country.

Decently pleasant to listen to but nothing to write home about

Sentimental record for from gowing up

What a crock of shite.

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.

Gosh, I am not a good country listener…

A little too country for my liking

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.

I knew only one song of his coming in, that being “Copperhead Road.” This album was more of a generic country sound than I was expecting. Kind of mediocre considering it’s on this list. Nothing really bad here though. Compared to country music today, it’s amazing.

For a country record, decent. Had a ton of cliches, but some personal moments also.

I really wanted to love this album because my mom said it’s one of her faves, but the country tones are just too much for me. A few songs are awesome, but then turns to country too much. Listen again: probably, with some song skips Purchase for my collection: I own on vinyl ;) Favourite Song: Hillbilly Highway

3.5/5

Too country for me

Ended up liking more than half the songs, which I didn't expect at first!

Hmmnnnmmng Country baby Album de country assez simple mais efficace je dirais Pas hyper intéressant en terme sonore, à part quelques bonnes guitares mais wow cette baterie n'est vraiment pas incroyable et le synthé sur little rock and roller est immonde (objectif) 2,5/5 Ni bien ni nul, juste coauntrie cawboye

Very country. It's fine.

I don't mind country music but I was just bored.

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.

Ach, toto veru nie je moj sialok

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.

Not bad, but not good. I think it just isn’t my style of music.

Not a massive fan of country music, so this album really wasn’t for me. 2/5

Meh. If I'm ever in this kind of mood I just listen to Waylon.

Entspannter Country Rock.

Country Springsteen? No thanks. I muscled through. But hillbilly Mellencamp is not for me.

This was so cliched, boring, tropish, awful.

Country clássico que agradou.

Decent country album. Steve has a good voice

I hate this style of American country music. Dogshit.

Totally shite. One of the worst albums in this book. Music for wankers

I like his sensibilities when the music is more upbeat. This good album loses steam.

first listen a few decent tracks but the rest is pretty forgettable

inoffensive, fine enough while its on. maybe im biased from growing up in the rural south but i find this album pretty fun.

This was an alright album was pleasantly surprised may have to try another album by them.

This was definitely not my thing, but decent over all. 2/5

Much better than modern day long dirt road, old pick up truck, short jean shorts, and beer country music. Highlights: Guitar Town Someday Down The Road

Good album, I enjoyed Someday and Think It Over the most.

Really struggled to get through this one.

I grew up with parents who basically listened only to 80s country. I had little exposure to anything else until I was about 13, so this is right up my alley. I wish my mom had played more Steve Earle and less Dolly Parton/Reba McIntire.

Yet another prolific songwriter for this week's listening. Have we had a better full week of albums so far? I'm having trouble keeping up this week because i just wanna keep re-listening! Anyways... This is one of the great Texas Country Albums, which automatically makes it top tier among country albums, because as we all know, Texas Country > nashville/pop country. There really isn't a bad song on this record. It bristles with small-town angst and i love it for it. makes me wanna out the petal down and point it west, with nothing but the wind in my hair and dozens of great hooks to guide my way, so to speak.

I really could not get into this. I even tried listening to his top song, Copperhead Road, and still nothing. Kinda bland to me like white toast with no toppings. Maybe like rice pudding without any cinnamon or sugar. Perhaps even a bit like tofu as a stand-alone dish. None of these are inherently vomit-inducing, but I’d rather not.

More twang than a tornado in a banjo shop. 🌪️🌪️

Music I don't identify with, but solid country blues it felt like to me. Not too pop-country for me, that's one of my main problems with country. This felt legit.

Good strong Americana - on the same feel as Bruce Springsteen (the edition I heard had an excellent live cover of State Trooper) but a lot more country. Somehow I always had a soft spot for Steve Earle - especially after appearance in The Wire - but it’s not like I’m ever going to seek this specific record again just for kicks.

Pretty solid country album surprisingly.

This is the first time I've rated one of these albums midway through the first track but fuck me, that's dire. What did we do to the author of 1001 albums to make him hurt us like this?

First half was much better than the second, decent across the board.