Steve Earle & The Dukes- J.T.
Label: New West
Producer: Steve Earle
Among the many tragic losses the music world experienced throughout 2020 was the death of second-generation singer-songwriter, Justin Townes Earle, who succumbed to an overdose August 20th at the age of 38. In the thirteen years leading up to his untimely passing, JTE had crafted an impressively prolific catalog of acclaimed albums and songs, emerging as one of the leading voices and creative forces in the Americana world. With his twentieth studio release, Earle’s father, Steve Earle has gathered his long-standing bluegrass band The Dukes as well as ten of his son’s compositions for a rich tribute album that is unsurprisingly plentiful in stellar musicianship and engaging performances that bestow further focus on a talent taken far too soon.
Earle does a dutiful job collecting some of the very best and varied moments across his son’s nine studio releases, covering nearly every release from 2007’s debut EP, Yuma up through 2019’s excellent The Saint of Lost Causes. Personally, I would have liked to seen a few more inclusions from my favorite JTE record, Midnight at the Movies, as well as the unfairly overlooked Single Mothers-Absent Fathers era. But again, Townes Earle amassed a deep catalog in just over a decade, and not everything could be included, leaving plenty of source material for a J.T. sequel. Presumably, these are the works of Justin’s that his father enjoyed most.
The record fittingly begins with the Yuma entry, “I Don’t Care”, a bouncy bluegrass jam sung from the perspective of a roaming, homeless drifter, before naturally segueing into 2008’s “Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving”. They both prove to be perfect fits for these grassy arrangements, thanks to the homespun charm and old-timey musical spirit of the originals.
The sonic trappings veer into more rock-leaning territory with 2012’s “Maria”, a tremendous highlight that glowingly showcases the elder Earle’s signature ramshackle country-rock sound as well as some first rate guitar jangle from the Dukes. Hiding beneath the surface of this tune however is one of Justin’s most somber lyrics: “I guess mama wasn’t lying about the dangers lying inside one’s heart/We’re better off if we just remain strangers, stumblin’ around int he dark.” Moments like this, as well as moving interpretations of classic cuts like “Far Away In Another Town” (the track that first got me hooked on JTE), and “Turn Out My Lights” take on new, powerful meanings, both in light of the artist’s death and when hearing them performed by his mourning father.
There’s still plenty of light to be found however as the album progresses. The group’s revisiting of 2009’s “They Killed John Henry” remains a standout illustration of Townes Earle’s ability to craft classically tinged folksongs in a modern era, while 2017’s “Champagne Corolla” remains one of his most entertaining moments; a rock & roll frolic that never lets its foot off the gas pedal in terms of kick ass musicianship.
The album’s final act features signatures from both his breakthrough period with 2010’s “Harlem River Blues”, and what would sadly prove to be his swan song with 2019’s “The Saint of Lost Causes”. Earle and his troop douse the latter tune in plodding, muddy-blues magic that seamlessly matches the dark, cavernous underbelly of the original. With “Harlem River Blues”, inarguably JTE’s career song, they meanwhile joyously resurrect the tune’s ironically celebratory tones, with the harmonies of the Dukes working overtime on the song’s hair raising gospel conclusion.
The finale of the record is not a cover, but rather an original that Earle wrote for his son in the aftermath of his passing. Accompanied by just his guitar, it’s easily the most heartbreakingly poignant and personal moment of his long career, as he reflects on his son’s entry into the world, and his sad departure from it as well. No parent should have to bear witness to the entirety of their child’s life, and Earle strikes that painful chord with raw grit and grace.
Although its origins are obviously rooted in tragedy, J.T. is a thoroughly moving and entertaining record throughout, and that’s due to the fact it’s not merely a sad elegy, but rather a vibrant and full-bodied celebration of a man’s music, legacy and life as a whole. You can hear the depth of emotions, passion and pride in each of Steve Earle’s performances here, and he and his band color each cut with their trademark musical integrity and dexterity. This is a stirring tribute, emblematic of Justin Townes Earle’s own musical greatness, and will likewise stand among the most captivating and important releases of his father’s expansive career.
Track Listing
- “I Don’t Care” (Justin Townes Earle)
- “Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving” (Earle)
- “Maria” (Earle)
- “Far Away In Another Town” (Earle)
- “They Killed John Henry” (Earle)
- “Turn Out My Lights” (Earle)
- “Lone Pine Hill” (Earle)
- “Champagne Corolla” (Earle)
- “The Saint of Lost Causes” (Earle)
- “Harlem River Blues” (Earle)
- “Last Words” (Steve Earle)
The 706 
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