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Washington Square Serenade (DIG)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

After an extremely rare three year break from recording, Grammy® Award winner Steve Earle is back, with Washington Square Serenade. The album represents a number of firsts for Steve: his first record for New West Records, his first album produced in New York City (now his home), and his first produced by John King of The Dust Brothers (Beck, Beastie Boys) at the legendary Electric Lady Studios. The deluxe CD/DVD version will be available with bonus packaging art plus an exclusive documentary DVD about the inspiration behind the album. The bonus DVD includes 3 acoustic performances, interviews and a walking tour of Greenwich Village with Steve and noted journalist Mark Jacobson. The album will also be available as a Limited Edition 180 gram vinyl record.

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The title and opening songs of Washington Square Serenade are as much a celebration of New York City--Steve Earle's newly adopted home--as his breakthrough Guitar Town was an evocation of his previous home in Nashville. In fact, the opening "Tennessee Blues," with its acoustic guitar over a digital rhythm loop, bids "goodbye to Guitar Town," as he leaves with "a redhead by my side." That would be wife Allison Moorer, who harmonizes beautifully with her husband on "Days Aren't Long Enough," written by the two; provides background vocals elsewhere; and plainly inspires "Sparkle and Shine" and the bittersweet "Come Home to Me," two of the album's loveliest songs. The result is a new chapter in Earle's career, an album unlike any he's previously recorded, produced by John King of the Dust Brothers (Beck, Beastie Boys). While the raw, raging blues of "Red Is the Color" ranks with Earle's most powerful music, "Satellite Radio" could well be the slightest (as well as perhaps a plug for Earle's own radio show), but the artist's willingness to take chances attests to a restless creativity that refuses to be corralled. Other noteworthy tracks include the Brazilian-tinged "City of Immigrants," the tribute to Pete Seeger on "Steve's Hammer," and the closing rendition of Tom Waits's "Down in the Hole," which will serve as the theme music for Season 5 of The Wire. --Don McLeese

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Customer Reviews

Up there with his best

This is a great album. His last couple of efforts were a bit below his ussual high standard. This one brings him back to his best. Type of music you put on when you sit on the deck having a few quiet ones. Highly recommended listening.

Steve Earle

Steve Earle will always be one of my favorite artists, but he isn't quite up to par on this CD. To say that he is a brilliant artist, poet, songwriter, and author is an understatement.

Good enough

Steve Earle is a paradox. I love his voice and he can really craft a song. Some of his lyrics are very good. For the most part, that's enough to forgive the tired, time machine politics in some of his songs. City of Immigrants is one of those songs, but the scale still tips in Mr. Earle's favor with this CD. One future CD with just good music, and no pontificating, would be nice.

ho-hum, more growling and grumbling from steve

how old is steve now? he acts like just another teen growling and grumbling about love and other non-sense with some random guitar music thrown in. another artist that has outgrown any relevance (if he ever had any).

Washingto Square Serenade: A Wonderment

And certainly Steve Earl's masterpiece. I have listened to his records for years but only on "The Revolution Starts Now" do we get a taste of the genius that made this album.

After 30 years of not great records and just OK records, suddenly Steve Earl creates a bull-goose, full tilt masterpiece. My guess is that he will never top this. Perhaps it was simply the right time, place, inspiration and musicians. The juices were flowing.

This record is a must-have for any serious pop music listener. Forget about country music or "Alt Country" it's simply a great record -like Paul Simon's first solo record. It defies category.