Justin Towns Earle - Midnight At The Movies

Last year Justin Townes Earle delivered one of the biggest surprises of the year with his debut album "The Good Life."  Will this album fall prey to the dreaded sophomore slump or will JTE rise above his stellar first release?

There's an authentic honesty that pervades every note of Justin Townes Earle's "Midnight At The Movies" album.  The second release from the son of troubadour Steve Earle, "Midnight At The Movies" showcases a growing artist who recalls, at times, Wilco while at other times he recalls his namesake Townes Van Zant.  The album opens with the title track (watch the video), a song that is heavy on the alt-folk sound and light on the traditional country moods whilst "What I Mean To You" marries a traditional country vocal a la Marty Robbins with a jazzy New Orleans arrangement. 

Fantastic finger-picking and instrumentals lead into JTE's equally stunning vocal that delivers a bluesy story song on "They Killed John Henry" while "Mama's Eyes" showcases the differences between his mother and father.  "Black Eyed Suzie" features as much Dobro and banjo as you might hear in a mainstream release only the difference between Justin Townes Earle and them is that both instruments never feel like they're placed in the songs just to remind people you're listening to a country song.  And that's what makes "Midnight At The Movies" such a delightful album.  Arguably one of country music's best releases of 2009, the album doesn't sound like something you'd hear on mainstream radio, which is the saddest state of things because "Midnight At The Movies" and albums of its ilk deserve as much attention from radio as the latest offering from music row.

You can win one of two copies of this record.  Click here to enter.

You can support Justin Townes Earle by purchasing this album at iTunes icon| Amazon.

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