Review by LarryG
3½ stars out of 4
Earle certainly never fit within a classic definition of country music
even when he was lumped with other so-called country rebels like Dwight
Yoakam in the mid-80's. The best description might be post-Born in the
U.S.A. Springsteen with an accent but Earle's willingness to try different
things makes him hard to categorize. Earle makes smart, principled music.
He knows how to rock and continues to improve. El Corazon shows Earle's
skill at working in all kinds of idioms. The record starts with Christmas
in Washington, a unadorned folk song where Earle, disgusted by the
hypocrisy of both parties, calls out for help from Woody Guthrie and other
real activists of the past. Earle doesn't deny his past or his love of
classic country music. He does bluegrass with the Del McCoury band, with
whom he made 1999's sincere, well made The Mountain cd, on I Still Carry
You Around, a touching rememberance of a lost love. You Know The Rest
has the fervor and simplicity of an old spiritual and The Other Side of
Town is a fascinating evocation of lo-fi Hank Williams style recording.
For a guy who's been in prison and seen the world, Earle is still convincing
as the country boy dreaming of the big city on Telephone Road
and the let it loose rocker, N.Y.C. Poison Lovers is a tuneful, wistful
duet of a couple who want to, but can't, make things work. Perhaps the
highlight is the beautiful, yearning mid tempo rocker Somewhere Out There
but the El Corazon is great throughout.
Here's what others reviewers have to say:
"...Earle's strongest statement to date about what makes his
heart beat and blood boil....he straddles a bunch of styles with the
nimble ease of a homespun visionary who correctly sees that ultimately
it's all one..." 4 Stars (out of 5) Rolling Stone
12/11/97, p.78
"Eleven years after his prescient debut, this prickly alt-country
survivor's insights into institutional callousness...romantic longing...and
personal iconoclasm...resonate with hard-won wisdom..." Rating:
A Entertainment Weekly 10/17/97, p.77
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