He already made farewell albums for
Guy Clark and
Townes Van Zandt, but recording J.T. will have been even more difficult and emotional for Steve Earle. This American outlaw-country artist lost his only son
Justin Townes Earle in 2020. He inherited his father's talent, but also his addiction, and died accidentally from a Fentanyl overdose of cocaine. He left behind eight albums from which his father
… gives an anthology on J.T.. It's striking that Justin Townes stayed much closer to a country sound than his father. It's been a long time since Steve Earle sounded so coherently traditional in stomping country rock songs like They Killed John Henry or Harlem River Blues. He doesn't let emotion rule the repertoire, but rather pushes it extra hard. In this way Steve Earle exposes, without sentiment, the writing talent of his missing son. All proceeds go to Justin Townes' widow and child. (MR)more
