Copperhead Road - Steve Earle

Advantages: Giving country a well deserved facelift
Disadvantages: -

...in London during the Second World War. Backing is provided by the Pogues and the track beautifully blends Earles country sensibilities with the celtic folk instrumentation, accordian, whistle and banjo adding extra depth to the music. This track inadvertantly shows that folk and country music are really two havles of the same coin. The later part of the album countinues in a mellower and more reflective vein, showing the more philosophical and emotive side to earles work. Copperhead Road shows Steve Earle immerging as an eloquent rocker with a degree of political comment and a collection of wide ranging visions and the ability to open up his own heart and wear it on his sleeve. Underneath the more rauchous guitars and road warrior image the young country singer can still be seen in the background, and the two halves of the man combine to make... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great Country Music
Disadvantages: Not Great If You Don't Like Country

...I love proper country music; the crofts of my home in the Highlands of Scotland are only a stones throw away from the dirt farms of the mid-west and southern US. There has always been a big country following in Scotland one could argue that the music has similar chord structures to that of proper Scots folk music or that the themes of desperation, social isolation, religion, suicide and loyal dogs that get killed in horrific accidents strike a chord in the Scottish psyche, but I am not going to go down that path here……….. This is the Steve Earle who did that song called Copperhead Road and upset a few folks by releasing a song written from the point of view of a Taliban fighter. What a bad boy but I think that if you cannot see the other sides point of view then you will never reach them, unless you blow them into tiny little bits... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Giving country a well deserved facelift
Disadvantages: -

...in London during the Second World War. Backing is provided by the Pogues and the track beautifully blends Earles country sensibilities with the celtic folk instrumentation, accordian, whistle and banjo adding extra depth to the music. This track inadvertantly shows that folk and country music are really two havles of the same coin. The later part of the album countinues in a mellower and more reflective vein, showing the more philosophical and emotive side to earles work. Copperhead Road shows Steve Earle immerging as an eloquent rocker with a degree of political comment and a collection of wide ranging visions and the ability to open up his own heart and wear it on his sleeve. Underneath the more rauchous guitars and road warrior image the young country singer can still be seen in the background, and the two halves of the man combine to make... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: /
Disadvantages: /

...Many musicians turn into hard living party animals once they have got used to the fame and adulation that success has brought them. Steve Earle, however, lived his life with the controls set on maximum even in the days when he was a total unknown. His fame came despite his wild ways and unwillingness to compromise and to the other way around. In some ways he has lost out because of his need to stick to his guns, the level of fame he sought came to him later than most and he missed some of the opportunities that have been offered to the likes of Ryan Adams who seems to be a worthy pretender to Earle's throne both musically and in his lifestyle. That said because of his ways he has made the music that he wanted to make and not had to water down his vision in the way that his contemporaries, Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffiths felt obliged... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great Country Music
Disadvantages: Not Great If You Don't Like Country

...I love proper country music; the crofts of my home in the Highlands of Scotland are only a stones throw away from the dirt farms of the mid-west and southern US. There has always been a big country following in Scotland one could argue that the music has similar chord structures to that of proper Scots folk music or that the themes of desperation, social isolation, religion, suicide and loyal dogs that get killed in horrific accidents strike a chord in the Scottish psyche, but I am not going to go down that path here……….. This is the Steve Earle who did that song called Copperhead Road and upset a few folks by releasing a song written from the point of view of a Taliban fighter. What a bad boy but I think that if you cannot see the other sides point of view then you will never reach them, unless you blow them into tiny little bits... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful