Move Over Mama
Harlem River Blues
Justin Townes Earle’s follow up to his fantastic album Midnight at the Movies
Earle’s voice rings true on what is an interesting concept for an album. He writes songs as though he’s the common man in rural Tennessee, but in reality he’s writing these tracks from the Big Apple. Does this make you question the album’s credibility? I’d personally say no. I see no reason to not enjoy the ironic nature of country songs about New York City. Much like Woody Guthrie before him, Justin Townes Earle’s narrative of a country boy in the big city; feelings of being displaced and lonesome.
For me, a couple of clear winners on the album are the songs that are country tropes such as the railroad song, Working for the MTA, and the traveler song, Wanderin.’ A highlight for me on the album is the humorous Move Over Mama, a song about the hardships of dating a traveling musician.
In all, Earle has done a great job creating a solid entry in his body of work, and might give him what he needs to step out of his fathers shadow, and show that he’s got the goods to write great songs.
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