Tuesday 10pm ET: Feature LP: Pink Floyd: The Later Years (2019)

The Later Years is a box set by British rock band Pink Floyd released on December 13, 2019 by Pink Floyd Records. It follows the boxset The Early Years 1965–1972 (2016), and concentrates on Pink Floyd’s work under the leadership of David Gilmour after the departure of founding member Roger Waters.

The boxset includes an “updated” and remixed version of A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) with restored contributions by keyboardist Richard Wright and new contributions by drummer Nick Mason, to “restore the creative balance between the three Pink Floyd members”. The set also includes surround sound mixes of The Division Bell (1994), The Endless River (2014) (accompanied by a film by Ian Emes) and the updated version of A Momentary Lapse of Reason.

Also included is an expanded version of the 1988 live album Delicate Sound of Thunder with additional tracks; re-edited versions of the concert films Delicate Sound of Thunder (1989) and Pulse (1995); a live recording of Pink Floyd’s headline performance at the Knebworth 1990 charity concert; a previously unreleased concert film from Pink Floyd’s performance in Venice; 5.1 surround sound mixes and high-resolution stereo mixes; single B-sides; demos from The Division Bell sessions; and memorabilia.

On October 30, 2019, Pink Floyd announced that the box set edition had been delayed from November 29. A single-disc compilation of “highlights” from the box set, The Later Years: 1987–2019, was released on 29 November 2019.

CD 1: A Momentary Lapse of Reason (Updated & Remixed)
A Momentary Lapse of Reason was the band’s first album after the departure of Roger Waters and helmed by David Gilmour. All of the album’s drum parts have been re-recorded by Mason for the 2019 version (not all drum parts were played by Mason on the original release) and more of keyboardist Rick Wright’s parts have been included (replacing parts which were played by session musicians on the original). The album has been remixed for 2019.

“Signs of Life”
“Learning to Fly”
“The Dogs of War”
“One Slip”
“On the Turning Away”
“Yet Another Movie”
“Round and Around”
“A New Machine (Part 1)”
“Terminal Frost”
“A New Machine (Part 2)”
“Sorrow”

CDs 2 and 3: Delicate Sound of Thunder (Remixed)
The 1988 live album, Delicate Sound of Thunder remixed and includes songs performed on the tour which were omitted from the original release due to the limitations of vinyl records.

“Shine On You Crazy Diamond”
“Signs of Life” (previously unreleased)
“Learning to Fly”
“Yet Another Movie”
“Round and Around”
“A New Machine (Part 1)” (previously unreleased)
“Terminal Frost” (previously unreleased)
“A New Machine (Part 2)” (previously unreleased)
“Sorrow”
“The Dogs of War”
“On The Turning Away”
“One of These Days”
“Time”
“On the Run” (previously unreleased)
“The Great Gig in the Sky” (previously unreleased)
“Wish You Were Here”
“Welcome to the Machine” (previously unreleased)
“Us and Them”
“Money”
“Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)”
“Comfortably Numb”
“One Slip” (previously unreleased)
“Run Like Hell”

CD 4: 1987 and 1994 live recordings and unreleased studio recordings
Single B-sides released between 1987–1994:
“One of These Days” (Live in Hanover, 1994)
“Astronomy Domine” (Live in Miami, 1994)
“The Dogs of War” (Live in Atlanta, 1987)
“On the Turning Away” (Live in Atlanta, 1987)
“Run Like Hell” (Live in Atlanta, 1987)
Unreleased 1994 studio recordings:
“Blues 1”
“Slippery Guitar”
“Rick’s Theme”
“David’s Blues”
“Marooned Jam”
“Nervana”
“High Hopes (Early Version)”

Tuesday 10:15pm ET: Feature LP: Cranberries – In The End (2019)

In the End is the eighth and final studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, released on April 26, 2019 by BMG. It is the band’s first release since the death of singer Dolores O’Riordan, whose vocals are featured posthumously. The surviving instrumentalists pieced together her demos with in-studio recordings over the course of the subsequent year and worked with long-time producer Stephen Street to finalise the album. Critical reception has been positive.

Guitarist Noel Hogan and vocalist Dolores O’Riordan began composing songs for the album while on tour in May 2017; the first track that Hogan wrote was “A Place I Know” while touring in Poland. The band ended up canceling several North American tour dates when O’Riordan suffered a herniated disc. That June, Hogan spent time in France writing and sending his demos to O’Riordan in New York City to add lyrics. Together they wrote and demoed 11 songs that winter, with the final emails from O’Riordan arriving to Hogan hours before she died. The surviving bandmates set aside her vocals for several months following her death and after getting the full support from O’Riordan’s family, they brought in Stephen Street—who produced several of their early albums—to complete the recording sessions in April and May. The voice of Dolores O’Riordan has not been retouched by the Auto-tune but required the addition of backing vocalist Johanna Cranitch to fill few holes in the demos. Cranitch had toured with the band in 2012. By October 2018, the recordings were complete. A month earlier, Noel Hogan confirmed that the Cranberries moniker will be retired after the album’s release.

The album’s cover image was taken by the band’s original photographer Andy Earl and sleeve designer Cally Calloman. On the first anniversary of her death, “All Over Now” was released as a streaming advance single. The song debuted at 25 on the Adult Alternative Songs. On 1 March, they released “The Pressure” for digital streaming, followed by a music video for “All Over Now” on 7 March. “Wake Me When It’s Over” debuted on 19 March. Lastly, the title track was made available on 16 April.

For many of the tracks, the first time they were performed in studio was also the last: the surviving band members had no intentions on performing them live prior to the album’s release.

“All Over Now” – 4:16
“Lost” – 4:00
“Wake Me When It’s Over” – 4:12
“A Place I Know” – 4:26
“Catch Me If You Can” – 4:38
“Got It” – 4:02
“Illusion” – 4:07
“Crazy Heart” – 3:25
“Summer Song” – 3:34
“The Pressure” – 3:22
“In the End” – 2:57

Tuesday 9pm ET: Feature LP: Celine Dion – Courage (2019)

Courage is the twelfth English-language studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released by Columbia Records on November 15, 2019. It is her first English album in six years after Loved Me Back to Life (2013). Dion worked on Courage with various writers and producers, including Sia, David Guetta, Greg Kurstin, Sam Smith, StarGate, Jimmy Napes, Lauv, LP, Jörgen Elofsson, Stephan Moccio, Eg White, Liz Rodrigues of The New Royales, and many more.

In June 2019, Dion ended her Las Vegas residency, Celine and released “Flying on My Own” as a gift to her fans. In September 2019, she embarked on the Courage World Tour and premiered three more new songs: “Imperfections”, “Lying Down” and “Courage”. The album, which includes sixteen songs and four additional tracks on the deluxe edition, received generally favorable reviews from music critics.

1. “Flying on My Own” 3:32
2. “Lovers Never Die” 2:51
3. “Falling in Love Again” 3:51
4. “Lying Down” 3:58
5. “Courage” 4:14
6. “Imperfections” 3:59
7. “Change My Mind” 3:01
8. “Say Yes” 3:32
9. “Nobody’s Watching” 3:12
10. “The Chase” 3:49
11. “For the Lover That I Lost” 2:54
12. “Baby” 3:34
13. “I Will Be Stronger” 3:27
14. “How Did You Get Here” 4:21
15. “Look at Us Now” 3:18
16. “Perfect Goodbye” 3:28
17. “Best of All” 3:23
18. “Heart of Glass” 3:31
19. “Boundaries” 3:22
20. “The Hard Way” 3:24

Tuesday 12am ET: Feature LP: Lady Antebellum – Ocean (2019)

Ocean is the eighth studio album by American country pop trio Lady Antebellum. The album was released on November 15, 2019, through BMLG Records. This is their first album with the label, and first to be produced by Dann Huff.

1. “What If I Never Get Over You” 3:26
2. “Pictures” 2:58
3. “Crazy Love” 3:25
4. “You Can Do You” 4:08
5. “What I’m Leaving For” 3:23
6. “Be Patient with My Love” 5:06
7. “Alright” 3:16
8. “Let It Be Love” 3:38
9. “On a Night Like This” 3:23
10. “Boots” 3:33
11. “The Thing That Wrecks You” (featuring Little Big Town) 4:35
12. “Mansion” 3:12
13. “Ocean” 3:30

Wednesday 12am ET: Feature LP: Ringo Starr – What’s My Name (2019)

What’s My Name is the 20th studio album by English musician Ringo Starr. It was released on October 25, 2019 through Roccabella and Universal Music Enterprises. The album was again recorded at Roccabella West, Starr’s home studio, and features collaborations with Joe Walsh, Benmont Tench, Edgar Winter, Steve Lukather, Richard Page and Warren Ham. It also includes a cover of John Lennon’s “Grow Old with Me”, which Starr invited Paul McCartney to sing and play bass guitar on, and a solo version by Starr of “Money (That’s What I Want)”, a Motown song previously recorded by the Beatles.

1. “Gotta Get Up to Get Down” 4:20
2. “It’s Not Love That You Want” 3:34
3. “Grow Old with Me” 3:18
4. “Magic” 4:09
5. “Money (That’s What I Want)” 2:56
6. “Better Days” 2:49
7. “Life Is Good” 3:11
8. “Thank God for Music” 3:38
9. “Send Love Spread Peace” 2:58
10. “What’s My Name” 3:45

Tuesday 11pm ET: Feature LP: Miranda Lambert – Wildcard (2019)

Wildcard is the seventh studio album by American country music artist Miranda Lambert. It was released on November 1, 2019, via RCA Records Nashville. The album was produced by Jay Joyce, marking the first time Lambert has worked with the producer. It features the single “It All Comes Out in the Wash”.

1. “White Trash” 3:10
2. “Mess with My Head” 2:33
3. “It All Comes Out in the Wash” 3:35
4. “Settling Down” 3:17
5. “Holy Water”3:14
6. “Way Too Pretty for Prison” (with Maren Morris) 3:14
7. “Locomotive” 3:14
8. “Bluebird” 3:30
9. “How Dare You Love” 3:37
10. “Fire Escape” 3:49
11. “Pretty Bitchin'” 3:32
12. “Tequila Does” 4:01
13. “Track Record” 3:19
14. “Dark Bars” 4:48

Tuesday 10pm ET: Feature LP: Hootie and The Blowfish – Imperfect Circle (2019)

Imperfect Circle is the sixth studio album by American rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, released on Capitol Records Nashville on November 1, 2019. It is their first new studio album in fourteen years; it has received mixed reviews.

“New Year’s Day” – 3:32
“Miss California” – 3:12
“Wild Fire Love” – 3:33
“Hold On” – 3:22
“Turn It Up” – 3:21
“Not Tonight” – 3:20
“We Are One” – 2:04
“Everybody but You” – 3:30
“Lonely on a Saturday Night” – 3:10
“Why” – 3:19
“Rollin'” – 3:17
“Half a Day Ahead” – 3:24
“Change” – 3:27

Wednesday 12am ET: Feature LP: Jeff Lynne’s ELO – From Out Of Nowhere (2019)

From Out of Nowhere is the upcoming fourteenth studio album by British rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and the second credited to Jeff Lynne’s ELO. The band’s first studio album in four years, it is scheduled to be released on November 1, 2019 through Big Trilby and Columbia Records. The title track was released as the lead single on September 26, 2019. Lynne played most instruments on the album.

1. “From Out of Nowhere” 3:14
2. “Help Yourself” 3:14
3. “All My Love” 3:06
4. “Down Came the Rain” 3:29
5. “Losing You” 3:36
6. “One More Time” 3:28
7. “Sci-Fi Woman” 3:07
8. “Goin’ Out on Me” 3:09
9. “Time of Our Life” 3:10
10. “Songbird” 3:06

Tuesday 11pm: Feature LP – The Highwomen

The Highwomen is the eponymous debut studio album by country music supergroup the Highwomen, made up of band members Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, Maren Morris, and Amanda Shires. It was released on September 6, 2019, by Elektra Records.

The album received mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received a weighted average score of 79 based on 9 reviews.

Chris Willman from Variety called the album an “instant classic,” and went on to say that “the all-star foursome has put together an album full of high comedy and high pathos, zingy group-sings and gut-wreching solo turns, wryness and rue, and harmony co-existing with this strange and nearly forgotten thing called twang.” Laura Stanley at Exclaim! gave the album an 8 out of 10, and said the album “is both a call for change and a celebration of women in country music.” Writing for AllMusic, Thomas Erlewine gave the album four out of five stars and said, “The record’s resonance lies in its deep emotions and sense of craft. The craft isn’t incidental, either. Their shared skills as writers and singers provide the supporting evidence to Shires’ conceptual thesis: if country radio doesn’t want to play music this good, what’s the point of radio anyway?” Will Hermes from Rolling Stone gave the album four out of five stars. His review said,”What’s most impressive about The Highwomen, handsomely produced with Nashville neoclassicist Dave Cobb, is how artfully, and matter-of-factly, it engages social issues. Credit the concentration of songwriting talent. Every woman here is at the top of her game.” The album received seven out of ten stars from Chris Conaton at PopMatters who said, “They’re having a lot of fun, but the specifically feminist bent of the group’s outlook helps focus the album as well. The Highwomen is worth a listen for any fans of these artists individually or as a sampler for all of them.” Seth Wilson from Slant Magazine gave the album three and a half out of five stars. He praised the album’s title track, calling it “a powerful and succinct recalibration of Jimmy Webb’s “The Highwayman”. The album received three and a half out of five stars from Hal Horowitz at American Songwriter. He said the album is “generally more subdued than the Lambert-led Pistol Annies and less groundbreaking than Trio. It would have helped if all four women participated in every performance since at least one is MIA on the majority of tunes.” He criticized Dave Cobb’s production, calling it “professional” but “also a little dry.” In a review for Glide Magazine, Jim Hynes said the album “has its strong moments and it does carry a strong mission. Yet, its ambitious and inclusive scope creates an enormity that somewhat weighs it down.” In a mixed review for The Guardian, Michael Hann gave the album three out of five stars and said, “Four voices aren’t always stronger than one, and the collegiate nature of the record leaves one yearning for a little more single-mindedness.” Nicholas Hautman from Us Weekly gave the album four stars and called it an “instant classic.”

1. “Highwomen” (featuring Yola) 3:32
2. “Redesigning Women” 2:54
3. “Loose Change” 2:22
4. “Crowded Table” 3:29
5. “My Name Can’t Be Mama” 2:30
6. “If She Ever Leaves Me” 3:13
7. “Old Soul” 5:45
8. “Don’t Call Me” 3:36
9. “My Only Child” 3:53
10. “Heaven Is a Honky Tonk” (featuring Sheryl Crow) 3:54
11. “Cocktail and a Song” 3:37
12. “Wheels of Laredo” 4:14

Tuesday 10pm: Feature LP: Iggy Pop – Free (2019)

Free is the eighteenth studio album by American rock singer Iggy Pop, released by Caroline International and Loma Vista Recordings on September 6, 2019. It features contributions from Noveller and Leron Thomas, and the title track was released along with the album announcement. A music video for the album’s second single, “James Bond”, was released on August 14, 2019.

1. “Free” 1:48
2. “Loves Missing” 4:19
3. “Sonali” 3:30
4. “James Bond” 4:31
5. “Dirty Sanchez” 4:21
6. “Glow in the Dark” 3:57
7. “Page” 4:08
8. “We Are the People” 3:13
9. “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” 1:48
10. “The Dawn” 2:08

Tuesday 10pm: Feature LP: Taylor Swift – Lover (2019)

Lover is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on August 23, 2019, by Republic Records. As executive producer, Swift worked with producers Jack Antonoff, Joel Little, Louis Bell, Frank Dukes, and Sounwave on the album. Described by Swift as a “love letter to love itself”, Lover celebrates the ups and downs of love and incorporates brighter, more cheerful tones, departing from the dark sounds of its predecessor, Reputation (2017).

The lead single, “Me!”, featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco, was released on April 26, 2019. The second single “You Need to Calm Down” was released on June 14, 2019. The title track was released as the third single on August 16, 2019. Aside from Urie, Lover also features a collaboration with the Dixie Chicks. The album received generally positive reviews from critics, who commended Swift’s songwriting conveying emotional maturity and honesty, but found it lengthy and inconsistent in places.

1. “I Forgot That You Existed” 2:51
2. “Cruel Summer” 2:58
3. “Lover” 3:41
4. “The Man” 3:10
5. “The Archer” 3:31
6. “I Think He Knows” 2:53
7. “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” 3:54
8. “Paper Rings” 3:42
9. “Cornelia Street” 4:47
10. “Death by a Thousand Cuts” 3:19
11. “London Boy” 3:10
12. “Soon You’ll Get Better” (featuring Dixie Chicks) 3:22
13. “False God” 3:20
14. “You Need to Calm Down” 2:51
15. “Afterglow” 3:43
16. “Me!” (featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco) 3:13
17. “It’s Nice to Have a Friend” 2:30
18. “Daylight” 4:53

Tuesday 12am: Feature LP: Marc Cohn & The Blind Boys of Alabama – Work To Do (2019)

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter MARC COHN and gospel titans BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA have announced the August 9th release of WORK TO DO, via BMG. Produced by John Leventhal, the unique collection combines the songwriting talents of Marc Cohn with the soul stirring harmonies of Blind Boys of Alabama and falls on the heels of more than a year of live collaborative dates. WORK TO DO is comprised of three studio tracks by COHN and THE BLIND BOYS, (two originals and a version of the gospel standard “Walking To Jerusalem”) and seven intimate live performances recorded at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, CT, during a taping of the PBS series The Kate, which premiered on May 24th, 2019. Original plans were to release an EP containing the studio tracks, but the excitement and magic captured during the taping inspired the decision to create this unique hybrid album.

The live performances on WORK TO DO feature the Grammy award-winning BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA adding their trademark harmonies and vocal textures to six songs drawn from the breadth of Cohn’s venerable career including the mega-hit, “Walking in Memphis,” “Ghost Train” and “Silver Thunderbird.” THE BLIND BOYS’ striking rearrangement of the traditional hymn “Amazing Grace” completes the collection. Grammy award-winning artist MARC COHN has solidified his place as a highly acclaimed and compelling singer-songwriter, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. Hailed as “gospel titans” by Rolling Stone, THE BLIND BOYS first rose to fame in the segregated south with their thrilling vocal harmonies and roof-raising live show. They released their debut single, “I Can See Everybody’s Mother But Mine,” on the iconic Veejay label in 1948, launching a 70-year recording career that would see them rack up five Grammy Awards (plus one for Lifetime Achievement), enter the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, collaborate with everyone from Mavis Staples and Stevie Wonder to Prince and Lou Reed, and perform on the world’s most prestigious stages.

MARC COHN and BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA have announced a string of summer tour dates in support of WORK TO DO beginning in June. This rare combination of the incredible soul of MARC COHN mixed with the stirring vocal harmonies of BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA is a moment not to be missed. (Ctsy Amazon.Com)

Walking In Jerusalem 3:00
Talk Back Mic 3:59
Work To Do 3:41
Ghost Train 4:58
Baby King 4:15
Listening To Levon 4:55
Silver Thunderbird 9:44
Amazing Grace 6:26
Walking in Memphis 5:54
One Safe Place 4:36

Wednesday 11pm – Feature LP: Madonna – Madame X (2019)

Madame X is the fourteenth studio album by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on June 14, 2019, by Interscope Records. The album was creatively influenced by her expatriate life in Lisbon, Portugal, after relocating there in summer 2017. Madonna co-wrote and co-produced the album with a number of musicians, including Mirwais, Mike Dean, and Jason Evigan. It also features guest appearances by Maluma, Quavo, Swae Lee, and Anitta.

The album was promoted by the singles “Medellín” and “Crave”, as well as three other promotional singles preceding the album’s release. The Madame X Tour, an all-theatre tour in North America and Europe, is scheduled to begin on September 12, 2019. Music critics gave generally positive reviews for the album, praising its unique and experimental composition. Madame X debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, becoming her ninth number-one album in the United States.

1. “Medellín” (with Maluma) 4:58
2. “Dark Ballet” 4:14
3. “God Control” 6:19
4. “Future” (with Quavo) 3:53
5. “Batuka” 4:57
6. “Killers Who Are Partying” 5:28
7. “Crave” (with Swae Lee) 3:21
8. “Crazy” 4:02
9. “Come Alive” 4:02
10. “Extreme Occident” 3:41
11. “Faz Gostoso” (featuring Anitta) 4:05
12. “Bitch I’m Loca” (featuring Maluma) 2:50
13. “I Don’t Search I Find” 4:08
14. “Looking for Mercy” 4:50
15. “I Rise” 3:44

Tuesday 10pm: Feature LP: Allman Betts Band – Down To The River (2019)

As their name makes plain, the Allman Betts Band continues in the tradition of the Allman Brothers Band. Devon Allman and Duane Betts — the sons of Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, respectively — formed the group in 2018 with the intent purpose of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the foundation of the groundbreaking group of their fathers. By playing classic Allmans tunes, the Allman Betts Band kept the Southern rock torch burning in the 21st century, but Devon and Duane also made sure to write new material too, releasing their debut Down to the River in June 2019.

To form their group, Devon Allman and Dickey Betts recruited bassist Berry Oakley, Jr. — himself the son of original Allman bassist Berry Oakley — organist John Ginty, slide guitarist Johnny Stachlea, and percussionists John Lum and R. Scott Bryan. Working with producer Matt Ross-Spang, the band recorded the album that became Down to the River at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama. The record appeared on June 28, just prior to the Allman Betts Band launching a summer tour.

Devon Allman and Duane Betts make no attempt to hide their lineage. The pair are the sons of Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, two of the founding and defining members of the Allman Brothers Band, and they’ve named their band so it rhymes with the group of their famous fathers. More than that, their 2019 debut album Down to the River consciously evokes the sound of the Allman Brothers Band. The pair don’t attempt to expand the Southern-fried hybrid of blues, rock, soul, and country; at times, it feels like they’re spinning such classics as “Melissa” and “Ramblin’ Man” for their own purposes, alluding to these classics as a way to both nod at their audience and connect with them. Such direct acknowledgment of their roots can mean that the Allman Betts Band open themselves up to direct comparisons with their fathers, but decoding Down to the River as a series of references and influences misses the intent of the duo. Allman and Betts are intentionally following in their footsteps of their fathers, so they’ve chosen to work with a limited palette, one that cherry-picks the best moments of the past. If Down to the River isn’t as adventurous or hungry or exploratory as any Allman Brothers Band album, there’s nevertheless a deliberately cultivated warmth that’s designed to appeal to Allman fans-and, given a shot, Down to the River may well appeal to that audience.

AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

1 All Night 04:44
2 Shinin’ 04:29
3 Try 02:54
4 Down to the River 04:43
5 Autumn Breeze 08:42
6 Good ol’ Days 03:38
7 Melodies Are Memories 04:04
8 Southern Accents 04:32
9 Long Gone 06:32

Thursday 10pm: Feature LP: Steve Earle & the Dukes – Guy (2019)

AllMusic Review by Mark Deming

While he found his fame in Nashville, Steve Earle was born in Texas, and he cut his teeth as a songwriter in the ’70s while hovering on the outskirts of the Lone Star State’s circle of great tunesmiths. The literate but unpretentious approach of the Texas songwriting community clearly suited Earle, and he’s never been shy about acknowledging his influences from his early days. In 2009, Earle released the album Townes, in which he paid homage to his good friend and mentor Townes van Zandt, recording 15 of his best songs. Ten years later, Earle has offered a follow-up in the form of 2019’s Guy, a set of 16 songs from the songbook of his late friend Guy Clark. While Townes was primarily a solo effort, Guy was cut with Earle’s band the Dukes, and the difference speaks to the temperment of the two albums. Van Zandt’s songs were often powerfully introspective, and he was often given to a dark night of the soul. Clark, on the other hand, was no less pithy but considerably warmer, and there’s a playful humanity in his songs that Van Zandt’s usually lacked, as great as they were. This also explains why Townes is ultimately a more satisfying album than Guy — while Earle can be powerfully witty when he wants to be, he’s traditionally drawn to darkness more than light, and while it’s clear he loves songs like “L.A. Freeway,” “Rita Ballou,” and “Heartbroke,” the easygoing amiability and small-town wisdom of Clark’s lyrics feel a bit off coming from Earle’s increasingly craggy rasp. And though the grainy tone of Earle’s voice works on the rocked-up cover of “Out in the Parking Lot” and the twangy two-step of “Texas 1947,” and his phrasing is as canny as ever, it doesn’t work as well on more thoughtful numbers like “Desperados Waiting for a Train” and “The Randall Knife.” (This album recycles a version of “The Last Gunfighter Ballad” from a 2001 Guy Clark tribute album, and its presence points to the considerable wear on Earle’s voice in the 18 years that separate it from the rest of the album.) There’s never a moment where Steve Earle sounds anything less than fully committed on Guy, and this was clearly a labor of love, particularly on the closing number “Old Friends,” where Emmylou Harris, Jerry Jeff Walker, Rodney Crowell, and Terry Allen join in. But the execution isn’t quite as strong as Earle’s good intentions on Guy, though if he wanted to either remind old fans on the greatness of Clark’s songs or convince new ones to explore his body of work, he makes his case will eloquence and affection.

1 Dublin Blues 3:48
2 L.A. Freeway 4:06
3 Texas 1947 3:14
4 Desperados Waiting for a Train 4:34
5 Rita Ballou 3:12
6 The Ballad of Laverne and Captain Flint 4:05
7 The Randall Knife 4:00
8 Anyhow I Love You 3:06
9 That Old Time Feeling 5:02
10 Heartbroke 2:44
11 The Last Gunfighter BalladS 3:21
12 Out in the Parking Lot 2:39
13 She Ain’t Going Nowhere 3:49
14 Sis Draper 3:27
15 New Cut Road 4:10
16 Old Friends 4:56