Customer Reviews
Politically Correct Drivel 
2008-03-18
I like Steve Earle a lot and have several of his albums. The only song on this record I have heard is City of Immigrants. It is a catchy toon, but the lyrics are banal and politically correct. If you listen to it you will want to wrap your head in duct tape so it won't explode. The bridge is downright goofy.
Sorry Steve. You really tried too hard to be meaningful and ended up being pedagogical.
Aaakkk.
Would have liked a couple rock tunes 
2008-03-09
Great CD I just wish it would have had a couple more rock tunes on it.
You know the one's that have that Keith Richard's feel. Loved the DVD as well,I just hope I don't have to wait 3 more years for some great Steve Earle tunes!
Old days gone. 2008-02-20
This is not the old Mr. Earle. He changed some time ago. Acoustic or electric, he does not cut it for me anymore. I wish him well.
Best Ever! 
2008-01-12
This is the best of Steve's career! Wonderful, catchy song rhythms and lyrics on many songs, great messages, beautiful backing vocals.
Bittersweet Serenade 2008-01-07
"Goodbye guitar town", sings Steve Earle in the song "Tennessee Blues", on his new album, "Washington Square Serenade". Earle may have left Nashville, but it is still in his rear view mirror, as he not only serenades his new home, New York City, but his new wife, Allison Moorer, who sings a duet with him on "Days aren't Long Enough".
Earle sings and plays with the joy and passion of a man who has found new love with both a woman and a city. But this album was made in George W. Bush's war weary America, and Earle expresses anger and frustration at the state of the Union in "Steve's Hammer", envisioning a time when, "kids don't die for gasoline".
A sense of contradiction runs through "Washington Square Serenade", from the hillbilly heroin in "Oxycontin Blues", to the image of "Jesus' sword" in "Way Down in the Hole". Earle's lyrics are brilliant in painting contrasting images of country and city, Heaven and Hell. A redtail hawk performs wingstands above Manhattan in "Down Here Below". An old man leans into the wind on 7th avenue "like he's pullin'a plow" in "Red is the Color".
Musically, the contrasts continue, as the album effectively combines mandolins and tape loops, good old boys and DJ's. Steve Earle skillfully weaves shimmering love songs with dark songs of loss on "Washington Square Serenade", creating an album that is bittersweet in tone and powerful in delivery.
ho-hum, more growling and grumbling from steve 2008-07-22
how old is steve now? he acts like just another teen growling and grumbling about love and other non-sense with some random guitar music thrown in. another artist that has outgrown any relevance (if he ever had any).
Washingto Square Serenade: A Wonderment 2008-06-03
And certainly Steve Earl's masterpiece. I have listened to his records for years but only on "The Revolution Starts Now" do we get a taste of the genius that made this album.
After 30 years of not great records and just OK records, suddenly Steve Earl creates a bull-goose, full tilt masterpiece. My guess is that he will never top this. Perhaps it was simply the right time, place, inspiration and musicians. The juices were flowing.
This record is a must-have for any serious pop music listener. Forget about country music or "Alt Country" it's simply a great record -like Paul Simon's first solo record. It defies category.
I LOVE it! 2008-06-02
I hadn't bought a Steve Earle CD since "Copperhead Road" and "Essential Steve Earle."Although he has shelved the rock and roll, this CD is absolutely awesome. Maybe buying it at his concert has me biased, but I don't think so. I also purchased two others afterwards, and this one is by far the best.
Pretty disappointing 
2008-05-23
I wish I'd just bought the MP3 versions of three songs on this album that are good: Sparkle and Shine, Come Home to Me, and Days Aren't Long enough, and avoided the rest; alas, I bought the whole album before I heard it. I was hoping that with this album, Steve Earle would focus less on preaching his political beliefs (see the The Revolution Starts Now album) and more on creating good music like the whole Transcendal Blues album. While this album isn't as overtly political as past recent efforts, I nevertheless didn't like it much. While three songs mentioned above were aesthetically pleasing, many were grating on the ear (e.g., Satellite Radio, Red Is The Color). City of Immigrants -- with its banal multicultural platitudes made me want to barf; and it wasn't just the lyrics -- it's just a lousy song. I don't have high hopes that Steve Earle's move to New York is going get him back to making great albums like T.B., El Corazon, or I Feel Alright; those albums were phenomenol.
Brilliant! 2008-04-24
If you haven't yet fallen in love with Steve Earle, here's your latest chance. Wherever Steve Earle is is where Steve Earle shines, and for sure New York City is no exception. Each song is gorgeous, fresh and new. The writing and production is fabulous from what might be called "hillbilly hip-hop" on "Satellite Radio" and "Tennessee Blues" to the lilting, Beatlesque "Days Aren't Long Enough". Thoughtful, gentle "Come Home To Me" is especially poignant for those of us who've loved and lost and lived to finally find real love. "Down Here Below" is midtown Manhattan with a brilliant, NYC-meets-Tennessee banjo break. Other simply outstanding tracks include... every other song on the album. If you think you can write a song, listening to Steve Earle will either make you want to put down your pen forever or try a heck of a lot harder. The man just oozes impeccable music, and presents it in such a down home way he makes such genius seem as every-day as putting gas in your car, but we know better. I can't wait for more from Mr. Earle. Pale Male might not care, but I sure do.
