Justin Townes Earle – The Saint Of Lost Causes

Review

'The Saint of Lost Causes' hits you like a freight train loaded with raw emotion and gritty Americana. Justin Townes Earle's swan song is a real humdinger, y'all. It's got more layers than your grandma's lasagna, blending blues and roots music that'll make your toes tap and your heart ache.

Earle's songwriting on this record is sharper than a tack, taking aim at the world around him instead of navel-gazing. He's painting pictures of America that ain't always pretty, but they're honest as the day is long. Take 'Flint City Shake It' - it's got a beat that'll make you want to dance, but lyrics that'll make you think about the folks struggling in Michigan. And 'Ahi Esta Mi Nina'? Well, that one's liable to make a grown man cry into his whiskey.

Now, I ain't gonna lie - this album ain't all doom and gloom. 'Ain't Got No Money' swings like a New Orleans jazz band on payday. But even when the tunes are upbeat, Earle's words pack a punch. It's like he's inviting you to a party where everyone's telling their life stories - some'll make you laugh, some'll break your heart, but you'll be glad you came. This here's an album that'll stick with you long after the needle lifts off the record. - Lola