Steve Earle is indeed a productive musical artist: just some eight months after his amazing concept album Ghosts of West Virginia, the US artist and his band, The Dukes, release another album – one of the first ones of the year – on 4th January 2021. The album title is J.T., in memory of Steve Earle’s son Justin Townes Earle, a very promising singer-songwriter, who died in Nashville in August 2020. The release date would have been his birthday.
Steve Earle – About The Artist
For biographical facts, I simply refer to my sum-up about Steve Earle at my Ghosts of West Virginia review. The biggest impact between that album release in May 2020 and the release of J.T. undoubtedly was the pass-away of Justin Townes Earle, who is the son of Steve Earle and his third wife, Carol-Ann Hunter. The assumed cause of death is drug abuse. The song below is a track by J.T. Earle, Mama’s Eyes.
Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T. – Track by Track
The eleven track album lasts 35 minutes. All songs but the last one are original recordings by Justin Townes Earle.
1. I Don’t Care
The memorial album starts with a speedy, traditional bluegrass-style tune. Much more than an intro, but a bit of a thematic guidance for the whole album. The song was originally published on the 2008 EP Yuma.
2. Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving
Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving again deals with departure and breaking up. The song reminds me of a Western movie – a very different style than the first track. Another 2008 release by Steve Earle’s son.
3. Maria
Used to be I was the object of affection
In your eyes alone
But now it seems your heart has found a new direction
You’re leavin’ me out in the cold
Compared to the first two songs, the 2012 original Maria is much more melodic. The melody line feels quite happy and positive, supported by quite rocking electric guitars. Steve Earle slightly adopted the lyrics to fit into his perspective.
4. Far Away in Another Town
Far Away In Another Town is the closing track of Justin Townes Earle’s 2008 album, The Good Life.
Well I’m leavin’
Tonight babe on a midnight train
I got to get out while I still can
Cause that woman don’t do nothing ah but bring me down
So I think I can be lonesome far away in another town
I’m standing outside in the poorin’ rain
Every half an hour them trains comin’ rollin’ back again
So the next time you come lookin’ no I won’t be around
Cause I think I can be lonesome far away in another town
Somewhere where the wind blows just as cold
Well, I think I can be lonesome on my own
A deep ballad alike classic country track (the video below is the original). The Steve Earle version is harder, more intense, also a bit of deeper. But after four tracks already, I am already impressed by the musical work of J.T. Earle – and the wonderful way his father is honoring it.
5. They Killed John Henry
The John Henry legend is a classic reference in American music, especially in the traditional genres like country. Not too surprising, there is also a J.T. Earle version, which has been released on the 2009 Midnight At the Movies. Good one, though I liked the first tracks more.
6. Turn Out My Lights
There are quite a lot of The Good Life references on the J.T. album. Turn Out My Lights is a quite dark version of the seventh song of that 2008 album. Again, the raspy voice of Steve Earle gives
7. Love Pine Hill
But then they knocked down the timber
And burned off the brush
To get to the riches below
And when they pulled out
They left a cold black ground
And one pine standing lone
So take me home…
Lone pine hill
Nine million streams on Spotify only – Love Pine Hill is the first cover of a really big song of Justin Townes Earle on this album. Again, I am asking how much I should feel ashamed that I like this 2020 “daddy version” more than the original. Especially Steve Earle’s voice is just catching me so well. Lovely song!
8. Champagne Corolla
This song, taken from the 2017 album Kids In The Street, is not only the latest original release so far, but also one of the two singles Steve Earle already published before the album. In Champagne Corolla, I feel he sounds a bit like a mixture of Bob Dylan and Chris Rea. I love it – the song has a lovely vibe anyway.
9. The Saint Of Lost Causes
I’m a bad dream
I’m not a nightmare, I’m too pretty for that
Let’s just say I’m the last thing you wanna see coming
I’m the reason they say watch your back
For so long, I was like a wounded hound
Backed into a chainlink fence
The world at large was just a big, mean kid
Poking me through the fence with a stick
Ain’t nobody goin’ back
It takes a whole lotta hurt
Therein lies one of life’s biggest lessons
Ain’t got nothin’ to do with deserve
Just pray to the Saint of Lost Causes
The Saint Of Lost Causes has been the title track of Justin Townes Earle’s very last album (2019). Again, the video below is an original (in a lovely acoustic guitar version). Steve Earle and the Dukes turn this track to a very dark one. One of my favorites of the album.
10. Harlem River Blues
Undoubtedly, Harlem River Blues is the central track of this album. It is the most catching tune – and it is Justin Townes Earle’s biggest success, if you solely look at the streams (some 11.5 million on Spotify only).
11. Last Words
The album is already such beauty, but it closes with an intimate highlight – the only new track on this highlight. Steve Earle sings about his son’s birth, but also his last phone call with his son (ending with I Love You, too) and other memories of their common time. The second emotional highlight of the album, indeed. The closing lyrics are simply catching:
You made me laugh,
you made me cry,
Showed me truth
Told me lies.
Tore my heart apart, man.
Brought me back the peace again.
Now I don’t know what I’ll do
Until the day I follow you
Through the darkness to the light
Cause I loved you for all you life
Last thing I said is “I love you”
Your last words to me were “I love you, too”
I love you, too.
Amazing – and sad.
Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T. – Spotify
Here is the Spotify widget to J.T.:
Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T. – My View
The album will be released on the fourth day of 2021, my best album posting for 2020 has not yet been published – and J.T. is already a hot candidate to make it into the rankings in about one year. This musical memorial for Justin Townes Earle, closed by the emotional Last Words is just such a breathtaking collection of songs – it shows J.T. Earles (and his fathers talent) and creates wonderful emotions and memories. These eleven tracks are more beautiful than the most wonderful gravestone could ever be. Thank you, Steve Earle, to sent the music of your son out to the world of listeners again. We definitely feel with you – thank you for sharing these sad emotions with us. This album is the first Top Pick! for 2021, for sure.
Top Pick US Media Reviews
Here are all other US media reviews, which have been awarded with Top Pick! status:

Durry – Suburban Legend

Alice Cooper – Road

Bobby Rush – All My Love For You

Atreyu – The Moment You Find Your Flame EP

Mammoth WVH – Mammoth II

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – City of Gold

Lori McKenna – 1988

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – Sticks and Stones

Sean Patrick McGraw – Hillbilly Hippie

1476 – In Exile

Lucinda Williams – Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart

Ayron Jones – Chronicles Of The Kid

Steve Lukather – Bridges

Deer Tick – Emotional Contracts

Ron Pope – Inside Voices

Oryad – Sacred & Profane

Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark

Dave Hause – Drive It Like It’s Stolen

Esther Rose – Safe To Run

Texas Hippie Coalition – The Name Lives On

Jennifer K. Austin – Cards EP

Sophie B. Hawkins – Free Myself

Night Demon – Outsider

Stephen Jay – understatement

Timesbold – Not Still Here

Brian Falduto – Gay Country

Drayton Farley- Twenty on High

Dierks Bentley – Gravel & Gold

P!nk – Trustfall

Joe Henry – All The Eye Can See

Richard Lynch – Radio Friend

Gabbie Hanna – This Time Next Year

Adam Warner – What We’re Known For

Upsahl – Sagittarius EP

Myle – Sad Boy Summer EP

Live Forever: A Tribute To Billy Joe Shaver (Various Artists)

Seth Avett – Seth Avett Sings Greg Brown

Stephanie Quayle – On The Edge

The Moon City Masters – The Famous Moon City Masters

Russell Dickerson – Russell Dickerson

Kenny Foster – Somewhere in Middle America

Taylor Swift – Midnights

Alex Williams – Waging Peace

Ashley McBryde – Lindeville

Richard Marx – Songwriter

Dr. John – Things Happen That Way

Kelsea Ballerini – Subject To Change

LeAnn Rimes – God’s Work

Kane Brown – Different Man

Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco

Jon Pardi – Mr. Saturday Night

Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… and The Dead!

Watkins Family Hour – Vol. 2

Wade Bowen – Somewhere Between The Secret and The Truth

Brooke Eden – Choosing You EP

Whiskey Myers – Tornillo

Journey – Freedom

Jonny Houlihan – Coffee and Jesus

Kylie Morgan – P.S. EP

Luke Combs – Growin’ Up

Brett Eldredge – Songs About You

Carrie Underwood – Denim & Rhinestones

Kyle Daniel – Following the Rain

Avi Kaplan – Floating On A Dream

mxmtoon – rising

Dana Fuchs – Borrowed Time

Stephen Jay – Vita Beata

Old Crow Medicine Show – Paint This Town

Joshua Hedley – Neon Blue

Cole Swindell – Stereotype

Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars

Ian Noe – River Fools & Mountain Saints

Tiffany Woys – All About Love EP

Doug Adkins – A Cowboys’ Life

Curtis Stigers – This Life

Goodbye June – See Where The Night Goes

Amos Lee – Dreamland

Erin Rae – Lighten Up

Katie Henry – On My Way

Keb’ Mo’ – Good To Be …

Conner Smith – Didn’t Go Too Far EP

Noah Guthrie – Blue Wall

Jacob Bryant – Bar Stool Preacher

Rachel Bradshaw – Rachel Bradshaw EP

Carolyn Miller – Thank You EP

Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP

Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)

Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP

Gov’t Mule – Heavy Load Blues

Michael Patrick Kelly – B.O.A.T.S

Emily Scott Robinson – American Siren

Dave Hause – Blood Harmony

Alcatrazz – V

Ryan Hurd – Pelago

Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Fire

Toby Keith – Peso In My Pocket

The Record Company – Play Loud

Logan Mize – Welcome To Prairieville

Billy Strings – Renewal

Nox Holloway – If Only The World Didn’t Spin So Much EP

Charley Crockett – Music City USA

Samantha Fish – Faster

Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman

Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind

Echo Bloom – Wake

Kool & The Gang – Perfect Union

James McMurtry – The Horses And The Hounds

The Killers – Pressure Machine

Chris Young – Famous Friends

Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth

Jim Lauderdale – Hope

Grizfolk – Grizfolk

Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream

Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee

Los Lobos – Native Sons

Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP

The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds

Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP

Gary Allan – Ruthless

Buckcherry – Hellbound

Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP

Joe Bonamassa – Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart

Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia

Pop Evil – Versatile

Blake Shelton – Body Laguage

Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground

Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP

Levara – Levara

The Steel Woods – All Of Your Stones

Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A

Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP

Elvie Shane – County Roads EP

Eric Church – Soul

Eric Church – &

Eric Church – Heart

Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times

Canaan Smith – High Country Sound

Tyler Braden – What Do They Know EP

Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen – Smith / Kotzen

Hayden Joseph – Different

Willie Nelson – That’s Life

Alice Cooper – Detroit Stories

Cassadra Jenkins – An Overview On Phenomenal Nature EP

Carly Pearce – 29 EP

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

Tobacco Rd Band – Worth Fighting For

Aaron Lee Tasjan – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!

Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP

Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart

Willie Jones – Right Now

John Diva & The Rockets Of Love – American Amadeus

Aaron Watson – American Soul

Understanding Train Station – A Podcast on Living Abroad and Cultural Differences

Cody Weaver – Southern Noise EP

Russell Dickerson – Southern Symphony

Granger Smith – Country Things, Vol. 2

Miley Cyrus – Plastic Hearts

Ward Davis – Black Cats and Crows

Kameron Marlowe – EP

Chris Stapleton – Starting Over

Joe Bonamassa – Royal Tea

Trace Adkins – Ain’t That Kind Of Cowboy EP

mxmtoon – dusk EP

Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas

The Nude Party – Midnight Manor

Hardy – A Rock

Lauren Alaina – Getting Over Him EP

Tennessee Jet – The Country

Josh Turner – Country State of Mind

Jim “Kimo” West – More Guitar Stories

Taylor Swift – folklore

Kansas – The Absence of Presence

Donna Missal – Lighter

Jonny Houlihan – Hey Girl EP

Eric Paslay – Heartbeat Higher EP

Kyle Nix – Lightning On The Mountain & Other Little Stories

Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways

Gabby Barrett – Goldmine

Lady Gaga – Chromatica

Kip Moore – Wild World

Florida Georgia Line – 6-Pack EP

Steve Earle & The Dukes – Ghosts of West Virginia

Travis Denning – Beer’s Better Cold EP

Hailee Steinfeld – Half Written Story EP

Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen – Hold My Beer, Vol. 2

Dramarama – Color TV

Kenny Chesney – Here and Now

Hot Country Knights – The K Is Silent

Tim Dugger – Signs Of A Good Time EP

Drake White – Stars EP

Julia Cole – Honey Child EP

Joe Satriani – Shapeshifting

Maddie & Tae – The Way It Feels

Ashley McBryde – Never Will

Brett James – I am Now EP

Delta Rae – The Light

Kelsea Ballerini – Kelsea

Lauren Alaina – Getting Good EP

Seven Spires – Emerald Seas

Carly Pearce – Carly Pearce

The Cadillac Three – Country Fuzz

Richard Marx – Limitless

Celeste Kellogg – Keep It On Repeat EP

Richie Kotzen – 50 for 50

Cody Hibbard – Memory and A Dirt Road

Little Big Town – Nightfall

Dustin Lynch – Tullahoma

Cassadee Pope – Stages (with Track by Track Commentary)

Luke Combs – What You See Is What You Get (Review)

Luke Combs – This One’s For You – The Record-Breaking Album

Miranda Lambert – Wildcard

Jon Langston – Now You Know EP

Old Dominion (Album Review)

Chris Janson – Real Friends

Chris Knight – Almost Daylight

Brantley Gilbert – Fire & Brimstone

Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury

Sheryl Crow – Threads

Tanya Tucker – While I’m Livin’

Tyler Childers – Country Squire

Willie Nelson – Ride Me Back Home

Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars

Lauren Jenkins – No Saint (Album Review)
Flyctory.com Views from Above
Here are all postings tagged as Views from Above, dealing with any kind up-in-the-air viewpoints:

nhow Frankfurt

Dyrholaey (Iceland, Pictured Story)

Florida Citrus Tower

Walking the City Walls of Dubrovnik

Riding the Heidelberg Funiculars

Watching Kansas City from Liberty Memorial Tower

Gateway Arch St. Louis

Dream Wheel NJ

Top of the Rock Observation Deck

Advent Time at Skanderbeg Square Tirana (Pictured Story)

Shacolas Tower Museum and Observatory (Nicosia)

Edge NYC Observation Deck

Kolossi Castle

Mirador Roc del Quer

Walking Along Castle Ruin Hohensyburg (Dortmund – Pictured Story)

Helsinki SkyWheel

View Over Akureyri from Hlidarfljall

KölnTriangle Cologne View – a great View of Cologne

Driving Up Jebel Jais Mountain

Dhayah Fort (Ras Al Khaimah)

Gasometer Oberhausen

Visiodrom Wuppertal

Bellver Castle & Palma Municipal Museum

Hallgrimskirkja Reykjavic – Church and View from Tower

High Tea at At.mosphere Burj Khalifa Dubai

AmberSky Ferris Wheel Gdansk

Schlossbergbahn Graz

Watching Helsinki from the Olympic Stadium Tower

Expo 2020 – Garden In The Sky

Ain Dubai – The World Largest Ferris Wheel

Olivia Star Observation Deck (Gdansk)

The View At The Palm (Dubai)

SkyView De Pier Scheveningen

At The Top – Visiting Burj Khalifa in Dubai

Riding the London Eye

Rhine Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn) Cologne

Munich Olympic Tower and Rockmuseum

Views of London from One New Change (Pictured Story)

On the Rooftop of Milan Cathedral

High Tea at Euromast and Euroscoop (Rotterdam)

Umadum / Hi-Sky – A Giant Ferris Wheel in Munich

Watching Cologne from Europa Rad Ferris Wheel

Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic Hall) Hamburg

Dusseldorf Rhine Tower (Rheinturm)

Watching London from Sky Garden

The View from The Shard in London

Fujairah Fort (Pictured Story)

British Airways i360 in Brighton

Skydeck at Willis Tower by Night (Chicago)

Afternoon Tea with a View at Observation Deck at 300 in Abu Dhabi

360 Chicago and TILT!

Teide Cableway and National Park

Mount Washington and the Pittsburgh Inclines

Visting the Dubai Frame

Mashantucket Pequot Museum

On Top of Leverkusen Water Tower

The View of DC – The Observation Deck at CEB Tower Arlington

Petronas Towers & KLCC Park Kuala Lumpur

Riding the Singapore Flyer
