CD Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com

No sophomore slump on the latest from Justin Townes Earle titled Midnight at the Movies. The son of Steve Earle, the younger Earle has come into his own as an artist on this one a mix of melancholy love songs, Southern spirituals and country tinged ballads. While most progeny simply do not live up to their lineage Earle the younger makes a case as a contemporary to his father and not just another kid who got a recording contact because of their family roots. There is not a bad cut among the twelve here but standouts include the title cut "Midnight at the Movies", the gospel inflected "They Killed John Henry", "Mama's Eyes" where he address his family and states in the lyrics "I am my father's son", the heartbreakingly beautiful ballad "Here we go Again" and "Halfway to Jackson" where he rolls his traveling bones. A stunning country take on the Replacements "Can't Hardly Wait" resplendent with fiddles and mandolins is worth the price alone. This is a must have for your music collection. Check out www.myspace.com/justintownesearle or www.bloodshotrecords.com for more information.