Alt-Country/Americana ("Roots Rock" if you want to drill down even more): Steve Earle - Guitar Town

Steve Earle’s entire career posits the question: What if that slightly cringey try-hard kid that kept coming around were actually a world-class talent in his own right?

Earle idolized Townes Van Zandt and his cohort of Austin/Denver/Nashville singer songwriters, and sort of insinuated himself into their circle, but they put up with him because he was actually a good songwriter, and brought a harder rock sensibility that was unique and interesting. I can’t say I find his output as consistent as Van Zandt or Guy Clark, but the highs are high, he’s a grand and earnest storyteller (if not exactly a wry or subtle one) and there’s a thumping beat and a unique energy to a lot of his stuff that can be really refreshing in between my endless playlist of murder ballads.