Copperhead Road Album Views
Copperhead Road is an American country music/country rock album released in 1988 by Steve Earle. Often referred to as Earle's first rock record , Earle himself calls it the world's first blend of heavy metal and bluegrass, while in their January 26, 1989 review of the album Rolling Stone suggested the style be known as power twang .[1]
In declaring Copperhead Road Rock Album of the Week on October 21, 1988, The New York Times described it as ...exactly half of a brilliant album, with five smart, ornery, memorable story-songs. [2] With references to Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp and The Rolling Stones the paper applauded Earle for introducing country music's storytelling and three-chord structures to rockabilly and contemporary rock music. Side two, however, the Times dismissed as strictly average love songs and a hokey Christmas song.[2] Time Magazine, including it in the September 19, 1988 Critics' Choices, described it as a rock- inflected, country-based album that takes long chances with big themes... and does them proud .[3]
It was a month into the new year before Rolling Stone finally published their review of Copperhead Road. On January 26, 1989, Rob Tannenbaum wrote that the album begins murderously and ends sentimentally... split into two song cycles , and described the album's first side as being as powerful as any music made this year . Of side two he admits disappointment at conventional love songs, saying Earle has already examined this terrain and done a better job of it. Nonetheless, a review that compares Earle to Randy Newman, Bruce Springsteen, and Waylon Jennings among others concludes with Rolling Stone's designating Earle an important artist and finding Copperhead Road worthy of four stars.[1]
Steve Earle and Nashville had had just about enough of one another once it came time for him to cut his third album in 1988. Earle's first two albums, Guitar Town and Exit 0, had sold well and earned enthusiastic reviews, but his stubborn refusal to make nice, his desire to make more rock-influenced albums, and the faint but clear Leftism in his populist lyrical stance made him no friends at MCA's Nashville offices, and his growing dependence on heroin didn't help matters one bit. Earle was moved to MCA's Los Angeles-based Uni imprint, and he headed to Memphis to cut his third album, Copperhead Road. The result improbably became one of Earle's strongest albums; between its big drum sound, arena-sized guitars, and a swagger that owed more to sra" Read more
Copperhead Road Album Images
