Customer Reviews
Debut album of rocking country music - By: Peter Durward Harris, 24 Jan 2005 
When this album was released, Steve was acclaimedin some quarters as country music's version of Bruce Springsteen - high praise indeed. Subsequent albums have shown that comparisons with The Boss are spot on, including their political beliefs, but Steve has largely abandoned country musicin favor of rock. He has never forgotten his roots, as he showed on The Mountain, an album that he recorded with bluegrass musicians, but he has never recorded another album quite like Guitar town.
Steve wrote or co-wrote all the songs on this album, which contains two major country hits (the title track & Hillbilly highway), both up-tempo rocking songs, which are typical of the album's style. Steve shows that he can do ballads too - just listen to My old friend the blues, a song subsequently covered by Janie Fricke for her album, Labor of love. Another great ballad is Someday, though I generally feel that Steve is at his best on the rocking up-tempo songs.
If you enjoy rocking country music as recorded by Travis Tritt, Marty Stuart & others like them, give this album a listen. If you are a fan of Steve's later music, you'll find this album somewhat different but you'll probably enjoy it. If you're a fan of The Boss, you should definitely give Steve's music a try.
music for the heavens - By: , 26 Mar 2003 this masterclassin songwriting taps into the core of the human mind, soul & spirit. foot-tapping, country, honky-tonk rock 'n' roll never sounded quite so magnificent. Buy it, play it, live it, love it. God bless you Steve Earle.
The best debut album ever, re-mastered and re-released - By: , 19 Mar 2002 Although already something of a veteran performer by the time it was was released, Guitar Town marked Steve Earle's debut into mainstream music, without losing his country roots. Coming at a time when "new country" was finding its feet, Guitar Town was criticalin turning the world's ear towards Nashville. Kicking off with the clear, crisp title track Guitar Town & moving through the highs & lows of life with classics such as the much-covered My Old Friend The Blues (sorry Eddie Reader, Proclaimers & the rest of you - you don't do it anywhere near as good as Steve)and slower, more emotional songs such as Little Rock'n'Roller, Steve Earle produced a high standard for all of his future work. There is not one duff track on Guitar Town. It is as relevant now as it was when it was releasedin the 80's. Buy it, play it, put down the remote control - you won't need the 'skip' button.
