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The term country these days has achieved the same status as the term folk when applied to music, derision, belligerence and dismissal. One evokes images of cowboys and line dancing, the latter beards, pipes and Arran sweaters. Well for those that dig deep enough in the fringes of these genres there are some unexpected rewards to be found, and none more so than Steve Earle. Earle seems to have grown up back to front, most artists begin as boisterous young tearaways full of angst and calm down to a quieter period in there later years. What you have with this man is an artist who has become more pushy and rebellious with age, to the point where by the time of Copperhead Road the young country guitarist had been replaced by the Harley riding, leather clad, tattooed troubadour. Image aside, what do you get for your money. Well the style is a fusion of country and rock. Forget your Dwight Yokams and your Garth Brooks, this album has more in common with John Cougar Mellencamp and even Springstein on a laid back day than the typical country sound.

The album opens with the title track, a blend of guitar, mandolin and bagpipes that builds and kicks in taking you off on a journey of bootlegging, the Vietnam War and getting on over on the police, three common themes in Earle's music. Also prevalent is the story telling nature of many of the songs, many possibly semi-autobiographical, given the themes of many of the songs and the bad-boy nature of man that penned them. The Devils Right Hand, is sat more firmly in the territory of country, a warning of the problems of carrying a gun in the old west.

The highlight of the album for me is Johnny Come Lately, the story of an American airman in London during the Second World War. Backing is provided by the Pogues and the track beautifully blends Earle's country sensibilities with the celtic folk instrumentation, accordion, whistle and banjo adding extra depth to the music. This track inadvertently shows that folk and country music are really two halves of the same coin. The later part of the album continues in a mellower and more reflective vein, showing the more philosophical and emotive side to Earle's work.

Copperhead Road shows Steve Earle immerging as an eloquent rocker with a degree of political comment and a collection of wide ranging visions and the ability to open up his own heart and wear it on his sleeve. Underneath the more raucous guitars and road warrior image the young country singer can still be seen in the background, and the two halves of the man combine to make a high octane, country tinged poignant rock album. If you are scared to dip your foot into the water that is country music then this is the place to start, its not all fringed jackets, rhinestones and Stetsons.

Learn more about this author, Dave Franklin.
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