Steve Earle Album: “Jerusalem”

When I heard that Steve Earle's next record was going to be "very political", I got worried. Not because I disagreed with Earle's politics, or because I don't like political songs, or even because I don't like Earle's political songs. The reason I was worried was that I expected it to be forced; which I expected might limit the focus Earle would put on the music and lessen the quality of his lyrics. I WAS WRONG!!

What I got when I played the CD was a record fairly similar to my other Steve Earle records. No, its not a retread of old ideas musically or lyrically, but its a hodgepodge of styles with some topical lyrics and some thoughtful, but not necessarily political lyrics.

There's been much ado about Steve Earle's newest disc, JERUSALEM, specifically the tune "John Walker's Blues". You're standard bunch of right-wing chicken littles have called for Mr. Earle's head because he "glorifies" the so-called "American Taliban". All that ado turns out to be a whole lotta nothin`, as Steve gives us what he thinks - in his own unique way - is a glimpse into the mind of young Mr. Lindh. There's no glory here; just a confused boy looking for truth and finding only hate and destruction.

Now, if that's all there was to JERUSALEM, we'd have problems. As nifty a tune as "John Walker" is - and it is a pretty nifty tune; Woody would be proud - it's nowhere near the best cut on yet another top-shelf record by Nashville's baddest bad boy. Continuing the stripped-down "loud folk" of such masterpieces as EL CORAZON and TRANSCENDENTAL BLUES, JERUSALEM is raw, rocking and defiant. The overly political Earle lashes out with much fear and loathing at many of the hot topics in today's Generic America. The brilliant "Amerika v.6.0 (The Best We Can Do)" takes to task the former idealists of the baby Boomer generation who've sold out the dream for comfort, stability and a big S.U.V. "Conspiracy Theory" asks hard questions, those same questions that will get you branded a "nutball" or "trouble maker" by the mainstream media. Earle even takes The Boss to task with "What's A Simple Man To Do?" which sounds like a NEBRASKA outtake, harkening back to a day when the Jersey Boy wasn't quite so comfortable.

Speaking of Springsteen, Earle's "Go Amanda" has a raw, loose feeling like the best roots rock should, slipping out of the political mode for some good ol' fashioned rockin'. The title track closes the whole affair with questions about the Holy Land that no one seems to want to answer. They're too busy killing each other in God's name to listen to His words, I guess.

Clocking in at around 36 minutes, JERUSALEM's only fault is it's short length. Earle has always peppered his music with his politics - from "Billy Austin" on 1990's THE HARD WAY to his brilliant anti-death penalty song "Ellis Unit One". This current record takes it one notch higher with questions that deserve answers. There's always a danger with political music of getting trapped in a specific period like a fly in amber. Witness Joan Baez, if you will, but only "John Walker's Blues" has that sort of immediacy. Unfortunately, like Woody Guthrie's music, the questions asked on the rest of JERUSALEM will always need to be asked until we all realize this can't be the best we can do.

I am not a Steve Earle fan and I know very little about his previous work. I have "The Essential Steve Earle" and don't care for it, but I am impressed by this CD. The lyrics are thought provoking, the Dylanesque songs are catchy, and the edgy production gives the album just the right sound.

I caught Steve on Conan O'Brien singing "Jerusalem", what a fantastic song. It is definitely the highlight of the CD, but, save for one song, the rest of the CD is very listenable. It's one of those CD's you can put in and listen all the way through without fast forwarding by a stinker.

John Walker's Blues is an intriguing song. I heard the talking heads bashing it on the morning talk shows, taking the lyrics out of context. The whole scene reminded me of the press' crucifixion of John Lennon after his infamous Jesus remark.

September 11th was a tragedy, but we don't all goose step to the drum beat of war. Eventually, other voices, those of peace and reason, will prevail. I pray that I am here "when the lion and the lamb will lie down in peace together in Jerusalem."

I enjoyed this album and the straight ahead aspects of it. The last two albums seemed to be filled with variety just for the variety's sake. This album's heavy songs blend well with the more folky songs later on. The only song that I did not enjoy was Jerusalem. I like political songs, but not when they are wielded with such a heavy hand, like on the song Jerusalem and most of Steve's new album. I'd pick the subtler Copperhead Road, Christmas in Washington, and Taneytown as political songs that I like better.

You know, if somebody is closeminded, that's their right, but if you don't listen to other opinions, than you're not going to learn anything or understand where they are coming from. Steve Earle is a patriot, pure and simple. He fights for those who don't have a voice, or whose voice is drowned out by the masses. This is an intelligent, thought provoking work of art, and will question your American identity. Steve Earle loves his country, and he tells us what he thinks will make us a stronger nation as a whole. If you don't like it, that's fine, but you have no right to call him a traitor. He asks you why did John Walker turn to the taliban. What were his reasons? and to be honest, I think Steve hit that one right on the head; Isolated and rejected by our present day society more infatuated by whose this weeks American Idol, who is left on some deserted island to be voted off next week, whose parents are choosing dates for their daughters on Mtv, whose daughters are getting birthday bashes diva style on Mtv, and who gets left behind by our own desires and egos.