Steve Earle took himself off the road from supporting his 2013 effort The Low Highway to prep yet another LP, but this time the country and folk favourite is taking himself into a bluesier direction. Titled Terraplane, the genre excursion arrives February 17 through New West Records.
An interview with Earle reveals that he and the Dukes undertook recording sessions at Nashville's House of Blues Studio D, following writing sessions on the road inspired by artists like Lightning Hopkins. Earle admitted that the bluesy cycle also took advantage of the Dukes' many talents.
"This is the best band I've ever had," he told Rolling Stone, "and that's part of the reason for me wanting to make a blues record. Chris Masterson cut his teeth on this stuff in Texas. He started out playing blues guitar, almost exclusively. He's really good at it."
Down below, you'll hear Masterson's slide guitar work and Earle's ruminative musings on the album's "You're the Best Lover That I Ever Had." The record came in the wake of Earle's separation from seventh wife Allison Moorer, with the relationship occasionally cropping up as a theme in the songwriter's lyrics.
"Everything that happens to me will find its way into my lyrics, which can be an advantage as a writer and a disadvantage as a person," Earle said. "I don't wanna hurt anybody's feelings. I'm not trying to be mean. But I'm not gonna not write about what's happening, so there's a lot of sad stuff here. It was a good time to make a blues record."
Though details have yet to be revealed, Earle and the Dukes have a spring tour in the works. Earle will also has a January residency at New York City's City Winery, and you can get the details of that here.
Terraplane:
1. Baby Baby Baby (Baby)
2. You're the Best Lover That I Ever Had
3. The Tennessee Kid
4. Ain't Nobody's Daddy Now
5. Better Off Alone
6. The Usual Time
7. Go Go Boots Are Back
8. Acquainted With the Wind
9. Baby's Just as Mean as Me
10. Gamblin' Blues
11. King of the Blues
An interview with Earle reveals that he and the Dukes undertook recording sessions at Nashville's House of Blues Studio D, following writing sessions on the road inspired by artists like Lightning Hopkins. Earle admitted that the bluesy cycle also took advantage of the Dukes' many talents.
"This is the best band I've ever had," he told Rolling Stone, "and that's part of the reason for me wanting to make a blues record. Chris Masterson cut his teeth on this stuff in Texas. He started out playing blues guitar, almost exclusively. He's really good at it."
Down below, you'll hear Masterson's slide guitar work and Earle's ruminative musings on the album's "You're the Best Lover That I Ever Had." The record came in the wake of Earle's separation from seventh wife Allison Moorer, with the relationship occasionally cropping up as a theme in the songwriter's lyrics.
"Everything that happens to me will find its way into my lyrics, which can be an advantage as a writer and a disadvantage as a person," Earle said. "I don't wanna hurt anybody's feelings. I'm not trying to be mean. But I'm not gonna not write about what's happening, so there's a lot of sad stuff here. It was a good time to make a blues record."
Though details have yet to be revealed, Earle and the Dukes have a spring tour in the works. Earle will also has a January residency at New York City's City Winery, and you can get the details of that here.
Terraplane:
1. Baby Baby Baby (Baby)
2. You're the Best Lover That I Ever Had
3. The Tennessee Kid
4. Ain't Nobody's Daddy Now
5. Better Off Alone
6. The Usual Time
7. Go Go Boots Are Back
8. Acquainted With the Wind
9. Baby's Just as Mean as Me
10. Gamblin' Blues
11. King of the Blues