Album Review

Justin Townes Earle – Absent Fathers

• 12th Jan 2015

Justin Townes Earle releases his second album in just a couple of months. Originally intending to record a double album, Earle instead decided that there were two distinct themes within the twenty completed songs. And so we now have the heartfelt and emotional Absent Fathers to sit alongside late 2014’s equally expressive Single Mothers. Taken together the pair are an honest, introspective and at times heartbreaking account of how family life can be when it all goes wrong.

Musically, Absent Fathers sees Earle continues with the stripped back Americana approach, the focus very much on the lyrics which are delivered in his distinctive deep and laconic voice. Backed by the slow strumming of his acoustic guitar and some delicious steel guitar work, the bluesy feel to the album emphasises the mournful nature of the songs.

Sitting at the centre of the album is the slow and quite brilliant Day And Night, a track that looks back yet also forwards. Earle’s past is clearly outlined, then he explains how his new love allows him to overcome it. And as the sun comes up to greet a new day he knows that he has the strength to overcome his doubts one day. Day And Night displays wonderful songwriting with tenderness and pain clearly displayed, but also the resilience to put past hurts aside and move on with life.

There are plenty of other highlights too. The opening Farther From Me sets the scene with a country style exploration of the pain caused by a father’s absence. The comparatively upbeat Call Yo Mamma has a lovely melody while When the One You Love Loses Faith is quite sublime in its dark beauty. The closing Looking For A Place To Land sees a thoughtful Earle and his acoustic guitar searching for something, or perhaps somewhere, as he sees his long journey coming close to a conclusion. It works on many different levels and ends the album with just a hint of hope.

Absent Fathers and Single Mothers have to be taken together to make most sense of the work. Justin Townes Earle has reached deep within himself and the resulting songs are as good as anything he has written. At times it is dark, and in places the desolate and loveless lyrics are difficult to hear. But Earle’s skill is to make the music so compulsive that the listener is drawn in and compelled to hear his story. And as always he has a story well worth telling.

Venue: Absent Fathers
Support Band: Loose Music