CD | Justin Townes Earle | MIDNIGHT AT THE MOVIES

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justin townes earl - inertia
 
As a person who is drawn to music by the amount of synth it spews forth, I did not expect to like a country album; no matter how ‘alternative’ it claimed to be. But its mandolin hooks, and knee-slapping tempos converted me almost immediately. Midnight at the Movies is Justin Townes Earle’s second album, and boy does it deliver.

 

Some tracks are forgettable, but this Nashville album crescendos as the songs pass by and crosses many different music styles on its way. ‘What I Mean to You’ could easily be used in a Pixar movie as the comically-heartfelt song about friendship, while ‘They Killed John Henry’ almost sounds like a parody a la the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. There are some slumps in this album but Earle’s catchy cover of The Replacements’ ‘Can’t Hardly Wait’, and the upbeat bopper ‘Walk Out’ make up for it.

 

As the genre ‘alternative country’ suggests, Midnight at the Movies really isn’t your typical country album. Earle’s provided a nice little bridge between country and indie, so walk on over and get bopping. -Jemma