By Steve Newton As you may aware, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame crapped the bed again yesterday, inducting the likes of Whitney Houston and Depeche Mode over nominees like Thin Lizzy, Soundgarden, Judas Priest, and the MC5. So today Newt's Rock Hall is gonna match their six additions, and add a seventh to … Continue reading Newt’s Rock Hall inducts Rainbow, BTO, Steve Earle, Judas Priest, Little Feat, Todd Rundgren, and Mahogany Rush
Tag: Steve Earle
Album review: Steve Earle, Copperhead Road (1988)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 11, 1988 By Steve Newton Virginia-born and Texas-raised country rocker Steve Earle carries on the fine tradition established by his first few albums with Copperhead Road, the sort of record that can please both rock and country audiences. Earle's emphasis has shifted toward rock though, so there's definitely … Continue reading Album review: Steve Earle, Copperhead Road (1988)
Album review: Steve Earle, Jerusalem (2002)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 14, 2002 By Steve Newton In the liner notes to Jerusalem, Steve Earle refers to the likes of activists Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Abbie Hoffman as Americans who insisted on asking “the hardest questions in our darkest hours”. With the terrifying possibility of another Gulf … Continue reading Album review: Steve Earle, Jerusalem (2002)
Album review: Peter Wolf, Sleepless (2002)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 21, 2002 By Steve Newton I used to think Peter Wolf was supercool back in the ’70s, when he was fronting Boston-based party rockers the J. Geils band and delivering killer albums like Bloodshot and Live: Full House. I lost interest in the guy when the J. … Continue reading Album review: Peter Wolf, Sleepless (2002)
Album review: Steve Earle, Sidetracks (2002)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 18, 2002 By Steve Newton It’s a testament to the unremitting quality of Steve Earle’s music that this collection of—not outtakes, but, as he calls them, previously unreleased “stray tracks” is just as worthy as any of his previous CDs. Sidetracks also demonstrates the impressive range of … Continue reading Album review: Steve Earle, Sidetracks (2002)
Album review: Various Artists, Big Bad Love Soundtrack (2002)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 25, 2002 By Steve Newton This is my favourite soundtrack album of the year, so far; I must have played it 20 times already. It’s essentially a showcase for the rough-hewn backwoods boogie of North Mississippi hill-country blues artists Robert Belfour, T-Model Ford, Junior Kimbrough, and R. … Continue reading Album review: Various Artists, Big Bad Love Soundtrack (2002)
Album review: Steve Earle, I Feel Alright (1996)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 21, 1996 By Steve Newton If you’ve been wondering whatever happened to Steve Earle, join the club. Since his The Hard Way album of 1990, he’s been pretty well out of the musical picture—mainly because he was in jail for heroin possession. His run-ins with the law … Continue reading Album review: Steve Earle, I Feel Alright (1996)
Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1986
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 1986 By Steve Newton Steve Earle Guitar Town Catchy country-rock with a down home feel that sounds fresh even after repeated listenings. Eurythmics Revenge Irresistible little rock gems that make you hum whether you want to or not. Brian Setzer The Knife Feels Like Justice Stray Cat … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 1986
Newt’s Top 10 albums of 2000
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 14, 2000 By Steve Newton Sometimes I feel like I don’t know anything at all about popular music. Maybe you feel that way too—like I don’t know anything at all about popular music. I just don’t understand how a hate-filled sicko like Eminem can be revered by millions. … Continue reading Newt’s Top 10 albums of 2000
Steve Earle might cover Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top in Vancouver, but either way, it’s all good
By Steve Newton Back in the day you didn't have easy access to what songs your fave touring performers might be playing when they made it to your town. I mean, even when Steve Earle played the Commodore in Vancouver 15 years ago you weren't sure he was gonna do "Copperhead Road" until you maybe heard that … Continue reading Steve Earle might cover Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top in Vancouver, but either way, it’s all good
Delbert McClinton once taught John Lennon a few harmonica tricks
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 5, 2002 By Steve Newton To get a good idea of how admired Delbert McClinton is by today’s top country and roots artists, one need only check out the centre spread in the booklet for his new CD, Room to Breathe. It’s a black-and-white shot of McClinton in the studio, surrounded … Continue reading Delbert McClinton once taught John Lennon a few harmonica tricks
The immortal words of Country Dick Montana ring true at Steve Earle’s Vancouver show
kevin statham photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 17, 2000 By Steve Newton Some types of music are just made for drinkin’ to, and Steve Earle’s brand of down-home roots rock is one of them. And we’re not talking plain old boring beer, either. When it comes to liquid accompaniment for a Steve … Continue reading The immortal words of Country Dick Montana ring true at Steve Earle’s Vancouver show
25-year-old Gordon Downie talks “38 Years Old” on the Tragically Hip’s Up to Here tour
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 1989 By Steve Newton What's the most important element in a new band as far as making it in rock goes? Some might say financial backing, although when you look at groups like Kiss or the Sex Pistols it's pretty clear that image and/or hype are as effective … Continue reading 25-year-old Gordon Downie talks “38 Years Old” on the Tragically Hip’s Up to Here tour