Absent Fathers
Justin Townes Earle · 2015
35 min · 11 tracks · country music
Intimate storytelling weaves through a tapestry of folk and Americana, reflecting deeply personal themes with understated instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Why — This track encapsulates the album's introspective nature, featuring poignant lyrics that delve into questions of identity and purpose.
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When the One You Love Loses Faith — With its haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics, this song powerfully captures the sense of loss and longing prevalent throughout the album.
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Looking for a Place to Land — The closing track beautifully summarizes the album's themes of searching for solace and belonging, showcasing Earle's lyrical prowess.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong songwriting and intimate storytelling, with effective pacing and emotional depth.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks establish a steady mid-tempo pace, while the fourth track introduces a more upbeat rhythm that contrasts with the preceding songs.
- Several tracks feature sparse instrumentation, allowing Earle's vocals and lyrics to take center stage, particularly in 'When the One You Love Loses Faith'.
- The album closes with a reflective tone, as the last two tracks slow down the tempo and emphasize introspective themes.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- bittersweet themes of personal struggle
- short tracks for focused listening
- for quiet afternoon reflections
- emotional depth without overwhelming intensity
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat party anthems
- prefer longer, sprawling albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2015, 'Absent Fathers' is Justin Townes Earle's fifth studio album, following his critically acclaimed work 'Single Mothers.' This record showcases Earle’s continued evolution as a songwriter and musician, marked by a raw authenticity that resonates throughout his discography.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sturgill Simpson· Jason Isbell· Kacey Musgraves
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Farther From Me 3:44
- 2 Why 2:25
- 3 Least I Got the Blues 2:29
- 4 Call Ya Momma 3:37
- 5 Day and Night 4:21
- 6 Round the Bend 2:33
- 7 When the One You Love Loses Faith 4:11
- 8 Slow Monday 2:19
- 9 Someone Will Pay 2:12
- 10 Looking for a Place to Land 3:29
- 11 Dreams 4:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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