Released 10 years ago
Colvin & Earle
Steve Earle · 2016
33 min · 10 tracks · blues
A soulful blend of Americana and folk, where heartfelt harmonies intertwine with reflective storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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Come What May Start here — The opening track sets the tone with its poignant lyrics about resilience and acceptance, encapsulating the themes of the entire album.
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Tobacco Road — This cover infuses new life into a classic, highlighting the duo's ability to reinterpret traditional songs while maintaining their roots.
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You’re Right (I’m Wrong) — A standout duet that showcases Earle and Colvin's vocal chemistry, reflecting on themes of regret and reconciliation with an infectious melody.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and intimate performances, though it remains within familiar genre boundaries.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic instrumentation, with guitars and subtle percussion driving the arrangements.
- Each track typically alternates between Earle and Colvin on lead vocals, creating a conversational dynamic throughout the record.
- Several songs incorporate call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the interplay between the two artists.
- 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 mid-tempo reflective moments
- heartfelt storytelling through harmonies
- for cozy gatherings
- suitable for afternoon relaxation
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer standalone singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality in Earle's career with strong collaboration and critical acclaim.
- Career context
- In 2016, Steve Earle was in a collaborative phase, partnering with fellow singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin for this album. This marked Earle's return to the studio after his 2015 release, 'Terraplane', showcasing his continued evolution in blending genres and storytelling through music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Lucinda Williams· Townes Van Zandt· Ryan Adams
Tracklist
- 1 Come What May Start here 3:11
- 2 Tell Moses 3:41
- 3 Tobacco Road 2:49
- 4 Ruby Tuesday 3:35
- 5 The Way That We Do 4:20
- 6 Happy and Free 2:17
- 7 You Were on My Mind 2:56
- 8 You’re Right (I’m Wrong) 4:13
- 9 Raise the Dead 2:51
- 10 You’re Still Gone 3:41
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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