Album Review: Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now

Justin Townes Earle is a towering, tattooed Nashvillean who sings of love, life and loss. Familiar subject matter it may be, but Earle tells it in his own incomparable way, aided by colourful life experiences littered with law-breaking and drug use. He is blessed with a voice that can be beautifully soft and composed one moment, then laced with edgy drama the next. It almost seems effortless for Earle, who at just 30 years of age has a polished and soulful voice that belies his three-decade existence.

Having recorded the album live at Echo Mountain studios in Carolina with the intention to release original one-take efforts, Earle has employed a minimalist approach for album number five, Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now. With shades of rockabilly around a country and soul core, Look The Other Way and Baby's Got a Bad Idea find Earle at his most rocking on this release. The title track could well have you swaying with its beautifully emotive arrangements and Earle's delicate vocal delivery. Memphis In The Rain has a swinging soul sound, while the bluesy Movin' On explores family affairs, as Earle reflects: “I'm tryin' to move on, I'm tryin' to move on”.

Not only a contender for longest record title of the year, it should also top many end of year lists for its quality songwriting and Earle's wonderful vocal work. With continual comparisons and references to his famous father Steve growing a little tiresome, this record will go a long way to further strengthening Justin Townes Earle's immense capability as an artist in his own right.