I don’t usually post up the albums I don’t enjoy, but there’s been a whole run of bad albums by great artists, and it got me annoyed.
Steve Earle – Guy
Genre: Alternative Country
Rating: 4.5/10
Commentary: A collection of really great songs by Guy Clarke, covered really badly in the deadly-earnest old-tired-guy style which has characterized Steve Earle’s last several albums.
Listen here
Patty Griffin – Patty Griffin
Genre: Country/Folk
Rating: 5/10
Commentary: Perfectly forgettable.
Listen here
Townes van Zandt – Sky Blue
Genre: Alternative Country
Rating: 5.5/10
Commentary: Recorded just shortly before the magisterial Live at the Old Quarter, this album serves as another reminder that Townes was great live and mostly not great in the studio.
Listen here
Son Volt – Union
Genre: Alternative Country
Rating: 2.5/10
Commentary: Some of the worst material Son Volt has recorded, ever. An embarrassingly trite and completely ineffective album of bad protest and slogan songs.
Listen here