Is Harlem River Blues Justin Townes Earle’s best record?  My favorite songs are all still from Midnight at the Movies, but there’s just more going on this time around. Songs like “Slippin and Slidin”, “Rogers Park,” “and Wanderin” all come together to tell a story, while “One More Night in Brooklyn,” “Workin For The MTA,” and the title track tell another.  It’s the first time Justin Townes Earle has seemed concerned with making an Album with a capital A.    

“Christchurch Woman” is one of the few songs on Harlem River Blues that sounds better on record than it does live.  This performance from Grimey’s Record Shop in Nashville is hardly the highlight of his set, but it does include Steve Earle interrupting his son’s performance with a phone call from his wife Alison Moorer.  

Lastly, if you live in the Twin Cities and need Valentine’s Day plans, Mr. Earle himself will be playing at First Ave for $15.