Washingto Square Serenade: A Wonderment
And certainly Steve Earl's masterpiece. I have listened to his records for years but only on "The Revolution Starts Now" do we get a taste of the genius that made this album.

After 30 years of not great records and just OK records, suddenly Steve Earl creates a bull-goose, full tilt masterpiece. My guess is that he will never top this. Perhaps it was simply the right time, place, inspiration and musicians. The juices were flowing.

This record is a must-have for any serious pop music listener. Forget about country music or "Alt Country" it's simply a great record -like Paul Simon's first solo record. It defies category.

I LOVE it!
I hadn't bought a Steve Earle CD since "Copperhead Road" and "Essential Steve Earle."Although he has shelved the rock and roll, this CD is absolutely awesome. Maybe buying it at his concert has me biased, but I don't think so. I also purchased two others afterwards, and this one is by far the best.

Pretty disappointing
I wish I'd just bought the MP3 versions of three songs on this album that are good: Sparkle and Shine, Come Home to Me, and Days Aren't Long enough, and avoided the rest; alas, I bought the whole album before I heard it. I was hoping that with this album, Steve Earle would focus less on preaching his political beliefs (see the The Revolution Starts Now album) and more on creating good music like the whole Transcendal Blues album. While this album isn't as overtly political as past recent efforts, I nevertheless didn't like it much. While three songs mentioned above were aesthetically pleasing, many were grating on the ear (e.g., Satellite Radio, Red Is The Color). City of Immigrants -- with its banal multicultural platitudes made me want to barf; and it wasn't just the lyrics -- it's just a lousy song. I don't have high hopes that Steve Earle's move to New York is going get him back to making great albums like T.B., El Corazon, or I Feel Alright; those albums were phenomenol.

Brilliant!
If you haven't yet fallen in love with Steve Earle, here's your latest chance. Wherever Steve Earle is is where Steve Earle shines, and for sure New York City is no exception. Each song is gorgeous, fresh and new. The writing and production is fabulous from what might be called "hillbilly hip-hop" on "Satellite Radio" and "Tennessee Blues" to the lilting, Beatlesque "Days Aren't Long Enough". Thoughtful, gentle "Come Home To Me" is especially poignant for those of us who've loved and lost and lived to finally find real love. "Down Here Below" is midtown Manhattan with a brilliant, NYC-meets-Tennessee banjo break. Other simply outstanding tracks include... every other song on the album. If you think you can write a song, listening to Steve Earle will either make you want to put down your pen forever or try a heck of a lot harder. The man just oozes impeccable music, and presents it in such a down home way he makes such genius seem as every-day as putting gas in your car, but we know better. I can't wait for more from Mr. Earle. Pale Male might not care, but I sure do.

Politically Correct Drivel
I like Steve Earle a lot and have several of his albums. The only song on this record I have heard is City of Immigrants. It is a catchy toon, but the lyrics are banal and politically correct. If you listen to it you will want to wrap your head in duct tape so it won't explode. The bridge is downright goofy.

Sorry Steve. You really tried too hard to be meaningful and ended up being pedagogical.

Aaakkk.