Steve Earle: The Mountain : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

When country music's angriest young man at last had a big-time hit (1988's Copperhead Road), his life was fast headed toward shambles. Six marriages and a prison term wiser, Steve Earle resurfaced in 1995 to serve a fresh obsession: music. Four years and as many albums since, Earle has kept a daunting pace: label co-owner, co-producer, performer, mentor. Joined on The Mountain by the Del McCoury Band, perhaps the finest bluegrass ensemble working, Earle set himself the task of writing some songs that might survive him. There's hubris there, and risk, for Warner Bros. is no longer footing the bills, but this is a vigorous, invigorating album. The simple, longing duet with Iris DeMent, "I'm Still in Love With You," is extraordinary; "Harlan Man" rocks rebelliously; "Carrie Brown" weeps truculently; and "Outlaw's Honeymoon" chuckles in the face of mortality. No hits, plenty of runs, no errors.