On his 2008 debut, Justin Townes Earle, son of rebel troubadour Steve Earle, seemed like he was getting up to speed with classic country and folk forms. But he sounds like a natural–born honky–tonker on his new album. Bad news love songs get slowed to morphine drips; the country–blues number about John Henry showcases Earle's hot fingerpicking. Best are the wild cards, like the Replacements cover that recalls the band liked mandolins. "We don't see eye to eye," Earle sings of his dad at one point, clearly understanding the necessity.