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Title: Transcendental Genre Hopping
Review: In what was his most genre-defiant album since his masterworkCopperhead Road, Steve Earle stuffed "Transcendental Blues" with every idea he wanted to. There's everything from his standard randy country-folk, a bit ofRubber SoulBeatles, a dab ofByrdsianpsychedelic folk, and even an Irish Stomper in the concert fave "Galway Girl." However, despite the title, the album is rarely transcendent, even if it does touch the blues at times.TBlues is still pretty much what we Steve Earle fans would expect. Earle maintains his excellent songwriting, penning a pair of great songs in the title song and the album's closer, "Jonathan's Song." The latter, a somber and funny look at his ultimate passing on, is sparse and lovely. It ranks as one of his best. While casual fans might find "Transcendental Blues" to be a bit too eclectic (I'd suggestEl CorazónorWashington Square Serenadeas starting points), it is still a solid album.
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