Steve Earle – I Feel Alright (1996)

October 25, 2024

Steve Earle’s “Feel Alright,” the opening track here, appears in Season 2 of HBO’s critically acclaimed The Wire. I think for that reason, it feels more like a closing track than an opening one, but here it is in its original format, steering us into the smokey world of Steve Earle a la 1996.

Steve’s been through some shit. I know nothing about the guy and I’ve only heard this one album, but this guy sings about some of the lows he’s had, and the places he’s been, and he’s lived a life I wish not to emulate. The price has been paid however, but make hay when the sun shines, because he’s turned these harrowing experiences into some beauty country pieces for us. Highly recommended.