National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Steve Earle became a guiding light in the alternative country of the '90s with his ambitious blend of the attitude of outlaw country, the sheer power of heartland rock populism and the well-crafted lyrical commitment of America's greatest singer/songwriters.
All of that would have been more than enough for most folks, but Steve Earle - like Bob Dylan, John Lennon and John R. Cash--is in it for the long haul; repeatedly uncovering and tapping into myriad sources while maintaining an artistic essence which is unmistakably his own. Drawing on strong, snaky roots which tap into ancient waters, Earle welded rock muscle to country, Texas to Nashville, traditional to progressive, Beatles to Stones, Irish to Americana, punk to bluegrass and, uh, the blues to transcendence.

— CalabashMusic.com