Customer Reviews

Exit 0

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not only the album title, "Exit 0" but also the opening cut, "Nowhere Road," testify to what many assumed to be Steve Earle's ultimate destination for so long. Now cleaned up and apparently doing well--both creatively and personally--Earle fought so many demons for so long that most folks assumed this prodigiously talented musician and composer would end up dead in a ditch by the side of the road. Perhaps mindful of this possibility, Earle works the road metaphor here and mines continual and astonishing riches out of it. "Nowhere Road" admits, "I push that road from here to someday/I'll push as long as I'm alive, but I don't know how long I'll last . . . I know I'm going way too fast." "Sweet Little '66" is Buddy Holly-inspired ode to a favorite Chevy and the rest of the songs mostly have to do with roads, traveling, hotels--anything to get away from the here and now. The rest of the songs are just as good. Earle shows flashes of sly humor here, too--it's not all serious "poor me, I have to get away" stuff. On "The Week of Living Dangerously," he talks about taking off from his wife and kids--eventually even throwing the baby's car seat in a Dumpster so he can go off and have an unimpeded, uninterrupted good time!

During a 1986 tour stop in New York City, Earle sat for an interview with Rolling Stone and promised his next album was "already 3/4 written" and would be "more political." Released in early 1987 with virtually no label support due to his increasing dependence on addictive drugs, Earle pushed "Exit 0" sales into the six-figure realm through relentless touring and word of mouth. Earle had been performing some of the escapist-themed tunes here - "The Week of Living Dangerously," "Sweet Little 66," and the haunting "Number 29" for more than a year, and the masterful farm anthem "The Rain Came Down" was added "strictly out of guilt 'cause no one at Farm Aid knew who I was." There is heightened restlessness ("I Ain't Ever Satisfied") alongside youthful exhuberance ("San Antonio Girl") sometimes placing the listener in a quandry, but only because Earle's tautly-drawn characters are so believable. Producer Richard Bennett's trademark 6-string bass is not as prominent, which was probably a signpost of Earle's desire to venture into rock territory on future projects. Regardless of which camp he intended to visit, Exit 0 makes for a most interesting stop.

Exit 0, and its predecessor Guitar Town are two of the best examples of Singer/Songwriting in American music - simple as that. Even if the rock-a-billy style isn't your thing, Steve Earle writes poetry about living in rural America that should strike a chord with everyone. Grab these records while you can - in 20 yrs. you'll be glad you did.

I bought this tape at a flea market in Arizona the next day on the way to California I opened the tape and the soundtrack to Labamba was inside imagine the anger.I did get the tape and wore it out No.29 is haunting ,a man reflecting on what once was in his past talking about the pain of an old football injury but it reminds him when is was No.29.The song angry young man is a great is another great piece.Thank God Steve did not die young like Hank or Gram.Get this cd if you can

Steve Earle is one of a precious few; his name should be mentioned in the same breath as other great songwriters such as Tom Waits. And, like Waits, he is off the beaten track. This means he'll never have a Christmas Special, and also would probably never want one. He is the real thing; as lost and broken as your worst night. Give him a chance. He is a true original - no small achievement.

In a determined move to take control of the character of his sound, Steve Earle rides the faders into the red zone, mixing brittle country steel with a revved up guitar licks and forces his way past corporate country experts to begin the definition of a genre. Subtley blending his vocal twang and storytime lyrics with hot guitars and RnR attitude, he opens the bar room door and sucks you in. Just about the time you think that Music Row has a place for him, he sneaks in a harmonica ala Dylan and introduces you to an Angry Young Man, a TexMex San Antonio harlot complete with cheezy Sam the Sham Farfisa Organ, and the declaration of his intention to take life on his OWN terms.. I Aint Ever Satisfied. It proved to be quite prophetic. A clinic in writing and recording for the sake of the song. Townes would be proud.

This album has a few of Steve Earle's best songs, notably "The Rain Came Down" and "I Ain't Ever Satisfied." If you don't know Mr. Earle's work, you would do well to use this as an introduction...it was mine and I still listen to it 10 years later.

In a determined move to take control of the character of his sound, Steve Earle rides the faders into the red zone, mixing brittle country steel with a revved up guitar licks and forces his way past corporate country experts to begin the definition of a genre. Subtley blending his vocal twang and storytime lyrics with hot guitars and RnR attitude, he opens the bar room door and sucks you in. Just about the time you think that Music Row has a place for him, he sneaks in a harmonica ala Dylan and introduces you to an Angry Young Man, a TexMex San Antonio harlot complete with cheezy Sam the Sham Farfisa Organ, and the declaration of his intention to take life on his OWN terms.. I Aint Ever Satisfied. It proved to be quite prophetic. A clinic in writing and recording for the sake of the song. Townes would be proud.

this album by steve earle and the dukes is one of the best he has ever done and i wouldnt mind hearing more from him

I had this on tape years ago and I liked it so much I wore it out.