I was excited yesterday to see that Justin Townes Earle has signed with Chicago's trend-setting Bloodshot Records. His feature-length debut, The Good Life, will be released next spring. In the meantime, Bloodshot will re-distribute Yuma, an EP from earlier this year.

With Justin Townes Earle's pedigree comes mixed blessings. As the son of legendary singer/songwriter Steve Earle, high expectations are the name of the game; but he's shown that he is up to the task, crafting stark portraits with elements of acoustic blues and folk. After a misspent youth in bluegrass/ragtime combo The Swindlers and the louder, more rocking The Distributors, the 25-year-old cleaned up his act, dropped his self-destructive habits and began to focus on songcraft. With inspirations as diverse as Townes Van Zandt (he was named in honor of the elder Earle's hero), The Replacements, Ray Charles and The Pogues, Justin forged his own brand of American roots music. His self-released EP Yuma received great notice in Nashville Scene, Leo Weekly, The Bohemian, Twangville and others, attracting the attention of Bloodshot Records. Look for Yuma to become available in wide release through Bloodshot soon.
 
The Good Life is produced by RS Field, who has made his mark on critically acclaimed albums by Billy Joe Shaver, Sonny Landreth, Webb Wilder and Buddy Guy. Recording is underway at House of David studios, the legendary room that has hosted sessions with George Jones, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Presley, Neil Young and countless others. Joining Earle in the studio are a cast of all-star players including longtime cohort Cory Yountes (Bobby Bare, Jr) on banjo and mandolin, pedal steel player master Pete Finney (Dixie Chicks, Patty Loveless), bassist Bryn Davies (Patty Griffin, Guy Clark), drummer Bryan Owings (Buddy Miller, Shelby Lynne), keyboardist Skylar Wilson and fiddle player Josh Hedley.

I first fell for Justin's music with his "Time You Waste" from Just An American Boy, and then lucked into a copy of his demo CD at SXSW in 2006. I'm already looking forward to The Good Life.