Roots

The latest releases reviewed

T BONE BURNETT
Tooth of Crime
Nonesuch Records
****
The origins of this rich and dark collection of songs lie with the American playwright and actor Sam Shepard. He asked the much- lauded guitarist, songwriter and producer to write songs for the 1996 restaging of his 1972 play, Tooth of Crime, a surreal plot in which two musicians, a rock star and a wannabe, engage in a verbal battle to decide who will occupy the rock'n'roll throne. That background is key to getting a handle on these 10 tracks of varying intensity and colour, which draw on Burnett's encyclopaedic knowledge of American music. Apparently Burnett, currently leading the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss live band, did not like the 1996 versions, but 12 years of work later he seems happier with their dystopian character. It's not easy listening, but it is intriguing and strangely compelling.  www.tboneburnett.com JOE BREEN
Download Dope Island, Swizzle Stick

STEVE EARLE
Live from Austin, Tx
New West
***
Steve Earle goes through musical styles the way some people change clothes. This collection, culled from a TV show in 2000, shows him in fine form, stretching songs from his recently released Transcendental Blues, the title track of which kicks off this set. This was a good band, with plenty of edge but enough flexibility to carry the softer side of the Texan's songwriting, such as More Than I Can Do and I Can Wait. Basically, the guitars are turned up loud for the first half and the acoustics are pulled out for the second, closing with a nine-minute version of his classic Christmas in Washington- though methinks he might like to review his belief that whoever gets elected doesn't matter for the ordinary man.  www.steveearle.com JOE BREEN
Download tracks: Christmas in Washington, Another Town