Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life

This young country crooner’s name carries a double curse: the son of Nashville rebel and hardcore troubadour Steve Earle is also named for legendary songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Most aspiring artists would find such associations daunting. But the younger Earle, who sounds older and wiser than his 25 years, triumphs with this startlingly strong debut album. Featuring a pre-war roots sound on originals like saloon-swinging “Hard Livin’” and the shuffling “South Georgia Sugar Babe,” it’s a honky-tonkin’ winner.

Mar. 25