When you listen to music on a CD or tracks purchased via consumer services such as iTunes, you are hearing a low-resolution version of what was actually recorded and mastered in the studio. High-resolution audio offers the highest-fidelity available, far surpassing the sound quality of traditional CDs. This reissue, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Earle's debut in 1986, has been remastered from the original tapes. Among the guests joining Earle are the Pogues and bluegrass supergroup Telluride, with background vocals from Maria McKee, Radney Foster and John Cowan. Named one of the top five albums of 1988 by Rolling Stone, Steve Earle's Copperhead Road is equal parts country and rock, featuring a title track that established Earle at rock radio while still going top 10 on Billboard's country album chart.
That's enough of an accomplishment for the first chapter of power twang.' should broaden the singer's following and enliven rock radio. a dense sonic menace, like a twangy version of the Stones' Exile on Main St. side one (is) as powerful as any music made this year. Earle calls this the world's first hybrid of heavy metal and bluegrass, but perhaps a better name would be power twang. In fact, it's an extension of the country rock of his last two albums, with the guitars and drums turned up a few notches. inevitably, it will be called Steve Earle's rock record.
