Washington Square Serenade - STEVE EARLE

"Goodbye, 'Guitar Town,' " Steve Earle sings in "Tennessee Blues." That opening track of his New West debut is an ode to New York, his new hometown. The city is also the focus of "Down Here Below," the wittiest, most sardonic song you'll ever hear about the impact of Wall Street wealth on New York real estate; and "City of Immigrants," featuring New York-based Brazilian roots band Forro in the Dark. There are love songs as pretty as any Earle has ever recorded ("Sparkle and Shine" and, with wife Allison Moorer, "Days Aren't Long Enough"), but "Serenade" is most compelling when Earle snarls in his irrefutable way at Middle East warmakers ("Jericho Road") and rural drug pushers ("Oxycontin Blues"). And on "Steve's Hammer (For Pete)," Earle recommits himself to the principles of Pete Seeger and fighting for justice. —Wayne Robins.