I don't make it much of a secret that I believe Steve Earle to be among the top 5 best songwriters still alive and working. His prolific output since his imprisonment and rehabilitation from his heroin addiction can rival anyones. Since 1995 he's released 6 studio albums that have all been met with critical raves, and he's without question a lyricist who can go verse to verse with Dylan, Waits, Prine, Westerberg, Warts and all, Steve has long been one of my favorite human beings.

The last time he released a live album, he was running on fumes. He was coming apart like a tail-spinning, twin-engine Cessna that landed as close to hell as you can get on this mortal plane. I use this rather corny metaphor, because the title of that particular live outing was "Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator." I thought it was a strange title at the time, but in hindsight I guess it makes sense - he was in bad shape and his craggy voice and utter desperation made for an effort that was at once poignant and pathetic.

Just An American Boy finds Earle rejuvenated, reborn and unrepentantly irreverent in this intentional set list that includes many of his most politically pointed songs. Whether you oppose the death penalty or you'd volunteer for the firing squad, there's no denying that the best song ever written about capital punishment is "Billy Austin." It would be a great tune if it were written about picking up litter in the streets and that's Steve's trick of the tail, he's also a master tunesmith. I can't say I always fall into step with his political stances, but when he takes on an issue, he does so in the most literate and persuasive language as any songwriter since Woody Guthrie.

His post 9/11 ode to the expatriate American John Walker Lindh, was quickly denounced as traitorous by right-wing commentators who'd probably never even heard the song - but Earle didn't raise a stink, he let the song speak for itself. "John Walker Blues," wasn't so much polemic as it was just the story of this kid. Steve doesn't take a side, he let's the listener decide - this is the case in most of his political songs and why he is held in such high esteem by other songwriters - he's a master. When it comes to telling a story that rhymes and getting a melody stuck in your head in the process, he knows few peers.

So know going in that this is what this new live release is about, Earle comes out of his corner with his Dukes up (the Dukes are the name of his band) and they're all in rare form. Most of these guys, Eric Ambel and Will Rigby in particular have been by Steve's side for nigh on two decades, literally through hell and hard time. It's not all so serious that they don't have a good time, mind you. He gives you a killer version of "Guitar Town," and it's interspersed with some funny stories and the like. Inspiring stuff, this - the production quality is right on the money and Steve sings these pugilistic songs like a fighter in his prime.