More grizzled and pungent than ever before, Earle’s voice is at the heart of Jerusalem, the album which brought his political positions to the forefront of his songwriting. “Jerusalem” and the infamous “John Walker’s Blues” (which identifies with John Walker Lindh, the jailed American jihadist) both address the effects of George Bush’s America with anger, empathy, and more than a little bit of hope. While Jerusalem garnered attention for its overtly political tone, the album contains some memorable songs designed in the classic Steve Earle mold. “Go Amanda” is a rollicking, woman-on-the-run tune written in collaboration with Sheryl Crow, while “I Remember You” could have come from Train A Comin’ or even Guitar Town: a duet with Emmylou Harris, the song’s narrator stalks a nighttime town, haunted by the memories of an old flame. As troubled as he is by life in a modern-day “shadowland,” Earle’s triumph is his refusal to address his worries, and the worries of the world around him, with anything less than candor and compassion.