Joe Ely
Streets of Sin (Rounder) Last year’s Flatlanders reunion was a welcome turn in the Texas time machine, but Joe Ely fans have been jonesing for a solo dose of the Austin firebrand for a good long while now. Well, the wait is over. Was it worth it? That depends on how big a fan you are. Streets of Sin is Ely’s 15th album and his first set of new material in five years. It’s neither a step forward nor back — he seems to be running in place — and for some that may be enough. For sure, there are a number of remarkable moments here. The title track, an intense dirge, is the album’s centerpiece, where Ely urgently asks, “If I come back home, would you let me in?” After nearly 30 years of sweat, dust, and thousands of miles down the road, it’s going to be difficult to answer no to that question. The fiery set opener, “Fightin’ for My Life,” and the easygoing country blues “Wind’s Gonna Blow You Away,” both written by Butch Hancock, show off two of Ely’s best sides: one the high-energy rocker, the other the thoughtful troubadour. That said, tunes like the laid-back “Run Little Pony” and bouncy “95 South” seem like trifles in comparison. Some of these will translate better in person, and that’s the great part of Streets of Sin. When Ely’s onstage spitting out this West Texas rock & roll, redemption will certainly be at hand.
This article appears in July 18 • 2003.