★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ten beautifully crafted songs about West Virginia, specifically about coal miners and their dangerous, disappearing way of life. Earle is a fantastic songwriter, of course, but here I think he surpasses himself, treating the subject with reverence and righteous ire (as when he howls the names of the 29 miners killed in the 2010 explosion on "It's About Blood"). An artist taking on the voice of a working man is always a tricky task, but for me I don't think he made a misstep on the album. Earle's voice at this point is a raspy growl, which he uses to perfect effect. Favorite tracks: "Heaven Ain't Goin' Nowhere," "Union, God and Country," "Black Lung," "The Mine."
