Steve Earle reprises 10 songs by his son, the late Justin Townes Earle

The former Led Zeppelin frontman warned that there would be no ‘Hobbit songs’ – instead he rolled out an empathetic set of Americana with guests including Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Joan Baez

Rivers to roadblocks, brick walls to tall orders, whether literal, metaphorical, psychological or cultural, raise up songs about barriers for this week’s playlist, says Peter Kimpton

In 1987, Steve Earle was tearing up Nashville with his band the Dukes. To mark his 60th birthday this week, here’s a classic piece from Rock’s Backpages, the online home of music writing, originally published in Sounds

Unlucky-in-love but clean and sober, the silver-bearded 59-year-old played solo with minimal backing, writes Malcolm Jack

He may not have quite the same zip of old, but the restless country troubadour is still king of his domain, writes Martin Farrer

Steve Earle's 15th album justifies his standing as a true American great, says Neil Spencer