Pages Thursday, April 21, 2011 Steve Earle: "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive" (album review) Love him or hate him, it's hard to argue that any musician has had a rougher road than Steve Earle.  He's pulled himself up from the depths and had a great career as a result.  On April 26th Earle returns with the new album I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive . The album opens with "Waitin' On the Sky", a catchy and easy going ditty more typical of Justin Townes Earle than it is his dad.  Harmonica and muffled, distorted vocals give "Meet Me In The Alleyway" an almost Tom Waits feel.  The nautical lilt of "Gulf Of Mexico" lends the song a Pogues-like flavour. Of course, there's plenty of country sounds on the album.  You almost want to strew sawdust on the floor for the twangy stomper "Little Emperor".  A mucky banjo drives the tour de force "Molly-O". Unfortunately, this is a bit of a bipolar album.  As much as those more up tempo country numbers stand out, so too do the slower numbers fail.  Tracks like "God Is God", "Every Part of Me", and "This City" are slow, dull songs, with lyrics not strong enough to make them stand out. Despite the lulls, I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive , provides enough memorable moments to earn itself a recommendation.  After all, you can't expect perfection for 30 years. Steve Earle plays the Molson Ampitheatre in Toronto on