*This item is a PRE-ORDER set to ship in May, any items purchased with this pre-order will not ship until May. If you wish to receive your non pre-order items sooner, please place them on a separate order* The music Earle creates on Harlem River Blues is fresh and appealing in an old-fashioned kind of way. Listen to "Move Over Mama" -- you know you've heard it before, but it sounds different somehow. The ability to explore familiar styles and sounds while not just imitating them is Earle's gift. The album offers an impressive variety of styles. While the title track sounds like gospel music that's been kicked in the backside by Elvis, Earle follows it with what might initially seem like the standard "I've lost my love and I'm sad" kind of ballad. But it's really a metaphoric slap in the face -- a call to stop wasting time with those who aren't willing to give us what we want or need. -- NPR