Wow, Mud..that is a pretty scathing indictment of ol' Steve.   And he wouldn't be the first person to dump on Cashville.  A lot of people have negative feelings about the music "industry" there, and been very vocal about it.  Kevin Welch gave me a real eye opener about it at a music seminar once, and man it ain't pretty.  Also, it's difficult sometimes to separate the person (whom we might admire or detest), from the music they create.  I would imagine he would be a very "difficult" personality, with a rather LARGE EGO,(compared to say, Mellencamp, who is just a natural born prick from what I've heard, and seen.. let's face it),  but I like the way he has developed the Americana thing to go beyond traditional instrumentation and do things like hip/hop beats, and using musicians from other slants on his album, like when he did the Irish thing with the Pogues on Copperhead Road.  So...I will at least try to hear a few tracks from the new one before judging...although I haven't bought anything of his in over 10 years.  And the fact that he has chosen NYC in which to live, doesn't faze me much either.  He just wanted to be real close to the Delicatessens, 'cause they're open late at night there, and have much better corned beef sandwiches than Nashville.   Seriously, it's the only reason (inside scoop).   Rumor has it, ol' Steve likes a good nosh pretty regularly...especially after hours.  : )