Like his style: a storyteller/ balladeer; can be heavy or light-hearted; lots of acoustic guitar with country-rock backdrop.
Greatly influenced by the late Townes Van Zandt of Austin fame...got caught up in the whole drugs and booze thing and actually served jail time for it.
Came out in late 90's with "Corazon" as his revival/ "I'm back" statement...Earle has always seen himself as a rebel, starting with his anti-Nashville establishment shtick...
My guess is that his craving to project himself as a rebel went a little too far with his anti-US release...maybe he'll regret it; maybe he won't give a damn...