Lyle Lovett

It's restraint that makes Lyle's dry sense of humor so consistently enjoyable; he'll reveal that "Shelly had some big ones, Sally had some too, Allison had some little ones," but refuse to explain further. Equal parts shuffling swing and Texas twang, this is a country record in name only, containing the radio hit "Church," a surreal tale of a long-winded preacher told over a gospel backdrop. Jokes aside, the best stuff here comes with his dead-serious, soulful ballads like "Baltimore" and "North Dakota."

It's hard to resist a song that begins, "I went to a funeral/Lord it made me happy." Though
"Since the Last Time" – the centerpiece of Lyle Lovett's fourth, bleakest and most resonant
album – may or may not represent the voice from inside the coffin, the song's skewed
perspective is pure Lyle. Joshua Judges Ruth (three consecutive Old Testament books)
offers gospel songs for those incapable of making the leap of faith, cowboy balla... More >

"Church"; "She Makes Me Feel Good"; "She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To" (Grade - Choice Cut)