Dwight Yoakam Album: “This Time”

Description :

Personnel: Dwight Yoakam (vocals, guitar); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Pete Anderson (electric guitar); Al Perkins (lap & pedal steel guitars, dobro); Scott Joss, Don Reed (fiddle); Skip Edwards (keyboards); Charles Domanico (acoustic bass); Taras Prodaniuk (bass); Jeff Donavan (drums); Scott Humphrey (programming); Tommy Funderburk, Beth Andersen, Carl Jackson, Jim Haas, Jim Lauderdale (background vocals). Recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, California. "Ain't That Lonely Yet" won Best Male Country Vocal Performance in the 36th Annual Grammy Awards. "Pocket Of A Clown" was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. Dwight Yoakam's sixth release, THIS TIME, is a progressive country gem which embraces the past while forging forward into the future. Stretching vocally and musically (he wrote or co-wrote all but one song), Dwight, a rebel with a Kentucky twang and an L.A. swagger, presents the best album of his career. "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere" is a haunting, folk-rockabilly song with a unique country twist. "Pocket Of A Clown," with its "oooh waah" chorus, is a brilliant send-up of overly serious ballads. "Ain't That Lonely Yet" is a supreme pop song, the story of a heartless lover told to kiss-off, with a vocal that glides sky high. "Fast as You" is a sexy moaner, with evil chuckles, erotic purrs, and Orbison-esque growls and sighs, over a fantastic Hammond organ and "Pretty Woman"/"Peter Gunn" rhythm. "This Time" is a loose-jawed, traditional Buck Owens tribute, and "Wild Ride" could be a Rolling Stones out-take. "Lonesome Roads" catches the very '90s Yoakam blowing with the tumbleweed, straight back to the hillbilly traditions of Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers.

OK . . . Country music typicaly puts me to sleep. Each line rhymes, the beat is predictable, yadda yadda. Dwight is the exception. When all my friends were going crazy about Garth Brooks, I was listening to Dwight. I don't know much about country music, but I hear he is under-apprecated? Hello? I have nearly everything he has recorded, but this remains one of my favorites. Dwight is pure emotion, completely unpretentious, honest. My musical tastes range from Hip-Hop, R&B, POP to classical. One common tie between all of them . . . I appreciate GREAT music. This is one of Dwight's greatest, aside from his greatest hits compilations. "1000 Miles From Nowhere" and "It Ain't Over Yet" are just the tip of the iceburg of this man's enormous talent.

I can only imagine that Dwight, himself, is a wonderful person with a great heart. His music certainly reflects that. It is worth the stigma of being "uncool" for listening to country. Dwight is the best, with one of the greatest voices ever. Check it out.

Dwight is more than alright. Take it from this bonafide country gal. He is a remarkable artist and this a wonderful album.

My favorites are " A Thousand Miles for Nowhere," "A Pocket of a Clown," Aint That Lonely Yet," "Wild Ride."

If your looking for that upbeat country album with some kickin' vocals then Dwight should be your choice. This will be one of those you leave in your CD player for long periods of time it's that good!

Cocky, egotistical, narcissistic, I always thought this Bakersfield Cowboy was a breed above your contemporary counytrypolitan yodelers. And this time, country's true outlaw offers a song selection that hits harder than a bullet on a gold pocket watch. Yoakam vocals sparkle brighter that rhinestone and the complement of a band playing tight as a new pair of blue jeans. This album contains the double-barrel fire of two instant classics: Dwight's self-penned A THOSAND MILES FROM NOWHERE, features echoed vocals and heart pounding drum breaks, and gets an extra tin star for regular spins on a local alternative FM station. AIN'T THAT LONELY YET weaves a plaintive web of deceit and betrayal. Dwight corralled the songwriting duo of up-and-comer, James House and Yoakam-colaborator, the mysterious maverick "Kostas". While those two bullets find the mark, just a notch below is a whole six-shooter full of pistol poppin' ditties. I love the traditional country balladry on Home For Sale, with its gospel organ and the way Dwight's singing, like an old clock, simply come to a full stop, then segues into the nifty guitar of the stompin' title cut. In King of Fools, listen for the walking bass line, honky tonk piano and waltzing fiddles. Pocket of a Clown, Two Doors Down, a quarter-century ago, these songs would have felt as comfortable as snake skin cowboy boots, on a George Jones LP. Like good songs and good boots, Yoakam fit just right, this time and any time.

THIS TIME Kick the crap out of................ Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart