Disco de Lyle Lovett: “Step Inside This House”

This is one of the finest albums in my collection, let alone one of the finest collection of gritty, yet subtle country/folk you'll ever hear. I don't consider myself a fan of country, but I wouldn't necessarily call this country. This, to me, is quintessential American music. The two disc set has enough variety to please all ears and its sonic qualities are nearly flawless. It's a real treat on the ears. It also rips or lifts your heart. It's the rare album that evokes such a broad range of emotions.

Imagery is big, and I can't help but be drawn to some dusty West Texas town when I listen to this music. I paint such a vivid picture of the places in my mind. It's one of my favorite albums to listen to on late night drives.

For the most part, Lovett's versions of these songs by out-of-the-pop-mainstream Texas songwriters are so faithful to the originals that this CD often sounds as much like an advertisement for these writers' work as it does a Lyle Lovett album, particularly those songs written by Lovett's two biggest influences--the late Walter Hyatt and the late Townes Van Zandt. That being said, if you like Lyle Lovett at all, or are at least passingly familiar with any of the songwriters on this disc (also included are Steven Fromholz, Guy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, Michael Martin Murphy, Willis Allen Ramsey, Vince Bell, David Rodriquez, and Eric Taylor), I can't imagine that you wouldn't really enjoy this album. This glimpse of Lovett's musical roots displays the bipolar nature of his great career, gravitating back and forth between gentle Texas folk and the ambiant bravado of a stripped-down version of Western Swing. Highlights include the title track, written by Guy Clark, "Bears" and "Texas Trilogy," both from Fromholz, the Van Zandt classics "Highway Kind" and "Flyin' Shoes," and every Hyatt song Lovett attempts.

I first listened to this album while driving back home from Tucson, fighting with my wife about some inconsequential nonsense. We were at that point when you're not saying anything, just sitting there, stewing. As the two of us and Lyle kept rolling, these songs lifted us out of that low place. There's a lot of wisdom and truth in these tunes, and after I popped in the second disc (actually disc 1), the song "Teach Me About Love" seemed to be talking to me about how close I was coming to learning once again about women and slamming doors. But we worked things out, and found ourselves playing these amazing songs over and over. Sometimes all you need is a message from the heart. It's here.

Anyone who considers Lyle Lovett's music "pseudo-country" is sleeping. Is there no room for someone who's a true innovator and truly original? And if sonmeone the likes of Lyle Lovett wants to pay tribute to the music and writers that influenced him, then I think that's an absolutely wonderful thing and allows those of us who DO appreciate the man's music to see where it all comes from. If Lovett's looks even fall into the equation here, then the reviewer is paying attention to the wrong areas completely. I discovered Lovett with his debut album when I worked in country radio in Florida and have never regretted it a single day. The world needs more Lyle Lovetts.

I recently heard David Rodriguez (author of the Snow Leopard and the Tanqueray Cowboy) original version of the song. It was a very matter-of-fact, almost throw-away song about a rich girl suffering from all that "Daddy's money" could not buy. Compare this to Lyle's version, where he drops the "daddy" and sings one of the most beautiful ballads I've ever heard. Much more of a love song than anything else. I find his interpretation masterful, powerful and highly pleasurable. This is the best song on the 2 cd set.