Lyle Lovett - It's Not Big It's Large
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Free Music Notes for It's Not Big It's Large
Free Music Review: Wow ... Lyle has arrived ... again
Hit: 5 Stars
Have just listened to one run through of the new CD, but it's incredible and even if you're new to Lyle's music, you'll fall under his impressive storytellling charms. He's in a class by himself ... and with good reason.
I'm partial to ALL DOWNHILL because Lovett talks about Joe Ely, John Hiatt and Guy Clark ... and about the surprise that success sometimes brings and the uncertainty every performer must deal with from time to time. He also tips his hat to his former neighbor, Robert Earl Keen, by putting AIN'T NO CANE, one of the songs they learned together back in the late 70s on the CD.
Clark opens and closes SOUTH TEXAS GIRL, a great waltz across Texas. Wow.
UP IN INDIANA will give you something to think about ... "Hell don't care and Heaven knows, I'm Up in Indiana Where the tall corn grows."
NO BIG DEAL is also vintage Lovett. It harkens back to his 1998 cover Willis Alan Ramsey's SLEEPWALKING. This one is a little bit country, a lot smooth jazz licks and just a barrel of fun.
Lyle takes a more somber approach to I WILL RISE UP and AIN'T NO MORE CANE, surrounding himself with some great gospel voices .... this is some powerful stuff.
DON'T CRY A TEAR is a tender goodbye to a loved one .... It begins with what sounds like an aboriginal didgeridoo, the deep reverberation of a single bass note .... But there are echos of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" throughout the song, so it must be a celebration of life, rather than a sad dirge ... lovely. Just lovely.
TICKLE TOE reminds me of the Tonight Show band, coming back after a commerical break. Happy notes. Very happy notes.
The final two cuts are acoustic versions of AIN'T NO MORE CANE and UP IN INDIANA ... to my ears, they are better stripped down to their essence ... there are some great voices on AIN'T NO MORE CANE and there's some terrific pickin' on UP IN INDIANA ... doesn't get much better than this .... really.
I've been a Lovett fan for more years than I care to count .... he has never failed to deliver the goods ... with this new release, he has once again stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. This CD will be in rotation on my iPod forever.
Free Music Review: Lyle's right in the groove
Hit: 5 Stars
Explaining Lyle Lovett's music to the uninitiated often results in just playing the CDs and letting them hear for themselves. What I love about Lovett is that you really don't know what to expect when you sit down to listen to a new CD, but it's pretty much all good. I've never been able to pick a favorite style between the jazzy big band, gospel, country, and alternative selections.
"Tickle Toe" opens up with a jazzy instrumental that clearly kept his band jumping and will get dance fans up on their feet.
"I will rise up" has the gospel sound and the a harmony line and closer that is so gorgeous it'll make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. This one ties with "Church" for my favorite of Lyle's gospel rooted music.
It was great to hear Guy Clark singing along on "South Texas Girl." This is one of those songs with a story behind it that Lyle's so good at telling.
"It's all Downhill" is another example of Lyle's wry self-deprecating humor.
He knows full well he's on top now, but will his star fall? I sincerely hope not soon and certainly not with this CD. This one is destined to be one of Lyle's best along with "Joshua Judges Ruth," "Pontiac," and "Live in Texas."
Free Music Review: Buy the Deluxe Edition
Hit: 5 Stars
I agree with everything the others have written, but I would encourage you to buy the deluxe edition which includes a DVD. The DVD really adds to the enjoyment and understanding of many of the songs. Two in particular are important: "I Will Rise Up" and "South Texas Girl".
Seeing Lyle's family, the ranch, hearing what may be part of his story, seeing some of his horses and seeing his girlfriend, who he has been with since 1999 really enriched "South Texas Girl". Similarly, it opened up the full range of interpretations to "I Will Rise Up/Ain't No More Cane". Lyle has been opening/closing with that song live and when I heard it I thought it was right up there with Springstein's "Streets of Philsdelphia" and "Nebraska".
After seeing the DVD I went out and bought one for my best friend, who came to the concert with me. It's an investment in enjoyment and understanding.
By the way, if you don't have the self-titled Lyle Lovett CD, there are songs on that baby that exhibit true world-class writing, as creative, clear and poignant as you can get while continuing to be sincere, insightful, and simple.
Free Music Review: Unbelievable....especiallly after seeing them in person!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Me and my girlfriends stumbled upon 4th row and center of Lyle and his Large Band at the Bass Peformance Hall in Fort Worth last night. I hadn't listened to Lyle other than "I Love Everybody" CD years ago. I hadn't heard the CD before the music on stage and was a bit reluctant with the jazzy style. Boy was I wrong. Seeing the very, very large band, the incredible talent on stage, the soulful singers and musicians and Lyle front and center was unbelievable. We were dancing in our chairs only to find out that alot of what he played live is on this CD. My friend had been listening to it all week and she said she now appreciates just how incredible the new CD is after seeing them all live in action. Their chemistry and talent are just amazing. I own the CD now and will now go and get every CD I have missed over the years. Thanks Lyle and your incredible, incredible talent and those amazing talented musicians with you. Turn it up loud and imagine them in front of you, all 16 or so of you. I am glad we have the CD to help remind us of this most incredible night.Free Music Review: His Best In Years
Hit: 5 Stars
I wouldn't describe any Lyle Lovett CD as anything less than excellent. His musical standards are simply beyond the vast majority of product on the market today. In my opinion, the pinnacle of Lyle's achievement is "Joshua Judges Ruth" for its perfect balance of musicality, creative writing and arrangement, and haunting, spiritual, and, well, Texan concepts.
"It's Not Big It's Large" is very reminiscent of JJR. It has the same stripped down arrangements (despite the presence of the Large Band in the title and some of the music), the same sad, wistful tunes and metaphorial excursions across the landscape of Texas. There are also, by the way, a couple of tunes that sound just like they belong on "Lyle Lovett and His Large Band" ("No Big Deal" for example). On the whole, I like this very much.
I think Lyle Lovett has won very many fans since Joshua Judge Ruth, and not all of them will like this CD as much as I do. For me, however, this music is what Lyle Lovett represents. I am happy he chose to go this way again.