Joshua Judges Ruth

Amazon.com essential recording
Leave it to the poker-faced Lovett to use a biblical joke to underline the thread of tangled relationships that weave between the wisecracks on this, his fourth album. With his elegantly drawled tenor and modulated sense of country, gospel, and R&B inflections, the Texan songwriter extends the larger ensemble settings and contrasting moods achieved with his preceding album, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, again mixing shaggy dog stories ("Church"), atmospheric portraits of places and people ("Baltimore"), and fatalistic love songs ("North Dakota") that underline his acknowledged debt to other Lone Star songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Nanci Griffith. Yet his ease with frank rock elements, and an often urbane outlook, point up a musical kinship with L.A.'s folk-rock wing, notably Jackson Browne. --Sam Sutherland

Tracks:

I've Been To Memphis
Church
She's Already Made Up Her Mind
North Dakota
You've Been So Good Up To Now
All My Love Is Gone
Since The Last Time
Baltimore
Family Reserve
She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To
Flyswatter/Ice Water Blues (Monte Trenckmann's Blues)
She Makes Me Feel Good

Amazon.com essential recording

Leave it to the poker-faced Lovett to use a biblical joke to underline the thread of tangled relationships that weave between the wisecracks on this, his fourth album. With his elegantly drawled tenor and modulated sense of country, gospel, and R&B inflections, the Texan songwriter extends the larger ensemble settings and contrasting moods achieved with his preceding album, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, again mixing shaggy dog stories ("Church"), atmospheric portraits of places and people ("Baltimore"), and fatalistic love songs ("North Dakota") that underline his acknowledged debt to other Lone Star songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Nanci Griffith. Yet his ease with frank rock elements, and an often urbane outlook, point up a musical kinship with L.A.'s folk-rock wing, notably Jackson Browne. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Still good songwriting.......2007-06-05

I have to admit that this is not one of my favorite albums, but not because it's not a good album. The songwriting is still excellent, it just happens to be less dynamic and less to my taste musically than _Pontiac_ and some others.

That said, I do like it; "Baltimore" is eerie in the long tradition of a capella [well, almost a capella] balladry and "Family Reserve" is simple but oddly heartbreaking.

He'll sing........2006-11-10

This was Lyle Lovett's fourth album. The title is taken from three consecutive books of the Old Testament. Lyle's famous sense of humor is not much in evidence this time around, as he remains fairly serious for the most part. But the songs are some of the best ones he has written. This is my personal favorite Lyle Lovett album.

One of my favorite albums.......2006-10-21

This is an outstanding album. Lyle is one of the best live performers I've ever seen in concert, and every album he's produced has been good, but this has to be among my favorites.

"North Dakota" is so achingly beautiful that it makes me cry every time I hear it. I've learned I can't listen to it while driving, because I start tearing up and have to pull off the road!

Is it just me...or does "Kavity Killer" = Lyle Lovett stalker???.......2006-02-23

Very strange negative fixation, indeed. Sorry to call someone out, but this person shows up rating every Lovett album! The thing that's most comical to me is that Kavity Killer reviews Lyle more than any other artist. Most people spend their time reviewing artists they actually LIKE, comparing and contrasting the quality of that artist's different albums...cross referencing other artists ("If you like..., you'd enjoy..."). Does anyone else just find it very odd that someone would spend so much time reviewing EVERY album of ANY artist with a 1*? I mean, I don't enjoy Aaron Neville's music...therefore, I don't waste my time or anyone else's reviewing ALL his albums.

We get it, dude...you only like blues music with a little bit of Paul Simon & Springsteen sprinkled in! It's kind of baffling why you waste so much time and space on Lyle Lovett.

By the way...if you like Lyle Lovett, "Joshua Judges Ruth" is a stong album. Well worth purchasing. Great musicians, great storyteller, cool voice.

An Actual Texan's Perspective.......2005-12-30

Speaking of "self-conscious 'Clev-R-Ness'TM", it's a good thing that Kavity Killer can hide his trembling adolescent frame behind the safe anonymity of the Internet. Because unlike him, I know a few actual cowboys, and they'd be all too happy to kick his a-- in a second. Apparently this kid has it in for Lyle, which only makes sense. I mean, a pale skinny guy writing country songs about relationships? How dare he. How dare Hank Williams, for that matter. Now THAT is some stone-cold rhetoric right there. Truth is, Lyle Lovett is a Texas institution, beloved in both rural and urban areas. "Joshua Judges" is of course more of the same, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Lovett's signature folk-country has graced many a BBQ and country drive. Yes, I'm sure some of those fans DO drive Suburbans, but then again so do fans of kavity killer's beloved Van Morrison. This album features some of the most sinewy, unsettling love songs -- the kind many a cowboy has lived and could understand. If kavity killer would leave his computer, he might too someday. Would Tuco from "Good, Bad..." listen to this? I dunno; he's a Hollywood actor. But I do know that Clint does. If that doesn't settle it, I dunno what does.

No apologies for the non-kosher "direct reply" review; it had to be done.

You've Been So Good Up to Now / Baltimore / I've Been to Memphis - 3 track EP

Average customer rating:

You've Been So Good Up to Now / Baltimore / I've Been to Memphis - 3 track EP
Lyle Lovett
Manufacturer: Curb Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000RSS6YC

Product Description

1992 CD single release of "You've Been So Good Up to Now" from Lyle Lovett off the album "Joshua Judges Ruth". TRACKLISTING: 1. You've Been So Good Up to Now, 2. Baltimore, 3. I've Been to Memphis. Comes in import slimline case.

Music Album:

Music Album