It's Not Big It's Large Review

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(More customer reviews)Closer in sound to "Lyle Lovett and His Large Band" and "Joshua Judges Ruth" than the last couple of albums, Lovett is clearly in his comfort zone when it comes to mixing so many diverse styles from big band, elements of jazz, country and acoustic folkie ruminations on life, love and death. "It's Not Big It's Large" continues on in the vein of those other albums and is a terrific recordings with top notch songs.
Fans may want to be aware that there is also a deluxe edition with a DVD. This features performances of the songs woven into a documentary about the making of the album. If you're a huge Lovett fan you may want to pick this up vs. the regular CD version.
Opening with the a cover of Lester Young's "Tickle Toe" and moving quickly into the gospel tinged "I Will Rise Up/Ain't No More Cane" (the latter part of the medley is reprised at the end along with an acoustic performance of "Up in Indiana", just about every song from the jazzy sounding "No Big Deal" to "Don't Cry a Tear" opening with the moody sounds of steel and acoustic guitar can hold their own with his best material.
The witty "It's All Downhill" name checks his compatriots Joe Ely, John Hiatt and Guy Clark (they toured as part of a singer/songwriter package together). The name check is more than tip of the hat to these other soulful singer/songwriters as he also thanks them in the credits. There's no doubt that Lovett's peers gave him feedback on the songs he composed for this album. Clark himself makes a guest appearence on "South Texas Girl" one of the songs with the strongest country flavor.
While this album doesn't break any new ground in terms of the sound or style (clearly Lovett has found his niche sound and it works well for him), it's ultimately the quality of the songs themselves that sells "It's Not Big It's Large". Packaged in a digipak holder with a booklet featuring lyrics, this is a strong album from Lovett.
-Wayne Klein

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While music should be and is open for interpretation by the listener, Lovett's new album, IT'S NOT BIG IT'S LARGE, suggests notions of mortality, loss and the fluidity of time.In many of the songs, the past intrudes on the present and the narrator finds strength to deal with the travails of today by putting them into historical perspective.That sounds like heavy-going, but its Lovett's gift to make the deep thoughts slide down like honey.

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Lyle Lovett and His Large Band Review

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(More customer reviews)This was the first Lyle Lovett music I had ever heard, and I now own every one of his CD's. With a couple of hints that one day he would move in this direction on his earlier discs, he does what few artists, if any, have ever done before. He successfully mixes big band, soul and blues music...with country music!
Has this ever been done before? If it had been done before, I had never heard it. In a truly courageous manner, Lyle opens this CD with the track "Blues Walk", an instrumental. Then, the next few songs are a wonderful array of blues and soul music serving as an excellent showcase for his songwriting talents and the amazing musicians he has backing him up in his "Large Band".
There is love, confusion, and humor...and then all of sudden, Lyle lets loose with a version of "Stand By Your Man". Hearing him sing this song, you would think it was written for a man. With this song, the rest of the disc (save for the last song) is all traditional country music. The transition makes sense. The mix of the soul and country songs make sense. The themes travel seamlessly throughout the entire disc.
Do yourself a favor and buy this disc. Lyle Lovett is one of those artists who, when he is gone, people will finally realize what they have been missing. He has one of the best voices in music today, his songwriting is at once humorous, touching, heartwarming and sad, and his "Large Band" is a collection of the finest musicians working today.

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Natural Forces Review

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(More customer reviews)I own every album that Lyle Lovett has ever made, and I waited anxiously for this new release. Unfortunately, it's not his best work. There are still the ballads in his unique voice that grace every album, but they're not HIS songs. He's used other songwriters for some songs (not a problem on his "Step Inside This House" album) but on "Natural Fores" the choices seem a bit thin on emotional stirrings. Lyle is an amazing songwriter, and I prefer his touching words to almost anyone's. That being said.....the songs he did write on this album are ridiculously childish! Normally every album has a "quirky" or "fun" song or two, but they always tell a great story, albeit in a light-hearted way. The goofy songs he chose to put on this album are just...dumb. "Keep It In Your Pantry" is repetitive and nonsensical (though the acoustic version is the better of the two versions). "Farmer Brown", while a nice reel, is not my choice for labeling a "good Lyle Lovett song".
That being said, there is still his wonderful voice and style, and "Empty Blue Shoes" is up there with his best work. "It's Rock And Roll" was a great rockin' treat. This album earned 3 stars because it's Lyle Freakin' Lovett, and he's awesome. Not his best, but he's still better than almost anyone out there, so I'll purchase everything he puts up for sale!

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Natural Forces showcases Lyle's unwavering songwriting alongside amazing songs from such Texas writers as Eric Taylor, Don Sanders,Tommy Elskes, David Ball, Vince Bell, Robert Earl Keen, and the legendary Townes Van Zandt. Produced by Billy Williams and Lyle Lovett

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