| Population Me - Dwight Yoakam | |
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Reviewed by Kathy Coleman
Dwight Yoakam just seems to get better and better with age.
With the release of "Population Me," Yoakam's first release on his own label imprint, Electrodisc,
through his brand-new record label, Audium, Dwight proves he definitely continues to improve with every
new song.
Population Me is a relatively short disc, a mere ten tracks; but put together with Yoakam's sure-fire
style and produced by long-time side man Pete Anderson, (also lead guitar), it doesn't come up short on
entertainment value.
Population Me demonstrates Yoakam's continued mastery of lyrical style as well as his sharp
ability to choose songs which are well-suited to him.
No one does heartache like Dwight Yoakam, and for that I am eternally grateful. Just the other day I was lamenting the loss of hurtin' songs on the radio as I listened to Yet Another Inspirational/Feel-Good "country" song, and to save me here comes Yoakam with his uncanny ability to make some of the world's most mournful lyrics sound upbeat and catchy with toe-tapping shuffles such as "I'd Avoid Me Too," or the unique blend of Dixieland jazz/honkytonk rhythms of the title track, "Population Me." Country just isn't country without a little heartbreak, and Yoakam as always delivers in spades.
As an added bonus, Dwight can deliver his unique brand of heartbreak in the good old-fashioned ballad style, as he does with the searing "Back Of Your Hand," the album's first single - leave it to Yoakam to deliver a single which is beautifully "today's radio" friendly without once compromising his vision or musical integrity. "Back Of Your Hand" is a powerful song, deeply compelling and richly moving, a warm mix of gripping lyrics with delicate melody, enhanced by Yoakam's brilliant acoustic playing and shot through by dramatic violin and cello orchestration (although good luck getting radio to play it. Hard enough to get CMT to show the video); it speaks eloquently about how you can live with someone so long you know them like the back of your hand, but never really see them.
Although Dwight has done duets with many different folks over the years, it's been a long time since such a duet has appeared on one of his own albums. Here Willie Nelson joins Dwight on a poignant "If Teardrops Were Diamonds." They sound good together, each style offering a different level to the heartfelt tune.
There's a lot that can be packed into a tight ten-song package, as Dwight Yoakam demonstrates with his usual brilliance. His never-subtle but always intoxicating Kentucky voice hiccups and pops through good ol' hillbilly songs and croons with the velvet undertones of a smoky den on chocolate-rich ballads. Here's hoping this is the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship with Audium, because Dwight Yoakam just keeps getting better and better.
Song List:
Album cover, used with permission of Audium Entertainment
Audio clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble.