Natural Forces [Digipak]

Performer: Lyle Lovett
Engineer: Nathaniel Kunkel
Producer: Lyle Lovett
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Audio Mixer: Nathaniel Kunkel. Retreating to generally quieter territory after the somewhat splashy IT'S NOT BIG IT'S LARGE, Lyle Lovett also backs away from original tunes on NATURAL FORCES, choosing to devote the bulk of the 11-track album to other writers. Covers are common for Lovett, but not since 1998's STEP INSIDE THIS HOUSE has he spent so much time singing other's songs, and he revisits some of the same composers as before, picking tunes from Townes Van Zandt and Vince Bell, while co-writing "It's Rock and Roll" with Robert Earl Keen. As before, Lyle gravitates toward gentle, moody songs, with Tommy Elskes' slyly sarcastic blues, "Bohemia," being the liveliest of the bunch, opting to give NATURAL FORCES some humor and tempo through his originals, particularly the bawdy, rollicking "Pantry" and the dirty jump blues "Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel." These aren't scattered throughout the release; rather, they act as anchors to a record that wanders down its own quiet, idiosyncratic path. Retreating to generally quieter territory after the somewhat splashy It's Not Big It's Large, Lyle Lovett also backs away from original tunes on Natural Forces, choosing to devote the bulk of the 11-track album to other writers. Covers are common for Lovett, but not since 1998's Step Inside This House has he spent so much time singing other's songs, and he revisits some of the same composers as before, picking tunes from Townes Van Zandt and Vince Bell, while co-writing "It's Rock and Roll" with Robert Earl Keen. As before, Lyle gravitates toward gentle, moody songs, with Tommy Elskes' slyly sarcastic blues, "Bohemia," being the liveliest of the bunch, opting to give Natural Forces some humor and tempo through his originals, particularly the bawdy, rollicking "Pantry" and the dirty jump blues "Farmer Brown/Chicken Reel." These aren't scattered throughout the record, they act as anchors to a record that wanders down its own quiet, idiosyncratic path, grounding the album and keeping things amiably unpredictable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Entertainment Weekly (p.60) - "The cover tunes -- written by the likes of Townes Van Zandt, David Ball, and Vince Bell -- are lovely and haunting." -- Grade: B Billboard (p.32) - "[T]he title track is a multi-act drama that zig-zags between meandering individualism and social justice."

In the 1980s Texan singer/songwriter Lyle Lovett was part of the progressive "New Traditionalist" country scene that breathed new life into Nashville. His is a unique mix of country, folk, gospel, and western swing, with lyrics heavily inspired by such venerated Texas songwriters as Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. His wry attitude and quirky image also earned Lovett a career in films, and he had roles in the Robert Altman films SHORT CUTS and THE PLAYER, among others.

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