Dwight Yoakam "Population Me"

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by CM Wolff, Aug 25, 2003.

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  1. CM Wolff

    CM Wolff Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Motown
    Another great album from Dwight - the man has to be considered one of the true giants by now. Anyway, I love this type of firecracker of an album - 10 songs, 31 minutes, absolute no bloat. Totally solid songwriting, catchy songs, balanced styles (a third upbeat, a third more western swing/honktytonk, a third ballad/old timey), and well-designed arrangements (just the right amounts of banjo, muted trumpets, mandola, fiddle, organ, etc.). Take a listen to the opening "Late Great Golden State" for a nice breezy Eagles feeling (just noticed Timothy B. Schmit is credited on the track, no surprise when you hear it). Other faves are "An Exception To The Rule" and the title track, although everything is fully realized. Dwight still has the best high-and-lonesome pipes in the business. Getting great reviews, for whatever they are worth.

    If this is the type of thing Dwight wants to do in his post-Warners career, I will gladly stay the course with him. (Don't know why he and WB split, as I always thought he did a nice job mixing commercial and artistic considerations.)

    Any Dwight or other similarly related trad country thoughts are appreciated. BTW, anyone have any news on the Rhino Handmade Dwight set?
     
  2. Adam9

    Adam9 Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй.

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    I don't have any Dwight Yoakam records, but I've always been interested in his stuff. What would you recommend for a newbie?
     
  3. CM Wolff

    CM Wolff Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Motown
    Starting out, I would recommend "Last Chance for a Thousand Years: Dwight Yoakam's Greatest Hits from the 90's" and the earlier greatest hits set "Just Lookin' for a Hit". However, Yoakam is known for making solid-as-a-rock albums, so everyone has individual favorites. Also, last year's "Reprise Please Baby" is one of the best four CD boxes you can ever buy - it really couldn't have been improved (sample it, and if you are hooked, you won't need the shorter, smaller greatest hits sets, it's all there in a wonderful package.)

    Good luck.
     
  4. stever

    stever Senior Member

    Location:
    Omaha, Nebr.
    I've been a BIG fan since, "Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc." I've seen him live six times, including this summer on his acoustic tour. I have all but two of his recordings and several on vinyl. IMO his two best albums are, "If There Was A Way," and, "This Time."
     
  5. d.r.cook

    d.r.cook Senior Member

    Not to horn in on CW's thread, but I would say Yoakam newbies are in luck.

    Two greatest hits pkgs: Just Lookin' for A Hit came out in 89; and Last Chance for A Thousand Years, in 1999. The first one has a nice cross-section of his career to that point, and Last Chance takes selects from the '90s, including a cool cover of Crazy Little Thing Called Love that may cut Queen's, and a cover of Elvis' Suspicious Minds.

    As CM notes, this guy is an amazing writer of country hooks, and he's really remained consistent over a career that stretches to the early 80s to today.

    He's got a bunch of really excellent stand-alone albums, but those two hits pkgs (though I can't speak to tech quality, per se) are great samplers of his material and style.

    CM--

    Thanks for the review of Dwight's new one. I'd seen a couple of good reviews, but have not picked it up yet. I have a bunch, but have held off on the Reprise box and the odd LP here and there.

    The one other "modern" guy kickin' around that I would rank nearly neck and neck (but not quite) as far as overall sound and writing is Jim Lauderdale. He's got that same knack for a hook w/o being obnoxious about it, and has an excellent hand for straight, hard-nosed country as well as bluegrass.

    There are a couple OOP, but a lot of his stuff can be had on the cheap used. His newest one I don't have yet, but is with a jam band (is it Judy the Buffalo?). Haven't heard it yet.

    doug
     
  6. stever

    stever Senior Member

    Location:
    Omaha, Nebr.
    Like Doug said above, Jim Lauderdale is fantastic, too. Very prolific writer with lots of good albums.
     
  7. Roland Stone

    Roland Stone Offending Member

    Believe it or not, I never got around to Dwight Yoakam. I'll have to investigate. A lot of his albums are at BMG Music Club.

    The recent double-LP thread reminded me of one of my all-time country/roots favorites: Merle Haggard's SAME TRAIN, A DIFFERENT TIME, a cover album of Jimmie Rodgers tunes. You have to sit through some well-meaning, mercifully short narration, but what terrific music: a perfect marriage of artist and tribute. I can't imagine anyone singing these songs better. That's James Burton on guitar, too, and the sound quality on my Koch CD is great. Reissued by Koch and Bear, this title's out-of-print, but can be had with a little work on the Internet.
     
  8. CM Wolff

    CM Wolff Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Motown
    Doug and stever - thanks for the shout-out for Jim Lauderdale - will definitely check him out. This is definitely the reason I post, to get these recommendations.

    Ron- definitely check him out. Dwight is definitely pure country, in the best possible way, the absolute real deal. I haven't heard the Haggard, I will have to get my internet spies working for me and track down a copy.
     
  9. mne563

    mne563 Senior Member

    Location:
    DFW, Texas
    CM:
    How's the sound on "Population Me"? I've loved Dwight for a few years now, and though he makes great records, his cd's always sounded a bit thin, definitely not breath of life stuff. (Unlike the new Neil Young for example, which sounds really nice).
     
  10. Tony Caldwell

    Tony Caldwell Senior Member

    Location:
    Arkansas
    I have to agree that Yoakam is one of country music's most consistent artists. I don't listen to very much country, but I have all of Dwight's albums and all are excellent.

    Population Me is a fine addition to his catalog. I especially like "An Exception To The Rule".

    You can't go wrong with Dwight.
     
  11. Tony Caldwell

    Tony Caldwell Senior Member

    Location:
    Arkansas
    The sound is a little uneven on the cd. Some songs sound better than others, but if you are looking for a true hifi experience, you will be disappointed. Still, if you want to hear some good music, go for it.

    Tony
     
  12. Casino

    Casino Senior Member

    Location:
    BossTown
    I'm a Dwight fan also. One of my fave albums by him is Buenos Noches from a Lonely Room. And for any other fans of the "real deal" in country music, I've got two words:

    ROGER WALLACE
     
  13. CM Wolff

    CM Wolff Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Motown
    This is a fair assessment - not audiophile material and its thinness is probably the only knock I could think of levelling against it. Definitely not in league with the Neil Young, which is mind-blowing in its realism. However, if you ask me right now, I will take all 31 minutes of Population Me over 78 minutes of Greendale (Americana is sometimes best short and sweet and to the point....) :)
     
  14. Douglas Mathers

    Douglas Mathers Forum Resident

    Location:
    Glasgow, Scotland
    For starters I'd go with "Gone" - honky tonk with a futuristic twist - and then any of the first 5 albums. The sound on CD is not bad - its just that the early reprise vinyl albums sounded so damn good.
     
  15. stever

    stever Senior Member

    Location:
    Omaha, Nebr.
    Excellent music, authentic honky-tonk. Roger Wallace is AWESOME!!
     
  16. Pinknik

    Pinknik Senior Member

    I'll put in my vote for THIS TIME and GONE. Also, I'll suggest Shaver as another real deal. Try TRAMP ON YOUR STREET (available on Classic Records vinyl, if you like).
     
  17. ferric

    ferric Iron Dino In Memoriam

    Location:
    NC
    That would be Donna the Buffalo :) backing up Jim Lauderdale. It is on my local radio station WNCW.org
     
  18. joelee

    joelee Hyperactive!

    Location:
    Houston


    I e-mailed Rhino Handmade a few months ago about the 18 disc box set that was announced over a year ago. They didn't know what I was talking about.:realmad:
     
  19. Mark

    Mark I Am Gort, Hear Me Roar Staff

     
  20. stever

    stever Senior Member

    Location:
    Omaha, Nebr.
    Re: Re: Dwight Yoakam "Population Me"

     
  21. Casino

    Casino Senior Member

    Location:
    BossTown
    Re: Re: Re: Dwight Yoakam "Population Me"

    Yeah, I wouldn't mind a long one-hour-plus album that is good from start to finish. But since that rarely happens, I'd much rather have a short, 35-minute, 10 or 11-track CD of good material rather than one with 16 tracks, half or more of which sound like filler.

    I remember reading more than one reviewer over the years summing it up nicely when they wrote about double LP/CD sets: "There's actually enough good material for one nice album here..."
     
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