Customer Reviews

I Love Everybody

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Strip away the big band, vivacious backing vocals and sometimes amusing lyrics and Lyle Lovett is still one heck of a songwriter and singer. This CD proves it -- and is probably his finest work. Simple, mellow, yet profound, its perfect Saturday morning listening music. Enjoy with your favorite coffee and pajamas.

You probably already have to be a fan to appreciate this. If you're new to Lyle Lovett, start somewhere else.

Then come back to this. It's a little weird in places. Some of the songs are just plain surreal, like Fat Babies, and Penguins. Others are witty, if odd, like Hello Grandma, and Creeps Like Me. Songs range from the sketch like, to the complete. They Don't Like Me, I've Got the Blues and Good-bye to Carolina are three that stand out.

What this is like, is a collection of short stories by a novellist who's normally a bit more serious and wants to have a bit of fun. So if you bear that in mind when you buy it, you'll not be disappointed.

The bonus is the simplicity and clarity of the recording; Lyle uses a minimum of instruments to create a very spare and focussed sound.

I'm by no means a country music fan - I was shocked to find out that this was classified as country. Accoustically, this is a dynamic recording which adds to the dynamic musicianship going on in most of the songs.

I'm really writing this to add some praise for the song Sonja - which I find to be a fantastic example of his lyrics - alot of fun and alot more depth to it than it seems at first.

There are at least six fantastic songs on this CD, including perhaps his best, "Skinny Legs". The tracks are both poignant and funny: in other words, classic Lyle Lovett.

Standouts, in addition to "Skinny Legs", include "Penguins" (in which Lyle is essentially making fun of a female college friend who collected penguin-themed objects), "Record Lady", "Creeps Like Me", "Its Just the Morning", "Fat Babies", and "La To The Left". The arrangements have a spare, translucent quality that leave the listener's focus on the singer's voice, and the lyrics. And some of Lyle's best lyrics are to be found on the album, including my favorite couplet (from "Creeps Like Me") "you look surprised, you shouldn't be/the world is full of creeps like me". But the true standout, both lyrically and melodically, is "Skinny Legs", a very gentle opening track in which the singer mourns his own perceived shortcomings.

The collection is odd and offbeat. There is no feeling of a central theme, as there is with "Road to Ensenada". But Lyle compensates for this in the arrangement of each song: most are feature a small combo of instruments, generally limited to acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. Each song is brief, a little musical anecdote. This may be offputting to listeners used to crowd grabbing songs like "If I Had a Boat", but to me this collection is quintessentially Lyle Lovett.

I have known of Lyle for some years now, though I avoided his music because of the well known country taboo associated with it. I have long been a fan of alternative music (Barenaked Ladies, The Wedding Present etc.), but with the passage of time the angst of modern alternative rock has been lost on me. I started listening to Country about a year a go and quickly tired of the melodrama of the Nasshville Stars. So I finally broke down and bought I LOVE EVERYBODY. What a treat! It was like satisfying a craving that I didn't realize I had. Though some may find the music is often slow and melodic (See review from Mystic Ct fan) his poetic treatment of lyrics and stylistic delivery carries each song. More than one listening is required to appreciate the whole album. My favorite tracks are SKINNY LEGS, RECORD LADY (with its reference to Robert Earl Keen) and I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. It truely is Transgerne music that is sure to satisfy. I also recomend the album THE ROAD TO ENSENADA to new listeners.

All these songs here were written by Lyle; most of which were back in the 80's, but were never recorded until now. Man, I'm so glad he dusted off all these songs because they are great. No, they are probably not the best Lyle Lovett songs ever, but they are definitely worthy of your attention. I love "Skinny Legs" and know exactly how he feels. I also love the more quirky and humorous "Fat Babies", "Hello Grandma", and "Creeps Like Me". I also love the very-short, but tall on making a statement song "Fat Girl". Actually, I love every song on this release and this CD has actually become one of my favorite CDs of Lyle's to listen to. I can't even begin to count how many people I have recommended this CD to and they just absolutely love it and beg for more Lyle Lovett recommendations to add to their collection.

I'll start by saying that I love everything Lyle puts out to some degree. I own every cd and listen to him almost daily. This is the one I listen to the least. It seems to lack any central theme, or mood. The upbeat songs just aren't that catchy and the more somber material just not that evocative.

I recommend any other Lyle release over this one. Particularly overplayed in my collection are "Pontiac", "Road to Ensenada" and the incredible and diverse "Step Inside This House". Buy this one last to round out your collection.

This one is my favorite of all Lyle Lovett CD's. Almost every song is a gem! The wit of "Record Lady," the grace of "I Think You Know What I Mean.," the sharpness of "Skinny Legs" or the absurdity and fun of "Skinny Legs"...it's all gold, as you will find out when you buy or borrow "I Love Everybody."

We need more original songwriters like Lyle. He may be a loner, but he carries some profound messages.

Lyle Lovett is one of my favorite performers of all time and I honestly believe it is not possible for there to be a bad Lovett CD. That being said, "I Love Everybody" is good--but not my favorite Lovett CD. If like me, you really like Lyle, get this CD. On the other hand, if you are fonder of his later more complex music, give the CD a listen before you buy.

Aside from "Penguins" which I really love, the two songs that I consider standouts are "Skinny Legs" which talks about jealousy and "Hello Grandma" which is a call to a relative of an ex-girlfriend. Both have Lyle's typical wit and wisdom.

"I Love Everybody" was the first Lyle Lovett album I ever had the pleasure of buying. I'd heard a few of his songs, read about him, and seen him on Austin City Limits, but I'd never gotten around to getting a cd- until the stars converged, and "I Love Everybody" fell into my hands. After listening to it for a while, and enjoying it more than most music, I bought "Road to Ensenada." The rest, they say, is history- I own every album of his. I am not a "country" fan. My favorite artist before Lyle was Billy Joel. But the truth of it is, Lyle Lovett writes great, original, funny, sad, odd, wonderful songs. He's the best, and I Love Everybody, while maybe not his best album, is greater than most of the pop trash that litters the modern landscape. Lyrics are important! They should mean something! With him, they do. "I Love Everybody" is a exceptional piece of music, and I recommend it without reservations to anyone who likes to listen.