Customer Reviews

Joshua Judges Ruth (Dts)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is such a great mood album. It's one of those albums that you put on the stereo when you want to turn down or turn off the lights and just listen to the music and do nothing but let your thoughts drift. "North Dakota" is a perfect example of this.

I also love "All My Love is Gone"; "You've Been So Good Up To Now"; "I've Been To Memphis"; and "She Makes Me Feel Good".

Buy a copy of this CD, chase every one out of the house, crank up the stereo, turn down the lights, and kick back in your favorite chair and enjoy!

This gospel inflected, subtle, mature, sublime, and beautiful recording was one of the best releases of the 1990's. "Joshua, Judges," and "Ruth" are consecutive books in the bible, and his clever use of those titles are in some way a microcosm of the multi-layered approach he uses here and in all of his music.

"Church" is a wonderful and engaging piece of music that fully displays Lovett's musicianship, exceptional writing, and subtle wit. "She's Already Made Up Her Mind" is one of the best songs Lyle has ever written and is also one of the best SONGS ever written, ranking right up there with the best of Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and others who have written country-influenced singer-songwriter material. This is a wide-open, West of the Mississippi, haunting and beautiful song, that not only speaks truth, but is filled with longing and sentimental emotion. "North Dakota" is similar in nature; this music is as wide open as the American West. John Denver's influence is evident in these songs, but these are definitely LYLE's themes and motifs, not John's.

A brief note on the sound and engineering of this record: job well done. The silences of this music are as important as the notes, and every single spin of this CD on your player is as professionally processed as a German meatcutter. Gorgeous work, that is properly respectful of this piece of American art by Lyle.

This is, simply, one of the best recordings of all time. It does not matter what kind of music you like, this recording will win you over. If you are an audiophile and like CDs that make your stereo sound good, you'll like this one. If you like poignant songs that strike that certain chord, you'll like this one. If you like great playing by outstanding musicians, you'll like this one. You can run, but you cannot hide. Joshua Judges Ruth will make you a Lyle Lovett fan, and will just make you love music more altogether. Buy it now; your collection is incomplete without it.

The mix on this CD sets a standard that all other DTS music CDs should strive for. I can't remember who mixed this (I don't have the CD in front of me) but it was obviously a labor of love. I own a lot of DTS music discs as well as DVD Audio. I have never heard another DTS disc that even comes close to this one and I've never heard a DVD Audio mix that was any better. Lyle's voice is isolated in the center channel and instruments are perfectly placed around you in the mix. Turn down the lights and put on this disc and you'll swear you were in the room with the band. On the Church song, the choir is in the surrounds and you'll swear you were in church sitting in front of them. On "She's Already Made Up Her Mind", the smooth, very deep bass is a test for anyone's audiophile system. This disc should be a reference used anywhere surround systems are sold. As a matter of fact, I purchased this disc and took it with me everywhere I demo'd surround systems before I purchased my surround processor and amplifiers. Yes, this disc is THAT good! This album is Lyle's masterpiece. There's not one bad song on it. Don't be fooled if you think Lyle is a simply a "Country" artist. He's capable of jazz, blues, country, soul and gospel and combines them brilliantly on this album. Bottom Line: A masterpiece with a fine surround mix. You can't go wrong with this one!

You know what? I love this CD. My favorite of his. I hate country but Lyle put something back in my heart, growing up in rural America. Making me remember how lucky I was to have grown up in the country. Alot of truth in this album. Stories of love, evil, and life sang to us with Lyle's velvetly smoothe voice. This album is one of my favorites. I generally listen to bands like Jane's Addiction, Built to Spill, and other punk/postpunk bands.

I always wondered why Julia Roberts married Lyle Lovett. After listening to Joshua Judges Ruth my question is now why did she divorce him?

In the movie "Stripes" Bill Murray says to his platoon mates: "Chicks dig me, but now I know why I lose chicks to guys like you....it's the STORIES". Well, now I know why Julia loved Lyle. His way of telling stories in song are awesome.

I got this CD for Christmas from my mother-in-law. It is unbelievable. The range of music, topics, and vocals is awesome. I pride myself on being a good judge of fairly unknown musical talent such as Delbert McClinton and Susan Tedschi, but they can't hold a candle to Lyle Lovett.

Everyone one loves "Been to Memphis", "Church", and "North Dakota", but my favorite song BY FAR on this CD is "Since the Last Time". This song is so heart felt and real, you can feel his emotions as they ooze from the speakers. It makes you smile, cry, and reflect in 7 minutes. I just told my wife that when I die (in 40 years or more) she is to play this song at my memorial service.

His word smithing is incredible. Are there any lyrics that have ever been better than:

"He's got church on Sunday
And he got drunk the night before
And he got his good gal when he got home
The preacher said he wants some
more of that"

and:

"To the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat
We've got some beans and good cornbread
Now listen to what the preacher said
He said to the Lord let praises be
It's time for dinner now let's go eat"

and:

"I ask her come here baby
She tells me no, no
I ask her drive me here
She tells me drive your own
She likes to race my motor
Then slam my hood
She makes me feel good
She makes me feel good"

If you don't have this CD waste no more time and buy it. It will quickly be your favorite.

It's stupid to add my two cents to an already glowing pile of reviews, but I will, simply out of love and respect for this recording. Objectively, Joshua Judges Ruth is witty, poignant, fun, rollicking, heart-felt, cynical and sincere. Subjectively, it changed the way I listen to American music. If Lyle ever makes a movie as good as this cd, I'm predicting Sundance or Cannes. Don't hold your breath for that, just get this cd.

If you are lucky or blessed enough to own a surround system with full range speakers all-around then you are in for a treat. The DTS encoded version of Judges, Joshua, Ruth is a must have for anyone who appreciates tasteful use of the surround channels. On 'Church' the chorus rises from the background behind you with the realistic effect of being in church with the choir up in the balcony. You do not have to be a Lyle Lovett fan to appreciate the wonderful sonics and precise imaging and placement of instruments inherent in this recording. I wasn't a fan of Lyle's until I listened to 'She's Already Made Up Her Mind'. This beautiful recording contains some of the deepest, clearest bass notes of anything I've heard. Not the kind of bloated noise heard in rap songs, but the kind of mournful , smooth notes that portend ominous events. Bass that is so well integrated into the rest of the mix that you sometimes don't even realize it's existence because it does not overwhelm the midrange as is often the case with bass laden performances. Believe me, if you don't make an emotional connection with the music while listening to this recording - you're already dead! Make sure your sub woofer can handle frequencies below 35Hz for best effects.
Besides the terrific sonics, the song writing is top notch. These are not lyrics that leave you wondering what is meant. They are lyrics about everyday life from being hungry because the church service is a little long to love lost and funerals. Some witty and some sorrowful but all demonstrations of how simple notions are the stuff of our lives.

Starting off this set is the bouncy-pianoed "I've Been to Memphis", which is one of my favorite Lyle Lovett songs. The next song you feel like you've stepped into a predominately black church with "Church", which to me, is a masterpiece of vocal arrangements. It is a very fun song. Then, later you come to the brilliantly written "North Dakota", with incredible backup vocals by Rickie Lee Jones. I also very much love the "Flyswatter" song... what can I say, this is a great release from a highly talented man.

If you are trying to decide on a Lyle Lovett album this is the one you can't miss with. You will like it, your friends will like it or more likely love it. I have tried others but so far none come close to Joshua Judges Ruth. There isn't a flat or awkward spot on this mood inducing masterpiece. It will bring to mind memories and take you good places over and over again. Some albums like Paul Simon's Graceland just come together as a perfect package. This is one of them. If you play music at work this is one everyone enjoys. I bought two copies this year for friends just because I knew they would enjoy it. I am sure I have never done that before. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.