Customer Reviews

Other Sessions

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

 

 

For years, Jim Lauderdale has been recording albums critics rave over and whose songs currents stars like the Dixie Chicks and George Strait have covered. Yet the man has never found success in his own right, even with his more mainstream sounding album "Onward Through It All." With "The Other Sessions," Lauderdale steps away from that sound and has recorded a tight album whose sound nobody will confuse with anything but old-style country. You can almost here George Jones' voice on "Just To Get to You" or Buck Owens' on "Diesel, Diesel, Diesel," (my personal favorite -- who else can work the Twilight Zone theme into a country song?). And "It's Not Too Late" wins the award as the song George Strait is most likely to cover on his next album. My only complaint is that even with 12 songs, the disc lasts barely more than 30 minutes. But, if you've liked Jim Lauderdale in the past, or are tired with the current state of pop country radio, you won't be disappointed with "The Other Sessions."

I bought this album in June this year - after a few listens I thought "this guy sure writes and sounds different, but he's pretty good" - after a few more listens I thought "this guy not only writes well, but the way he sings is really starting to grow on me too" - after a few more listens I thought "this guy is one of THE BEST songwriters around and I LOVE the way he sings!" I'm still listening and Jim Lauderdale is now in my favorite artist list along with the likes of Dwight Yoakam,Buddy Miller,Rodney Crowell,etc.

'The Other Sessions' is essential REAL COUNTRY for 2001!

I am of the opinion that a proper country record cannot be made these days unless Jim Lauderdale sings the harmonies. Folks like Lucinda Williams, Buddy Miller, the fabulous Chris Gaffney and Dwight Yoakum agree with me. Everyone raves about Jim Lauderdale's songwriting ability (and it is AWESOME in its power!), but I never read much about what a great singer he is. Listen to this record and see what I mean. Start with Merle World, Honky Tonk Haze, First Things First and go from there. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I think the Del Reeves/Lauderdale version of Diesel, Diesel, Diesel on the Rig Rock Deluxe record is better. This is a hard country record with enough steel guitar (which means a BUNCH). Lauderdale's voice blends so perfectly with the steel that you'll be in Honky Tonk Heaven.

If you want to know how to write a song, you should study people like Jim Lauderdale. "If I Were You" (I'd Love Me Forever) and "Diesel, Diesel, Diesel" are the ones to particulary listen to if you want to know what makes a hit. His voice is easily as good as any of the crooners that are selling multi-platinum.

As he seems to do from time to time, Laurderdale loaded up a bunch of co-writers, and set out to write hisself a straight country album (as opposed to his bluegrass efforts). The result is pretty mixed. It's an enjoyable album - most of the songs are pretty good. But it doesn't seem to have that subtle Lauderdale tang. The slow songs come across as sappy rather than heartfelt, and the faster ones are a bit formulaic.

Lauderdale seems to have immersed himself a little too far in "Merle World", and lost his own unique touch. We've still got Merle! Admittedly, Merle himself is pretty uneven, but no one can match him at his best. So don't try - no one can match Jim Lauderdale at his best either. Sadly, this is not his best - it's his "pretty good". "You'll know when it's right", and this just isn't.

Overall, adequate, and listenable, but I don't look to Lauderdale for classic country cloning - even if it is good quality.

It's amazing these songs aren't on the radio. Cover versions by more well-known country artists (and Lauderdale is a fine performer in his on right) would be very welcome on what passes for country radio lately. Please, would members of the particular female demographic the programmers target please buy this CD? Thank you. :-)