Customer Reviews

Smoke Rings in the Dark

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard Smoke Rings in the Dark on a highway in Southern Tennesee right at dusk...let me tell you it nearly sent me into a tree. Imagine how disgusted I was to learn I'd have to wait two weeks until the CD came out! It was well worth the wait...and then some! I simply love every song on this third CD by Allan. The best is, of course the title track, but "Don't Tell Mama..." had me in tears. "Sorry" and "Runaway" are two bonified 60's songs...one really is, but the other, "Sorry" has that be-bop feel and it also has that "got even with that old two-timin', good for nothin', broke my heart woman" to boot! "Cryin' For Nothin'" and "Lovin' You Against My Will" are as good as New Country gets. My recommendation is: Buy this CD, sit back in a dark room, light 'em if ya got 'em, draw a cool one and drift.....

Gary Allan got off to an inauspicious start in the record business with only one top ten country hit on each of his first two albums ("Her Man" on 1996's USED HEART FOR SALE and the title track of 1998's IT WOULD BE YOU). SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK from 1999 was Gary Allan's critical and commercial breakthrough, containing a more polished production as well as a distinct sound that was lacking on the first two releases. It also produced three hit singles.

A retro feel permeates throughout SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK. The highly atmospheric title track and its sparse companion piece "Lovin' You Against My Will" musically remind one of Allan's fellow Californian Chris Isaak (Allan's vocals recall Tim McGraw, albeit more raspy and tuneful). The zoot suitin' boogie of "Cowboy Blues" and "Sorry" seemingly pay homage to alt-twangers kd.lang and Lyle Lovett as much as 80s rockers the Stray Cats. Allan's use of weepy guitars throughout this album is particularly effective on his cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway," an update that improves on the original while remaining faithful to its arrangement.

The declarative "Right Where I Need To Be" reached the country top 5 and was Allan's biggest hit on the cd. Its meld of traditional country with beefed up production values is more typical of what is found on Allan's 1991 follow-up, ALRIGHT GUY, which was even more commercially successful than SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK (if not quite as musically diverse and sensual/moody).

Gary really lets her fly on this CD. With two other albums prior to this that were quite good but only churned out 2 hits this CD looks to bring out much more from Gary and finally make him a bonafide star. Though he is from California Gary has a sound that is similar to those fellow Californians such as Dwight Yoakam and Merle Haggard. Strong country sound from top to bottom. The lead song "SRITD" is a haunting ballad that will hit your heart right from the getgo. "Don't tell Mama" is such a hardcore country song that it sounds just like something George Strait would put out. "Sorry and Runaway" are two songs that have a 60's feel to them that doesn't really fit into this album but they sound great. "Bourbon Borderline" is my fav. Listen to it...you'll agree. "Learning to live with me" teaches a good lesson and "Greenfields" will haunt you forever..make you think of lost loves. Go out and get this album. You won't regret it. Strong on fiddles and hardcore country...something lacking in music nowadays. Though Gary only co-wrote one song on this album the lyrics will hit you home and that is what Gary looks in a song so you won't be disappointed.

This isn't really a review, since I've only heard a bit of the album, but...

I'm not the biggest country fan, but I really enjoy those "listen to it while you drive in the desert at dusk" songs while wearing my cowboy hat. I heard Smoke Rings in the Dark on a late night TV show (the one with James Brolin as a Marine). Dropped what I was doing when I heard that song come on. Prayed that the credits wouldn't pass by too fast so I could figure out was this a studio musician or a whole new talent. Was overjoyed with the little ad at the end that told me what album this was and who he was.

Gave me this chills like Roy Orbison and Chris Isaak. I just ordered the album, and will give my full review when I receive it. I listened to the samples on here, and cannot WAIT to receive the album. Everyone keeps saying "haunting", and I'm sorry, but that is the word. The lyrics touched me, the sound touched me, his voice too.

What a great CD! My first purchase of Gary Allan music, but not my last! It's absolutely wonderful! Great voice and great music. I heard Smoke Rings in the Dark on the radio and immediately decided to buy the CD. It's by far the best song on the CD but they're all great - especially Sorry, Runaway, and Cryin' for Nothin'. What diversity he has in his music! Keep up the great work!

Definitely one of the best country CDs to come along in quite a while -- so, so heartful and emotionally meaningful. Most songs will take you through a deeply reflective life journey. Country fans will forever cherish the life, love (and broken heart) songs in this exceptional CD collection. Smoke Rings In The Dark can and will once again open up broken heart scars from a fallen relationship -- the music and words are so strong and soulful! Find a quiet place of solitude, sit back, relax and enjoy this exceptional compilation of life and love songs. Enjoy the journey :-)

Owning all of the Gary Allan Cds I have been proud to point that out to anyone. Gary is one of my favorite artists for his flare for singing closer-to-traditional recordings than most artists on the Country Music frontier. This, his third album is his best work yet. Kicking it all off with the lead song that in some way touches many people, including me. The second song is good too, his rough voice sounds perfect with the lyric and music. The gem is the third song with incredible songwriting. "Lovin' You Against My Will" the fourth song, was immediately my favorite. The haunting melody and the lyrics make for an intoxicating mix. The fifth track, although a great song, seems a bit out of place, and more like that from a Dick Tracy soundtrack. "Cryin For Nothin'" and "Bourbon Borderline" are some great vocal preformances and the songs are strong lyricly. "Runaway" is another song that sounds out of place, for it's a pretty traditional rendition of the Del Shannon classic. The next three tracks are good for any other cd, but seem almost mediocre on this one. The capper on the cd "Greenfields" is a good slow song that moves along nicely. To sumarize, this is a great cd and I'd reccomend it to anyone who likes country. The cd has great songwriting and great music, slap that together with Gary Allan, and you get a great cd. Buy this one....

Gary Allen has a voice designed specifically for country music. It can be haunting or hilarious, depending on how he decides to sing. No matter what, though, he's always good. The title track certainly isn't one of my favorites, but that shouldn't matter to you, the reader and listener. It is a good song, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. My personal favorite is the second track, "Right Where I Need to Be." This is an excellent song, combining Allen's ringing voice with stunning guitarsmanship (nice word, huh?). "Don't Tell Mama" might not be original, but I like it better than Ty Herndon's version. "Sorry" is a haunting song, with ironic twists and turns in the story. "Cryin' For Nothin'" is another good one. Then we come to an exceptional version on "Runaway". It might be an oldie, but it's certainly a goodie when Gary Allen gets into it. "Cowboy Blues" is a catchy song. The CD ends with "Greenfields", a beautiful balad that I honestly wouldn't expect Gary Allen to sing. But then, I wouldn't expect him to redo "Runaway", either. This is a great CD, and I suggest you purchase it, before it turns to "Smoke Rings in the Dark."

I own two albums by Gary Allan, "It Would Be You" and now, "Smoke Rings In The Dark." I love both albums, but "Smoke Rings In The Dark" is by far the better of the two. The songs are awesome and Gary Allan has an amazing voice. I love the title track, Don't Tell Mama, and his rendition of the old song Runaway. The only song I really didn't care for was Sorry. However, overall, this album is excellent and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes country music with a hint of variety in it.

This was the album where people finally started to take notice of Gary Allan. On his third album, he seems to find his footing and some great songs. Not that his first two albums were bad, quite the contrary they are great, but this album has songs that really captured the attention of the public at large. On this album he does an excellent cover of "Runaway", one of the best I've heard. The title track is smoldering piece of country music that was a good hit from the album. "Right Where I Need To Be" was another top 10 hit for Allan, and the haunting ballad "Lovin You Against My Will" cracked the top 40. "Sorry" is a fun uptempo tongue-in-cheek kind of song. There's some great ballads like "Cryin For Nothin", "Don't Tell Mama", and a few others. Overall a really strong effort from Allan that remains as one of his best.