Customer Reviews

Sweet Talk & Good Lies

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Heather Myles's smart, assured approach to Bakersfield-school country puts her at the head of the class. She's no slouch as a songwriter, either. "One Man Woman Again" is a deceptively simple song. At first, casual listening, it's an answer to the Johnny Horton classic "I'm a One Woman Man," but on subsequent, more careful listening, it reveals itself to be an astonishingly nuanced evocation of a fleeting, painful encounter with an old lover. Like the finest country songs (e.g., Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens's "Just Between the Two of Us"), it has the resonance of a short story.

Myles practically reinvents Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," drawing the listener inexorably into the narrator's growing sense of loss and distance. Has a better version ever been recorded? I doubt it. There are some good times here, too: the playful "Big Cars," a celebration of exactly that, and the Buddy Holly-flavored "One and Only Lover." "Little Chapel," a jaunty, irresistible duet with Dwight Yoakam, will make you smile even as you suspect that this union will not stand. Only the tedious "The Love You Left Behind" sounds ready for Hot Country radio, and thus becomes the album's one instantly disposable cut.

Another fine Heather Myles album. Where would country music be today without the likes of Heather Myles? This is a 13 song CD that is hardcore country from start to finish; all blessed with the finest modern female voice in Country Music. Included is her tribute to the Nashville crap being sold today under the guise of country music, "Nashville's Gone Hollywood". There's also the Dwight Yoakam duet on "Little Chapel", and a fine rendition of Glen Campbell's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"....actually, I'd put Heather's version well above the original. This album has the usual recipe of Heather's straight forward, no apologies, music, and is best seen in: "Homewrecker Blues", and "Sweet Little Dangerous". I have no doubt that Heather Myles would enjoy the acceptance and promotional backing of mainstream Nashville, but I'm thankful she's staying the course. It's almost impossible to find music like this anymore. A+

Tex's Comments: Folks,I think this Cowgirl has proven to bring
lots of excellent taste in her music,And she can back it up
Excellent Singing Cowgirl that really can belt out that great good old tradional country music,She has the ability to know how
to put words together,and really put music to it,
Ive heard Buck Owens say one time,If you know how to write music,
like for instance,Tiger By The Tail,as he always said,lets put
some music to it.Well that just proves that Miss Heather,she has
done the same thing as Mr.Buck Owens has always said.Thats
what made Miss Heather's new cd do very well in the country charts.I might add that this new cd Sweet Talk & Good Lies,are
doing very excellent in the radio stations & the country musical
charts.

Heather Myles is the best female country singer in the business, although the unheralded Amber Digby and the seemingly vanished Danni Leigh are just about her equals. Heather is the real thing--there is no hint here of the pop crap that characterizes just about every other woman who claims to sing country. She's like a female Dwight Yoakam (with whom she sings a duet on this CD). And this CD is her masterpiece. It's been too long since her last release.

If you want great singing, excellent song-writing, and just some old-fashioned, the-way-it-used-to-be country, buy this CD. Heather's performance of Cry Me a River is alone worth the price of admission, and her duet with Dwight Yoakam is another highlight. I hope to catch her in person very soon.

"Sweet Talk & Good Lies" proves yet again the singing and song writing capabilities of Heather Myles. This album should catapult Heather to star status. "Little Chapel", the duet with Dwight Yoakam and written by Heather, is a song that I can't get enough of - I can listen to this for hours on end - it is that great. Matter of fact this whole album is great - one gets to appreciate the talent of Heather Myles - from pure honky tonk to ballad. This album ROCKS! HEATHER ROCKS!

At some point in their lives music fans come to a realization that there are only two kinds of music: good music and bad music. When this epiphany strikes vast catalogues and hidden genres open. In the mid-80's, with the seemingly simultaneous debut releases by Dwight Yoakum, Randy Travis and Steve Earle, I began to discover country music.

Before we get too carried away I feel the need to distance "good" country music from the pig-noise feeding the death knell of today's country radio music. In the remarkable but unheard category of great country artists are Kim Richey and Heather Myles.

While her third (though first nationally distributed) album, Highways & Honky Tonks, was stunning, 'Sweet Talk and Good Lies' by Heather Myles (2000) is destine to become a classic country album: a defining moment in the course of country music's future.

Duets with Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakum stamp "approved" on Myle's. Her covers of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Cry Me a River," and "Chapel of Love" allow first time listeners easy access to Myles recordings, but it is her own songs that exemplify how significant this relative unknown will be. As is required of any pertinent female country music singer, Myles is easy on the eyes but this time it's her music that draws you in and keeps you reaching for her music.

Rolling Stone writer Chet Flippo wrote, "Myles has more brass than a hardware store." Myles is a musical force that will continue to attract attention and move the course of country music.

Finally, after the onslaught of pop in country clothing, something that is actually what it claims to be. Being based in the UK, we don't get to hear much "hardcore" country, and I only by chance heard the title track of this album on a specialist satellite radio station. Amazingly I saw it in a branch of HMV whilst on my travels and bought it on the strength of that song.

I wasn't disappointed, and even shouted "Hear hear!" on hearing the second track "Nashville's Gone Hollywood" - much to the amusement of my future mother-in-law in the passenger's seat (it had its first playing in the car)!

Weak points? Well, I always hated "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", and this hasn't changed (it's the song, not the singer though). And "Cry Me A River"... not really my thing either (although I'd rather listen to this than Justin Timberlake's namesake track any day!).

Only 4 stars? Well on the whole the album is rather heavy going - if you want something a bit easier try "Highways & Honky-Tonks", but I don't regret buying this (or even paying UK prices for it).

I discovered Miss Heather in or around in the 1997,and from what
I have heard and listen to,she is a darn excellent performer,songwriter,just a well rounded and has the know how to
get your attention.
I think that new cd that I just bought recsent called Sweet Talk and Good Lies,has really put her on top,plus her Highway Honky Tonks,Untamed,Well in my opinion,I cant see any of her cds are bad at all.
Miss Heather needs to stick to her career as an country artist.
Once you are hoocked on her music,you will buy every cd and put it in your collection.
She has a very powerful voice,and every song that she sings,is very clear to understand.
The only thing in my opinion,she doesnt get enough credit what she does and dont hear much of her.I think we need to give Miss Heather more credit in what she does,and I would like to request
that she needs a message board so we can interact with Miss Heather Fans,some sort of meet and greet.The cowgirl has many abilies and she is very smart and intellgent.So the bottom line is please give Miss Heather where credit is due,she has it all together
Miss Heather Myles Fan Forever.Thanks Smiley out.

Another outstanding album by an obviously under-appreciated stellar talent. (Her long trips overseas certainly don't allow her time to make an impact in the US--but I guess it keeps her in guitar strings!) Heather's "Big Cars" is arguably one of the Greatest 100 Country Songs of All Times, and it is infuriating that she's not heard much more across country-land.
Heather: Shmooze it up with established names and start doing more touring along with them in these United States. (I just saw Martina McBride with Alan Jackson, and with all due respect, Martina isn't up to your musicality and versatility and would have certainly enjoyed your singing far more than her screaming.)