Customer Reviews

If There Was a Way

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first bought this album, I didn't really care for it. It just didn't sound right. Still, I persisted in listening to it and I finally realized that this was one of the best albums I had ever listened to. "If There Was a Way" shows us that Dwight is paving a new trail once again. Though the honky-tonk sound is still there, this disc leans toward a more raw, hardened sound hinted at in the previous "Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room." This album isn't as dark, however. "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose" is great, hands down. "It Only Hurts Me When I Cry" is too. "Dangerous Man" and "Takes A Lot To Rock You" gives us a taste of the rockier edge that Dwight Yoakam and Pete Anderson seem to be leaning to on this album. Other great songs include "The Distance Between You and Me," "You're the One" and "The Heart That You Own." This is a good album to get if you want a taste of both the younger, more rockabilly sound of Dwight and the older, more experimental sound.

One of the signs of a truly great album is that most of the tracks could be considered for single release - this is one such album. Dwight demonstrates that he can rock hard but he also includes some outstanding ballads. He wrote or co-wrote most of the songs. Although Dwight has shown a liking for recording covers as well as originals in his career, there is only one cover here.

The country hits were Turn it on turn me up turn me loose (a brilliant up-tempo song), You're the one (a nice love song), It only hurts when I cry (co-written with Roger Miller who is famous for King of the road), The heart that you own (an aching ballad) and Nothing's changed here. The first four make up the first four tracks on his greatest hits collection, Last chance for 1,000 years but Nothing's changed here is omitted.

Apart from the hits (which aren't necessarily the best songs here), some of the highlights for me are Sad sad music (another aching ballad), Since I started drinking again (with a hint of bluegrass), Send a message to my heart (a duet with Patty Loveless that I really expected to be released as a single) and Let's work together (a cover of the blues-rock classic that became a huge hit for Canned heat). And if you play this album and find that your favorite song is one I haven't mentioned, that won't surprise me at all, such is the quality of this album.

If you enjoy any of Dwight's music, you'll surely love this album.

I have varied tastes, and I can go from opera to country music, and like them both. "Honky Tonk" country is usually not my favorite - but I love this album. If you are a fan, this is one of Dwight's best.

Man what a CD!! People like Reba, Garth, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith and most of today's "make believe" country artists should take a lesson from Dwight Yoakum. This CD is perfection all the way!! Everything from ROckabilly, to shuffles, to waltzes, to some of the most beautiful ballads...all done to tantalizing perfection. My favorites: "The Heart that You Own", "Nothing's Changed Here", "It Only Hurts Me When I Cry", "You're the ONe", "Sad, Sad Music" and the crowning glory of the CD..."Send a Message to My Heart" an incredible duet with the incomparable Patty Loveless whose voice blends with Dwight's perfecty on a song, which if marketed properly, would and should be a country classic!!! You won't find pop/crossover stuff here...this is "real" country and a true masterpiece!!! Bravo!!

If "Guitars & Cadillacs" were on this DY album it would be my favorite of his. Still, I think it's his best one overall. In my opinion "Heart That You Own" is the 2d best country song I'ver ever heard, next to the immortal George's "Mr. Fool". Since Mr. Fool was done in the late '50's, I believe, that would make "Heart That You Own" the greatest country song of the last 40 or so years. DY is the most important country artist of the past 20 years. I'll vote for that.

This album features Dwight's wonderful voice, excellent musicianship and production and a nice variety of songs. Best song to me is "It Only Hurts When I Cry," co-written with Roger Miller. I also love everything else except perhaps the last track, "Let's Work Together." That's the only one that's less than stellar for me. The rest are superb, and they make this album a true classic. To me this means most people would like it throughout the years no matter what music they tend to ordinarily listen to. Even if they "hate" country music, they'd have to like this!!

With Dwight Yoakam's music there will always be a way. His voice is above uniqueness and he puts his all into all his songs. I totally agree with the late Johnny Cash that Dwight is the best compared to the country singers of this era.

In the late 90's country was ruled by Garth Brooks, and he over shadowed mostly every artist in country. Dwight Yoakam seems to get the shaft for the past 20 years in country. His albums seem to be well thought out, and not a couple hits and a bunch of filler like Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson and other superstars of country do. I consider him to be the greatest artist in country since Hank Williams. Why? His voice is distinct and meaningful; He writes mostly all of his own work, and everyone can relate to a song he sings. This album is probably the greatest country album in the last...well ever. Hank Williams and other artist from 50-70's never really produced a cd, and you can only find greatest hits from artist like George Jones, Hank Williams, among other legends. I've listened to other artist from country, and none of them can match Dwight's albums. All of them have no filler, and every song is worth a listen. This cd along with Gone, This Time, A long way home is well worth buying.

Pure Dwight, perhaps just a notch below "This Time", but still great. "Heart That You Own" is perhaps (IMHO) the greatest country song ever recorded by a "modern" artist - this cut alone is worth owning the CD for, at least you'll never wear the song out as I surely would have by now if this was an album.

"Turn It On..." is another classic, and one that you will want to "turn up". I'm not one for playing music at high volumes but it's hard to resist not bumping this song up a couple of notches. Of course, all the songwriting/lyrics are superb...just par for the course for Mr. Yoakam.

Too many other strong cuts to mention. A must have for any country collection, particularly in the honky-tonk style.

This is such a beautiful c.d by Dwight Yoakam. "Nothing's Changed Here" is so heartbreaking yet it's beautiful. And that's what Dwight does, he writes sad songs and sings them with such meaning. He is the most talented singer out there."You're The One" is so beautiful it'll bring tears to your eyes. If your a Dwight fan, you know what I'm talking about. He has an unmistakable voice and it comes out so good in this c.d! I love this c.d.