Joshua Judges Ruth

Lyle Lovett

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 31, 1992)
• Original Release Date: March 31, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002OIY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,613 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Leave it to the poker-faced Lovett to use a biblical joke to underline the thread of tangled relationships that weave between the wisecracks on this, his fourth album. With his elegantly drawled tenor and modulated sense of country, gospel, and R&B inflections, the Texan songwriter extends the larger ensemble settings and contrasting moods achieved with his preceding album, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, again mixing shaggy dog stories ("Church"), atmospheric portraits of places and people ("Baltimore"), and fatalistic love songs ("North Dakota") that underline his acknowledged debt to other Lone Star songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and Nanci Griffith. Yet his ease with frank rock elements, and an often urbane outlook, point up a musical kinship with L.A.'s folk-rock wing, notably Jackson Browne. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another album of favorites - classic Lyle Lovett, August 1, 2001

By	Darren Burton "virtualbloodhound" (Ogden, Utah United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lyle's Masterpiece, September 27, 2002

By	Fred McGhee "fredmcghee" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly among the best..., September 14, 2002

By	William Greer Jr. (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.