It doesn't stop those singles from working like motherfuckers, but "Streets of Bakersfield" and "You're The One" moved, y'know? The emphasis shifts on the later singles. If "Ain't That Lonely Yet" works, all credit to Yoakam's vocal; he's never sung better.
― My mom is all about capital gains tax butthurtedness (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 24 April 2011 14:59 (thirteen years ago) link
He knows how to swing. At the time I thought of those records as retro but it's funny how those kinds of judgments slip away, as the horizon of the now slips. And I understand the self-reflexivity of country music better now too, and appreciate it too. I guess that's just another way of making the point that genres have their own values, and for all of Dwight's outsider image, he knew those values, so that when he played with them it wasn't to break on through but rather to give them new life.
― Euler, Sunday, 24 April 2011 15:09 (thirteen years ago) link
Population Me is damn good, and so damn fleet and efficient.
― Anakin Ska Walker (AKA Skarth Vader) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 7 September 2011 01:45 (twelve years ago) link
Not a great recording, but I really love this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPFuTUCQjgI
― reggae night staple center (Eazy), Wednesday, 7 September 2011 01:52 (twelve years ago) link
New album out, "3 Pears" and it's fucking great!
― Mule, Sunday, 16 September 2012 11:14 (eleven years ago) link
This doesn't actually come out until Tuesday 9/18 - it was on the shelf at my local Target this morning, though, and/but when I brought it to the register they wouldn't sell it to me! Bastards...
― 誤訳侮辱, Sunday, 16 September 2012 15:19 (eleven years ago) link
Aha, different dates in Europe and the US, then. It was released in Norway on Friday. You're in for a treat. He sounds very hungry now. It's sort of a comeback, almost, as it's been7 years since his last album.
― Mule, Sunday, 16 September 2012 19:15 (eleven years ago) link
yeah, it's been ages! Didn't even know a new album was in the works! Looking forward..
― Stormy Davis, Sunday, 16 September 2012 23:51 (eleven years ago) link
Wait, Beck is on this thing? That doesn't bode well.
I lost track of Yoakam somewhere in the late '90s, maybe around "Long Way Home," because suddenly there was this endless stream of best-ofs, compilations, acoustic re-makes, boxed sets, Christmas albums and the like, like he was treading water while dealing with movie stuff. Not sure I heard "Population Me" and "Blame the Vain." Were they any good? I'm sure "Dwight Sings Buck" was solid, but at the same time it seemed like another stopgap move. Does he even really tour anymore?
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 17 September 2012 01:28 (eleven years ago) link
my introduction to him was perhaps the most horribly titled record of all time: dwightyoakamacoustic.net
it's pretty grebt tho
― mookieproof, Monday, 17 September 2012 01:38 (eleven years ago) link
Population Me is a damn good album.
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 17 September 2012 01:43 (eleven years ago) link
I had a hunch; Yoakam doesn't really have many (any?) misfires. But he lost control of the direction of his career there for a while. Reminded me of this run of Nanci Griffith collections - best ofs, covers, orchestra, rarities, Christmas - that similarly overshadowed her actual comeback album. Not that I really like her or equate her with Yoakam. Just a similar mess of a discography.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 17 September 2012 01:47 (eleven years ago) link
Listening to the new one on Spotify now. It really is pretty damn good.
― 誤訳侮辱, Tuesday, 18 September 2012 14:24 (eleven years ago) link
I know. Been playing it lots the last few days. And Josh, re your question a few posts up, he does tour, atleast a bit. Saw him in Oslo in June. Pretty tight show, but expensive as hell. Tickets $ 100 plus.
― Mule, Tuesday, 18 September 2012 19:29 (eleven years ago) link
If I had a big giraffe, he'd have to take a real long bath, and that's why waterfalls are really neat
― some dude, Wednesday, 10 October 2012 20:30 (eleven years ago) link
He tore shit up on Letterman a few weeks ago and I almost bought the new album immediately afterwards, but the 30 second previews on Amazon made me hesitate. Will probably cave and get Spotify eventually for situations like this.
― cwkiii, Wednesday, 10 October 2012 20:43 (eleven years ago) link
don't hesitate! the whole thing sounds so so rich and full
― some dude, Wednesday, 10 October 2012 20:45 (eleven years ago) link
one of the year's best imo.
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 10 October 2012 20:49 (eleven years ago) link
and, yeah, "Waterfall" (the one ship alludes to) and "Rock It All Away" are as good as anything he's done -- plus, he's playing all the guitar and I don't even miss Pete Anderson.
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 10 October 2012 20:51 (eleven years ago) link
OK, I'm convinced; will definitely check this out!
― cwkiii, Wednesday, 10 October 2012 20:59 (eleven years ago) link
bad ass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzChx-3sqXk
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 10 October 2012 21:04 (eleven years ago) link
on Kimmel tonight!
― some dude, Thursday, 11 October 2012 03:36 (eleven years ago) link
"Missing Heart" is the best song he's ever written. I've been waiting for him to do a gut-level personal song.
― FunkyTonk, Tuesday, 13 November 2012 08:22 (eleven years ago) link
And with the sound of 3 Pears he re/invented hard country for the digital age.
― FunkyTonk, Tuesday, 13 November 2012 10:25 (eleven years ago) link
"Nothing But Love"!
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 13 November 2012 11:51 (eleven years ago) link
This 1987 Betsy Layne, KY Yoakam concert recording is pretty great so far.I wonder how many of the Kentuckians present at the show knew that the players were longtime Angelenos. I wonder if they could hear that the music had a distinctly Californian flavor.
http://www.lostonmyowntrack.com/Dwight-Audio/BetsyLayne1987/
― FunkyTonk, Monday, 17 December 2012 02:04 (eleven years ago) link
Dwight's southern Ohio roots get him Kentucky cred.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 17 December 2012 02:16 (eleven years ago) link
Oh I know, I'm not questioning his credentials- I just know that when I first listened to him I thought he had such a deep country sound. I sure never would have guessed that it came from LA.
― FunkyTonk, Monday, 17 December 2012 02:27 (eleven years ago) link
Close to a year later,'3 Pears' still sounds fucking amazing. I play it all the time. What a great record!
― Mule, Monday, 22 April 2013 16:19 (eleven years ago) link
otm! I played it in the car last week.
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 22 April 2013 16:21 (eleven years ago) link
Listening to 3 Pears right now for the first time. Whatta record!
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 19 June 2013 16:50 (ten years ago) link
New song on Soundcloud:
http://soundcloud.com/via-records/liar
― 誤訳侮辱, Wednesday, 24 July 2013 20:17 (ten years ago) link
Man, Dwight, why don't you try playing a few places that aren't casinos so that some of us under the age of 60 can go see you.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 24 September 2013 14:58 (ten years ago) link
He's never released a particularly bad song or album, has he?
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 25 November 2013 15:16 (ten years ago) link
Not to my knowledge he hasn't. Remarkably consistent dude. Over the last few years he has, sort of stealthily, become one of my favorite artists.
― Mule, Monday, 25 November 2013 15:19 (ten years ago) link
The other day I was playing a Dwight Yoakam song and a friend heard it and he just outright declared "I will listen to anything that guy releases."
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 25 November 2013 15:22 (ten years ago) link
Your friend otm.
― Mule, Monday, 25 November 2013 15:32 (ten years ago) link
The mid nineties post-This Time were dull but that's it. Funnily enough I finally got a copy of TT this weekend.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 25 November 2013 15:33 (ten years ago) link
I'm a huge fan of "Gone," but yeah, if there's a drop off it's after that one. There was a period where it seemed like one after the other: best of, boxed set, covers album, Christmas album, second covers album, soundtrack. None were bad, but it was a lot of leftovers. On that final front, I think he got distracted by movies. Never saw "South of Heaven," which he directed, too, but as an actor he is absolutely great in "Sling Blade," "The Newton Boys," "Panic Room" ("Raoul") ... I don't remember him, but I bet he was great in "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada."
Also:
Yoakam's food brand, Bakersfield Biscuits,[6] sells frozen foods at retailers such as Wal-Mart Superstores, Walgreens, Sam's Club, and Kroger.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 25 November 2013 18:31 (ten years ago) link
He is great in "Three Burials"!
― Mule, Monday, 25 November 2013 18:37 (ten years ago) link
i always crack up at "Any love for the man and his jeans?"
― some dude, Monday, 25 November 2013 18:39 (ten years ago) link
Well, he does have the most amazing jeans. I think they must be custom-sewed ON him, that's how tight they are.
― Mule, Monday, 25 November 2013 18:43 (ten years ago) link
I'm pretty fond of A Long Way Home's "Things Change" and "I Wouldn't Put It Past Me," one of his best I'm-a-dickhead songs.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 25 November 2013 22:32 (ten years ago) link
I just got a press release announcing Dwight Yoakam signing to Warner Bros./Reprise, but it's a weird one. No where does it mention he was on Reprise for almost his entire career, and that this is some sort of return. For that matter, wasn't "3 Pears" released on WB, too?
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 14 July 2014 13:54 (nine years ago) link
3 Pears was on Warner Nashville. New album later this year, apparently, which makes me happy.
― Humorist (horse) (誤訳侮辱), Monday, 14 July 2014 14:12 (nine years ago) link
Internationally renowned recording artist, songwriter, and actor Dwight Yoakam will release a brand-new album, entitled Second Hand Heart, on April 14th, 2015. The track-listing for Second Hand Heart is as follows:In Another WorldSheDreams of ClaySecond Hand HeartOff Your MindBelieveMan Of Constant SorrowLiarThe Big TimeV's of Birds
In Another WorldSheDreams of ClaySecond Hand HeartOff Your MindBelieveMan Of Constant SorrowLiarThe Big TimeV's of Birds
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 4 February 2015 17:31 (nine years ago) link
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/hear-dwight-yoakams-serendipitous-second-hand-heart-20150204
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 4 February 2015 17:32 (nine years ago) link
love this dude
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 4 February 2015 17:33 (nine years ago) link
Can't wait.
― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Wednesday, 4 February 2015 18:10 (nine years ago) link
Lead single is solid. Looking forward to the album.
― Indexed, Wednesday, 4 February 2015 18:53 (nine years ago) link
A top twenty-five of this man's amazing tunes.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 9 March 2017 02:25 (seven years ago) link
Second Hand Heart and Nothing are really great. Been listening to a lot fo Yoakam lately.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6xWgbb58gohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuRMOkaohY
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:17 (four years ago) link
pretty crazy that his late career albums are as good as they are.
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:18 (four years ago) link
otm
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:21 (four years ago) link
He’s one of the better commentators in the Ken Burns Country doc.
― Beware of Mr. Blecch, er...what? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:26 (four years ago) link
'if there was a way' has a perfect album cover. the only use of copperplate gothic typeface ive ever approved of.https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Zj-zREJ1L._SX355_.jpg
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:32 (four years ago) link
Yet to Succeed has been called out a couple times itt and it's really sublime. His phrasing on that is masterful.
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:34 (four years ago) link
Also is that a marimba in the mix of that song?
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:36 (four years ago) link
He's so good, yet never seems to tour much outside of the casino circuit.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:39 (four years ago) link
Man, I totally forgot he dated Sharon Stone.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:41 (four years ago) link
great actor too. he excels at playing sadistic creeps.
― omar little, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 21:51 (four years ago) link
All the original albums that I've heard were worth checking out, but the best gateway for his 80s seems to be Just Lookin' For a Hit, 90s Last Chance For A Thousand Years, best career overview (up through early 00s, I think) the Rhino Very Best of. At about the same time, I got into the all-new Population Me quite a bit, although it took several spins (most of which I wouldn't have bothered with if he hadn't gotten several hooks into me right away). Ditto Blame The Vain, from '05 or '06---but the first this-century DY to grab and keep me all the way through first listen was this, as noted on Rolling Country 2013 and the Nashville Scene ballot:God, 3 Pears is great. Grabbed me right away---on MySpace, but great sound (via Koss UR40 headphones). Dwight Yoakam assimilates the mid-60s back-and-forth of country, rock, some Latin in both, from the Southwestern US to UK and back: well, mostly assimilated, not too quote-y, though he does make good use of a certain Beatles chorus, Tommy James--mostly subliminal Orbison, Owens, Everlys (even multiple Dwights for a moment on one track), early Gram Parsons, and right from the latter to "Heart of Mine", the best southwest of Liverpool garage pop country that the young Sir Douglas Quintet never did. Circumspect flash, he is a character actor after all, knows not to wink and the audience, but when to whoop, and the wave of music the sorrowfully moralistic, left-behind hubby rides though "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke" has a faithful scream inside. Also like what I hoped the Mavericks' album would sound like in the wake of "Oh What A Crying Shame", but this is much more consistent. "Waterfall" sounds like a children's song, more imaginative than sentimental, but the line about babies being born even in a war, is that something you'd tell a kid? Some kids would know, would be there to agree with you, no Pope Daddyio. Couple tracks toward the end I could live without, but it perks up again. If Tom T. Hall left Kentucky, and hung a left for Hollywood on his way back to Nashville or Murfreesboro, Yoakam might have a good dream about it, right before starting this album.
― dow, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 22:21 (four years ago) link
Then from 2015:Dwight Yoakam's Second Hand Heart didn't immediately flip me into the back of a pickup truck, not like 3 Pears, but it sure does build. First three tracks seem a tad studious, which shouldn't be necessary after 14 previous albums drawing on mid-60s Buck Owens/Beatles crosstalk, and what the latter, at least, drew on from the Everlys x various Southwestern crossover artists. But then he starts stretching and flexing the Sunbelt accents, adding Alabama-style syllables to a droll drawl over a "She's About A Mover"-type riff, dropping in some Jordanaires-type vocal encouragement, just for a second ( like some other fleet touches, on this and other tracks: acoustic guitar back here, steel over thar), and the arc of the set really takes off, doesn't let go. For instance, "Man of Constant Sorrow," with a vocal not that far from old timey versions, maybe a little faster---or that's just an illusion created by the slamming electric rhythm tracks, which fit perfectly, without jiving up the high lonesome vibe---they just respond, in a plugged-in, open-flap tent revival way: "Tell us how lost we all are, Brother, that's the first step to bein' found!" (Or maybe just, "Rave on, let it bleed, I'm with ya.") Yoakam continues to crank up his rock and country connections while passing through, getting cooler and hotter at the same time, eventually ending with a ballad, but one with a beat; sounds like he's been listening to New Morning, the way Dylan was maybe listening to Van Morrison around the time of NM (long enough to concur with an overall sense of the bucolic/boondocks consolations, and the short sharp outbursts of "If Not For You," at least).
― dow, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 22:22 (four years ago) link
2016:Dwight Yoakam, Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars…: he's high & lonesome, but not too thin, nasal or tight, got that bluesier side of bluegrass, flexible enough for all the twists and turns of yonder Hollywood and Beverly Hills, also almost a bit of blue yodel, at appropriate intervals. Like the occasional guest voices too, would like more or any females, since female voices have kept me listening to contemporary bluegrass, somewhut (also to contemporary punk-new-wave-etc).Took me a couple of tracks to focus, but particular faves so far incl. "Listen", which is a little slower than usual and has kind of an Everlys feel, also Dolly Parton's"Two Doors Down", with the barstool as tombstone and/or urn: seems like that honky tonk bluegrass I've always wondered about (title of an early Ricky Skaggs album, but considering how pious he got and maybe already was, hard to picture him in such a place). Good if not strictly necessary revamp of "Guitars Cadillacs and Hillbilly Music", also, fave of all so far is "Purple Rain", now with a brisker, still pensive bluegrass cadence, reminding me a little of Hindu Love Gods' version of "Raspberry Beret." (Would like to hear Willie sing "Purple Rain" at the original tempo(Also him and/or Yoakam doing "Pale Blue Eyes", but that's another matter.The ideel "PBE" would involve Lee Ann Womack (what the heck, she's gone almost that far, like with Marc Ribot's "Meds").
― dow, Tuesday, 22 October 2019 22:28 (four years ago) link
3 pears sounded great to me today on first listen.
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 22:31 (four years ago) link
this is so simple but still very effective https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzDgd3Fl0IY
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 23:27 (four years ago) link
He's playing Terminal 5 in NYC in a couple of weeks.
― shared unit of analysis (unperson), Tuesday, 22 October 2019 23:35 (four years ago) link
I got into his stuff on the back of those last two (brilliant ) albums
― The World According To.... (Michael B), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 10:05 (four years ago) link
The string of albums he did with Pete Anderson are pretty much all killer.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 23 October 2019 11:36 (four years ago) link
He's a fantastic duet partner at live shows. However don't recall him doing many duets on his albums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIsqN4BTvuw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw0gdKJ5mpw
― that's not my post, Wednesday, 23 October 2019 14:56 (four years ago) link
Well, there's the stuff with Buck, of course.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 23 October 2019 15:03 (four years ago) link
right... there's that of course
― that's not my post, Wednesday, 23 October 2019 15:07 (four years ago) link
timely (or coincidental) revive - just learned on Twitter that it's Dwight's birthday today. Happy birthday, Dwight!
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 23 October 2019 15:59 (four years ago) link
ha, purely coincidence! just been on a dwight deep dive and had to share.
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 16:32 (four years ago) link
Been obsessing over "Sorry You Asked?" lately.
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 16:40 (four years ago) link
the trumpet into the key shift >>>
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 16:46 (four years ago) link
weird choice on the fade out tho
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 16:49 (four years ago) link
'Nothing' might just be my favorite song of his thus farhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVrCmg5Q6rw
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 16:53 (four years ago) link
Good video, too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuRMOkaohY
― shared unit of analysis (unperson), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 17:11 (four years ago) link
I like that! It's funny and implies the song will just keep going, adding more tmi, and you'll really be sorry you asked. I get the feeling the next (unheard) verse is about their waning sex life.
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 17:23 (four years ago) link
Blame the vane.
― dow, Wednesday, 23 October 2019 17:29 (four years ago) link
love this. melody is very climson and cloverhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzChx-3sqXk
― de-mamba mentality (Spottie), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 22:34 (four years ago) link
^ came here to post about this song. what a jam!
― j.o.h.n. in evanston (john. a resident of chicago.), Thursday, 7 July 2022 13:43 (one year ago) link
The bar played “turn it on, turn it up, turn me loose” last weekend and I’ve hardly had anything else on my mind since then
― calstars, Sunday, 2 July 2023 04:05 (ten months ago) link
«Lonely moves here and there.Sometimes it stays in one place and just stares.»
Love him so much.
― Mule, Sunday, 2 July 2023 08:33 (ten months ago) link