A Search through an Artist's Soul
Dwight Yoakam has been called a very private person when not performing; but when you listen to his music, particularly music as compelling and introspective as what is found in "A Long Way Home," it becomes painfully obvious that he bares his heart and soul, repeatedly, in every song he writes. The searing pain in his music and lyrics--and not the angst-ridden pseudo-soul of teen death ballads or beat-the-puppy country--reaches down one's throat to grip the heart and pull it, bleeding, to the air with a raw intensity that very few writers/performers achieve. Dwight Yoakam doesn't appeal to everyone because some people don't understand that--but if you open your ears, and listen with your whole soul, "you might find yourself somewhere." Doesn't matter if you consider him country, alternative country, rock, soul, or what--he is Dwight, and this is him.
An outstanding collection of original songs
At the time Dwight recorded this album, people could be forgiven for thinking that Dwight had run out of ideas - after all, he'd recorded a covers album and a Christmas album, which was predominately covers. With this album, Dwight proved that he could still write and sing brilliant original songs. As ever, Dwight's traditionally based country music has a rock edge that appeals to a wider audience while still appealing to most traditional country fans. Only the most diehard traditionalists could fail to appreciate Dwight's music. The overall feel of this album is very upbeat.Dwight grabs your attention from the opening Same fool and holds it until the closing Maybe you like it maybe you don't, singing his way through a selection of songs that are incredibly varied yet still sit comfortably together. Dwight's influences are many and varied but fans of Buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley will all hear echoes of their music in this album. Of course, Dwight's hillbilly vocal style combined with Pete Anderson's brilliant producing make his music unmistakeable for any other.
Dwight makes a rare incursion into bluegrass territory on Traveller's lantern, on which Ralph Stanley plays banjo. As Dwight had already appeared as a guest on Ralph's Clinch mountain country album, this was no surprise. Judged on this effort, it would be great to hear Dwight do a whole bluegrass album.
Dwight has recorded many outstanding albums (and one or two duds) but this is certainly one of the best albums Dwight has ever recorded and my may well be the best of the lot.
solid Dwight
A lot of critics would flog this album because they say it's not evolutionary or unique. Let me tell those pokes something. This *is* country music. This is his most consistent and enjoyable album since This Time. I listen to this without hitting the 'next' button on the CD player. And that is rare, even when you consider that it's packed with 13 well merited songs for your dollars.
"These Arms" and the title track are classic sounding Bakersfield Dwight Yoakam . "Traveler's Lantern" is about as close to quality bluegrass (an homage to his Kentucky roots?) as you will hear with contemporary Country (not to mention with a wonderful lyrical landscape). "That's Okay", "Curse", and "Things Change" will have you singing along unapologetically. And what would a Dwight project be without a weeper such as "I'll Just Take These" and a rocker like "Only You Want More"?
I can't believe how overlooked this album is in his catalog. Dwight and Pete Anderson get all due respect from me whenever they put someting on platter. Great job, guys!
Underrated Yoakam classic
I don't know why the buzz around this album faded so quickly (even as "Things Change" managed more radio airplay than usual for Yoakam in these pop-country climes). But I find this to be one of the very finest of Yoakam's works -- right up with "This Time" and "If There was a Way." Even "Tomorrow's Sounds Today" ended up being more critically acclaimed strangely. I don't think any of Yoakam's albums have been as varied sonically with as much consistency of tone and theme or been as respectful of the past without sounding like re-treads. The title track is as good a sweet country song as you are likely to find anywhere, and are the best lyrics Yoakam has ever penned. The rest of the album ranges from catchy, driving melodies "Listen" to toe-tapping two-steps like "These Arms" and "That's Ok." "Things Change" and "Yet to Succeed" are classics of their particular sub-genres, even as they subvert those expectations in clever ways.
All in all, this is a largely overlooked gem. Fans of Dwight Yoakam will be thrilled and engrossed in the album, which features some familiar Yoakam-sounds and some new directions and some truly stellar lyrics. Newcomers to alt.country, rockabilly, classic country, and/or the Bakersfield sound are in for a treat, and couldn't find a better, more listenable introduction to all those genres (and more).
Do yourself a favor, and if you overlooked this release, go back and pick it up. It just might be my favorite out of every single Dwight Yoakam record out there. Which is saying a whole lot.
Gets better with each listen....
Being sort of a Country "purist", I like Dwight best when he sticks to traditional CW sounds, be it "Bakersfield" or in the Merle-type tradition ("Try Not To Look So Pretty", "Heart that You Own", etc.). But there is no denying that part of what makes Yoakam such a talent is his ability to mingle genres that then seem to perfectly suit his writing abilities (which are second-to-none). This CD (like "Gone") is another prime example of this.
While not my favorite Yoakam CD, this one still shines with outstanding cuts like "I'll Just Take These" and "Yet To Succeed". If you like Dwight, you'll be safe with this one.
In the vein of 1995's Gone, Dwight Yoakam continues to argue for an alternative-country future. Expanding his retro Bakersfield sound with significant flourishes of more contemporary and not-so-contemporary pop, rock, and soul, A Long Way Home is an aurally stunning and eclectic recording. "These Arms" begins as a Ray Price shuffle, then seamlessly morphs into a dramatic pop gem, while the thrilling "Yet to Succeed" and "I'll Just Take These" are modern countrypolitan. And mixed among the country pop are roadhouse rockers and bluegrassy hollers, all with some of the more arresting lyrics of Yoakam's career. His last three releases--collections of live tracks, quirky covers and Christmas songs--have been distressingly subpar, but A Long Way Home finds Yoakam not as far from home as we'd feared. --David Cantwell
