Lyle Lovett - The Road to Ensenada

After the more experimental themes and misanthropic bit players populating his prior album, I Love Everybody, the songs on this superb 1996 set return to the more affable, earnest, but still knotty balance established by Lyle Lovett on his first four albums. He spins amiable yarns about his preferred headgear ("Don't Touch My Hat") and larger-than-life love objects (the one-eyed "Fiona"), sways hilariously through the backfired seductions of the samba-paced "Her First Mistake," and swings buoyantly through "That's Right (You're Not from Texas)," then ropes the equally droll Randy Newman into a tongue-in-cheek duet on "Long Tall Texan." In between, he sneaks a fresh string of dark love songs ("Private Conversation," "I Can't Love You Anymore") that sustain his formidable standards. Forget the forced issue of his putative ties to "new country": Lovett is simply one of the best American singer-songwriters extant, whether playing raconteur, philosopher king, or wounded romantic. --Sam Sutherland Amazon.com essential recording

Oh Lawd is this Good

When I lived in Couer d'Alene, my uncle and I would play this album all the time. In fact he had almost all of Lyle's music and I instantly became a fan and once again Amazon came through as I bought two of his CDs for a total of $10 but it's this album with its cool sarcastic wit and little guitar twang that gets me.

I put it on for a pal of mine and she thought I had lost my mind but by the end she was loving it - a duet with Randy Newman on "Long Tall Texan" ("ooh lordy is you the law?") and the hilarious yet serious "Don't Touch My Hat" ("you can have my girl but don't touch my hat); this album proves why he has had a revered career beyond just the average country performer. Plus I just read that Liz Phair includes this as one of her favorite albums. June 25, 2008

Interesting but nothing to write home about.

I am a fan of Lyle Lovett but was not impressed with this album. I have found that some albums do grow on you over time but have not experienced that with this album. September 29, 2007

The man with the ten gallon hat

It doesn't get any better than this, all the irony and wit one has come to expect from Lyle Lovett wrapped around 12 swinging songs that captures the border spirit of Texas. The ensembles vary from song to song, bringing in horns on That's Right (You're Not from Texas). But for the most part, there is a lean simplicity to the arrangements, capturing different feelings on each of the songs. The Road to Ensenada may just be his best album, but of course Lovett fans have their personal favorites. June 27, 2007

His own thing

I like Lyle Lovett. I don't know that this is my favorite of his albums but it doesn't matter; it's still a good album. It's more "pop" sounding and less weird than some of the others, but that's probably OK, too.

I'm a bit mystified by those who insist on complaining that Lyle has no roots and is just exploiting earlier musical traditions. I think there are very few country musicians (country to any degree at all) who are more honest about their music. He's not trying to sound like Lefty Frizzell! I don't believe he ever said he was. I love Lefty, too (and Hank, and Robert Johnson, and Son House, and Mississippi John Hurt, and a lot of other "authentic" musicians), but Lefty and Lyle are, in many respects, apples and oranges. You don't have to choose; you're allowed to enjoy them all, so why pigeonhole? June 1, 2007

Love Lovett!!

A friend played this CD for me and I fell in love with it. Bought it the next day and it's one of my all time favorites. Before now I had never paid much attention to Lyle, but he's gotten my attention and I WILL buy more of his CDs. Highly recommended!!! February 22, 2007

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