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OK he’s a pretty boy, but Chris Isaak has managed to outwit the critics. Last year I stopped by my local record store to pick up this CD and looked in the Country section. I looked, and looked, and looked, until I finally moved on to rock/R&B for something else. Low and behold there was Chris Isaak, the guy manages to move across genres and can’t be pigeonholed. What can you say about a guy who gets advise from a naked mermaid in a fish tank? "Always Got Tonight" is Isaak’s eighth album and his first without longtime producer Erik Jacobsen. This album retains the familiar beauty and emotion Isaak is known for, but with a slightly updated sound. Let’s face it the yodeling thing doesn’t quite fit the ironically hip character of Showtime fame. One Day is a straightforward rock song reminiscent of rock years past. Isaak really pulls off the Roy Orbison thing on this one. The popular song of the CD is Let Me Down Easy, a ballad of a faraway crush, blithe and sensual. Worked It Out Wrong returns to the haunting Isaak of past, without the over-the-top country twang. Courthouse is an upbeat “on your side” tune, someone should send a copy of this song to someone who is down on their luck. Isaak’s voice, along with the lyrics, is moving. Life Goes On is a slow ballad that although fairly gloomy, manages to retain an upbeat quality. The title track, Always Got Tonight, starts out as a poser contrived funk tune, but manages to recover quickly thanks to Isaak’s enthusiastic vocals. Cool Love is a breezy love song that could be inane in its tone, but with the help of Silvertone’s instrumentals, Isaak manages to actually pull it off. Notice The Ring brings back some of the wicked humor Isaak is know for. There is a real connection between singer and instrumentals here that veer far from country and into daddyo, finger snappin’ jazz. I See You Everywhere is a ballad of love at the crossroads. This is a just plain, great song. There is no other way to put it. With only a second or two of yodeling, the tune stays on track without getting too sentimental. All previous songs on the CD go by the wayside with American Boy, a straight forward good ol’ rock song. This song meshes well with the light hearted pretty boy image. You can almost visualize the spark in Isaak’s eyes. Somebody To Love could be a filler song on any other album, but here it really gets its due. The words and music mesh together perfectly. Nothing To Say is a perfect ending to a perfect piece of work. That’s it, twelve songs and twelve perfect reviews. Every tune here is a keeper,. If we ever get another warm night or warm, breezy, Summer day here on the East Coast this is the perfect album for a backdrop. I miss the old Chris Isaak and Silvertone but one can only take the “sounds like Roy Orbison” thing so far. Also gone on this album is the wickedness of songs like Baby Did A Bad Thing or Wicked Game, but I’m sure it will make a return on albums to come. Two of my other favorites are Forever Blue and Baja Sessions, but I chose this records because I can easily listen to every song on it. If this is a new Isaak, I can’t wait to see what’s next. |
Regressive Music Review