While
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
wasn't a massive chart hit, it was successful enough to establish an audience for
Lovett
outside the boundaries of the
country
market, and 1992's
Joshua Judges Ruth
found
seemingly free to follow his muse wherever it cared to go.
only bore the faintest glimmers of
's
leanings (notable exception:
"She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To"
), and more surprisingly it suggested he was also moving away from the broad-shouldered
jazz
and
blues
accidents that dominated much of
Pontiac
Large Band
. Compared to his previous work,
sounds startlingly spare -- producer and engineer
George Massenburg
brings a clear and keenly detailed sound to these sessions that allows all the details of the low-key arrangements to be heard, and
"She's Already Made Up Her Mind,"
"Baltimore,"
"Family Reserve"
seem to have been recorded with this in mind. The songs also reflect a shift toward more serious and introspective themes for
; outside of the
gospel
-influenced
"Church"
and the easygoing
"She Makes Me Feel Good,"
his trademark humor is conspicuous in its absence, and loss, loneliness, and heartbreak dominate the lyrics. While the craft of
ranks with the finest work of
's career, its spare and sober surfaces aren't especially engaging, and it's the sort of album fans are more likely to admire than embrace with pleasure. ~ Mark Deming