Details
Population Me

The honky-tonk rebel again manages to cover a surprising expanse of musical territory on the first new release for his Electrodisc imprint. Highlights range from a poetic duet with Willie Nelson on "If Teardrops Were Diamonds" to the Dixieland brass of the title track, from the folkie lilt of "An Exception to the Rule" to a revival of Burt Bacharach's "Trains and Boats and Planes" (a 1960s hit for Billy J. Kramer), driven by the banjo of Earl Scruggs. Such eclecticism shows Yoakam and producer/guitarist Pete Anderson in playful spirits, with even the downbeat lyrics of "The Late Great Golden State" and "Stayin' Up Late (Thinkin' About It)" set to upbeat arrangements. Even the brooding balladry of "Fair to Midland" has more wordplay than angst, while "I'd Avoid Me Too" presents the singer as such a sad sack he'd have to laugh to keep from crying. No major statements or artistic progressions on this summer breeze of an album--its 10 songs barely lasting half an hour--just a whole lot of fun as Yoakam stretches his trademark twang in all sorts of different directions. --Don McLeese