Speak of the Devil (Reprise 1998)

the songs: Please / Flying / Walk Slow / Break Apart / This Time / Speak of the Devil / Like The Way She Moves / Wanderin' / Don't Get So Down On Yourself / Black Flowers / I'm Not Sleepy / 7 Lonely Nights / Talkin' 'Bout A Home / Super Magic 2000

Ah, another Chris Isaak album.  This guy keeps releasing one good album after another.  No suprises on this album, no funky electro-dance crap, just one solid song after another.  Of course there's nothing here that will ever top "Wicked Game", but he knows how to craft a really good pop song. Here's a guy you'd love to have hang around your pool party with his guitar just and sing for you.

1: One Day 2: Let Me Down Easy 3: Worked It Out Wrong 4: Courthouse 5: Life Will Go On 6: Always Got Tonight 7: Cool Love 8: Notice The Ring 9: I See You Everywhere 10: American Boy 11: Somebody To Love 12: Nothing To Say

I like Chris Isaak a lot. He quietly releases one solid album after another (haven't I said that before?), manages to get a little airplay and remains just under the radar. If you like his style of classic pop with warm vocals, bright guitars and songs about life and heartache then you’re probably like me and can’t get enough.

Always Got Tonight is more from the same vein, which isn’t a bad thing. Musically there’s enough variety here to keep it interesting, but not so overpowering as to be mistaken for noise. This is music that can play in the background while sitting with your girl, or you can play it when you want to listen to an artist.

Choice bits: There are no weak songs here, but for me the killer here is “Life Will Go On” which features a similar melancholy chiming guitar tone to “Wicked Game” it is a beautiful song. Chris’ has a voice them evokes images of a tortured Roy Orbison.

There will come a day when Mister Isaak will get his due.

Reviewed October 20, 2005

Mr. Lucky (Bonus Track Version) (©2009)

1. Cheater's Town 2. We Let Her Down 3. You Don't Cry Like I Do 4. We've Got Tomorrow 5. Breaking Apart (Trisha Yearwood) 6. Baby Baby 7. Mr. Lonely Man 8. I Lose My Heart (Michelle Branch) 9. Summer Holiday 10. Best I Ever Had 11. We Lost Our Way 12. Very Pretty Girl 13. Take My Heart 14. Big Wide Wonderful World 15. She 16. Movie Star is Sleeping 17. Keep the Heartache Real 18. Blues Has Found Us

Seven years. Wow, has it really been this long between releases? My how time flies when you're having fun. Chris is back again once again flying under the radar in plain sight. To add some fun to your purchasing experience Mr. Lucky comes in more than a couple of flavours. If you opt for the CD release you get all of the songs up to 14. If you get the deluxe CD you get two more songs ("Dream Deferred" and "I Got it Bad"). If you get the iTunes ubertyduper collection you get all of the songs plus MORE songs, but not the two (very good songs I might add) songs that are on the deluxe CD.

So you have choices ahead of you. I opted for the iTunes thing, but wish I had the CD for the liner notes and packaging, since there wasn't a digital book. Which sucks … as I slowly and reluctantly more away from my beloved physical media I'm feeling short changed by the digital experience. Here I am listening to a nearly brilliant collection of songs, and I have no idea who was on it, or behind it, or any of the little details I love to get when I pick up a new disc. I suppose the bottom line is I'm getting old and that's just the way it is. If I want to know more, I can google the bloody thing, or look for a wiki entry.

(Take a breath, and calm down big feller)

Now that I've nearly used up my allotment of time I should tell you about the album. If you like Chris Isaak you'll like this. If you miss good old fashioned pop magic with a retro vibe this is pretty much guaranteed to please. If you like songs about broken hearts sung with passion - you'll like this. Chris also mixes things up a little with not one, but two duets. Trisha Yearwood appears on "Breaking Apart" and Michelle Branch lends her voice to "I Lose My Heart" - they're pretty good songs, but I'm not usually a big fan of duets so these were okay, but not essential listening.

When Chris wears his heart on his sleeve there isn't a pop singer who can touch him when he's in his zone. "You Don't Cry Like I Do" is one of those haunting songs that is a centre piece for this album. The songs throughout are all very strong. Heck, what really surprised me was how strong the bonus tracks were. My usual experience with bonus tracks is spotty at best, and the quality of the songs usually highlight why they were left off in the first place. I suppose taking half a decade between releases left Chris with an abundance of "A" list material.

While it's not a dig to state that Chris isn't breaking any new musical ground here - it's a trick in and of itself to be able to deliver so many songs without resorting to tossing in some filler. If there's anyone who's lucky here it's the listener.

Reviewed May 7, 2009