The Road to Ensenada

The Road to Ensenada

ASIN: B000002OZP

Track Listings

1. Don't Touch My Hat

2. Her First Mistake

3. Fiona

4. That's Right (You're Not from Texas)

5. Who Loves You Better

6. Private Conversation

7. Promises

8. It Ought to Be Easier

9. I Can't Love You Anymore

10. Long Tall Texan

11. Christmas Morning

12. Road to Ensenada

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
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

Tracks:

Don't Touch My Hat
Her First Mistake
Fiona
That's Right (You're Not From Texas)
Who Loves You Better
Private Conversation
Promises
It Ought To Be Easier
I Can't Love You Anymore
Long Tall Texan
Christmas Morning
The Road To Ensenada
Bonus Track 1

Amazon.com essential recording

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

Customer Reviews:

The man with the ten gallon hat.......2007-06-27

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.

His own thing.......2007-06-01

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?

Love Lovett!!.......2007-02-22

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!!!

I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY OTHERS LIKE IT... LOVETT'S OTHER STUFF IS MUCH BETTER.......2006-12-05

I've been listening to Country Music over 50 years. Going back to Frizzell, my all-time favorite, and up to the present. And I am a SONGWRITER, with my own recording studio and 40 songs copyrighted so far.
Lovett is very talented, and has done much fine material. But really I cannot fathom how this particular CD got 5 stars from everyone else, unless they simply like Mr. Lovett and are trying to help him sell CDs.

On my "Best of the Best" shelf.......2006-11-07

I have been pulling this CD out of my shelf of a few chosen favorites for 10 years now. I caught a live performance by chance in 1997 while Lyle was promoting this CD. It was electrifying and unforgettable. While we know the inspiration for most of these songs was not a happy one for Lyle, he sure knows how to make lemonade from lemons. (Many artists do some of their best work by channeling their grief into their art.) Whatever his inspiration, this collection of tunes is a true testament to the man's talent. Pick it up. Great listening on a long drive, on the front porch, by the fire... I promise you'll enjoy plucking it from your shelf for years to come.

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