It's Not Big It's Large [Digipak] by Lyle Lovett (CD, Aug-2007, Lost Highway Records)

It's been a while since his last album of original material, but this one does not disappoint. I'm not at all a country/western fan, but I think Lyle's great. This album has all of his familiar topics and sounds (quirkiness, sadness, silliness, the works) and you can find traces of previous songs in almost everything on this CD. Still, it has a freshness about it that makes it all new. My favorite cuts include the mover "Up in Indiana" and the dark, bluesy "I Will Rise Up." Good stuff from Lyle!!

It's hard to believe, but it's been 18 years since the Lovett debut of His Large Band. The Large Band explored venues of swing, jazz, blues and gospel with heavily populated music backing him. Enjoying Lovett music is akin to enjoying Guy Clark, or Townes Van Zandt. Always a bit quirky, sometimes a tad morose, but always on the cutting edge of New Country (sometimes called Alternative Country.)

Well, it's been four years since Lovett's last release, and his songwriting and singing is tight when it needs to be, and loose when it needs to be loose. It seems that Lovett is at his best when he sings a bit slower and adds a lilt to his voice. "Even when you're not at your best, you still try like hell" Lyle sings in the Alley Song. One has to admire the superior writing and emphasis he puts into his music. I half expected the Large Band to be too large and overshadow Lyle's singing, but those moments are few and far between. Instead, his band performs like The Band at times with the perfect layering needed to push a simple country song onto another level.

There's a bit of swing jazz in "No Big Deal", ballads, gospel, bluegrass and folk-country in this latest release. Nashville, Tennessee is written all over "It's Not Big, It's Large." It's like a sampling music from that great musical town. Lovett's bassett-hound eyes set the mood for a mostly slower paced cd. But make no mistake: when Lovett decides to swing hard, he does so effortlessly.

Jeff Feezle of Macafeez

After a long wait, Lyle delivers with a great sounding album. The music, the lyrics, the energy - classic. I wish I had bought it sooner so I could have been enjoying it longer!!

If it was someone other than Lyle Lovett, I think this would be reviewed "Good" but probably not "Excellent". I was pertty fired up to get another "large band" production since the first was so terrific giving us many great tunes. After listening to this, I don't have any songs that stand out in my head. No trademark clever turns of a phrase jumped out, no "make it a CHEESEburger". Perhaps this is an album that requires multiple listens. I will certainly give it at least another few spins.

I love his new CD, nice mixture of music same good new material from him and the band Including the Hit "South Texas Girl" and many others. I highly recommend.

Saw Lyle on Oprah- not owning any of his music just had to have it. Must say I wasn't disappointed.