The Road To Ensenada - Lovett, Lyle (Cassette 1996)

Lyle Lovett is probably most famous for briefly being married to superstar actress Julia Roberts. And that's a shame, because Lyle is a great singer/songwriter who deserves more recognition for his musical accomplishments. He puts those to good use on this album, written not long after his breakup with Julia. I interpret this album to be about that breakup.

It starts out with Lyle putting on a brave face, pretending that it didn't affect him. "You can have my girl, but don't touch my hat," he says, indicating that his identity as a Texan songwriter is more important than any relationship. But this bravado soon gives way to aching, guilt-stricken ballads like "Who Loves You Better" and "Promises". On "It Ought to be Easier", Lyle looks back on the moment he dedides the relationship has to end. "Tell your mama I love her, tell your daddy I tried," he croons, concluding that "it's just out of weakness that both of us stay."

Not all of the album focuses on the breakup, though. There are a few oddities tossed in as well. Unlike some of Lyle's previous releases, "The Road to Ensenada" is primarily a country album, but the silly bossa nova "Her Fist Mistake" is a notable exception to that rule. "Fiona" better be about a pet animal and not a person or it's a bit too mean-spirited for me. And I have to pray that Lyle's tongue is at least partially in his cheek for the Lone Star jingoistic "That Right, You're Not From Texas".

The album's conclusion is especially strong. I usually don't copy a lot of lyrics into my Epinions, but those for "Christmas Morning" are so good I can't resist:

"The girl at the grocery she's pretty and seems nice
But she looks right through me with eyes cold as ice
She never answers when I ask her name
She only says I should have a nice day

Hey what could she mean by that
Perhaps I'm the fool she takes me for
And not anything more

I guess it's the season the time of the year
When people they're happy and full of good cheer
Well they wish you and kiss you and wish you again
They'll tell you it's peace and goodwill to all men

Hey what could they mean by that
Perhaps I'm the fool they take me for
And not anything more

We stood at the altar and you held my hand
And everyone watched as the preacher he asked
Will you take him and love him for bad and for good
You looked at me and you told him you would

But hey what did you mean by that
Perhaps I'm the fool you take me for
And not anything more"

The enigmatic title track is one of the most incredible songs I've ever heard, featuring Lyle sick in Ensenada waiting for his girl to visit him, but she never comes. The album closes with a bonus track, it's Lyle looking back to when he first met a girl (presumably Julia). He comments on a pretty girl at a party, and his hostess tells him, "That girl in the corner, well she's more than pretty, and you're not the first look over her way. And if you want I could introduce you, but you never will be the same." Thanks to Lyle's humor, sincerity, and beautiful voice, after this album we won't be the same either.