Spring Break
Chris Isaak just a regular 'Mr. Lucky'
3 and a half out of 5 stars
Katherine Smith
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Focus
Best known for the hit single, "Wicked Game," and its wickedly sexy music video, singer Chris Isaak has released his first album in seven years, "Mr. Lucky." Featuring a more rockabilly/country sound than his former soulful one, Isaak's album is easy to listen to, and will probably make middle-aged women everywhere swoon.
The album opens with the single "We Let Her Down," a slow, poignant song with a catchy chorus. Isaak makes use of his wide vocal range and soothing yodel-esque voice, the lyrics, however, are slightly lacking, and repeat "let her down" a few too many times. The song uses an interesting mix of real instruments like piano as well as electric instruments, and displays some of Isaak's talent as a musician.
The album seems centered around the idea of heartbreak, with tracks such as "Cheater's Town," "You Don't Cry Like I Do," "Breaking Apart" and more. This lends to the overall slower, heartrending sound of the album, which during certain tracks gets a bit stale.
Isaak combines forces with Trisha Yearwood for the song "Breaking Apart," a song with a more country sound than many of the other tracks. The song drags on a bit, and Yearwood's vocals become slightly irritating after the first few stanzas.
A better duet on the album was the track "I Lose My Heart," featuring Michelle Branch. Though a surprising and obscure combination of artists, the pair's twangy voices compliment each other well, making a more interesting track than the other duet effort.
"Mr. Lonely Man" is the most upbeat track on the album, standing out from the other country ballads. With impressive guitar playing and fun punctuated vocals, this song perhaps would have been a better choice as the single.
Though Isaak is no longer rolling and sneering around beaches with half-naked models, this is a fairly good CD. While it may appeal more to parents than college students, it should lead to good things and potentially, a revamping of his career.
The album opens with the single "We Let Her Down," a slow, poignant song with a catchy chorus. Isaak makes use of his wide vocal range and soothing yodel-esque voice, the lyrics, however, are slightly lacking, and repeat "let her down" a few too many times. The song uses an interesting mix of real instruments like piano as well as electric instruments, and displays some of Isaak's talent as a musician.
The album seems centered around the idea of heartbreak, with tracks such as "Cheater's Town," "You Don't Cry Like I Do," "Breaking Apart" and more. This lends to the overall slower, heartrending sound of the album, which during certain tracks gets a bit stale.
Isaak combines forces with Trisha Yearwood for the song "Breaking Apart," a song with a more country sound than many of the other tracks. The song drags on a bit, and Yearwood's vocals become slightly irritating after the first few stanzas.
A better duet on the album was the track "I Lose My Heart," featuring Michelle Branch. Though a surprising and obscure combination of artists, the pair's twangy voices compliment each other well, making a more interesting track than the other duet effort.
"Mr. Lonely Man" is the most upbeat track on the album, standing out from the other country ballads. With impressive guitar playing and fun punctuated vocals, this song perhaps would have been a better choice as the single.
Though Isaak is no longer rolling and sneering around beaches with half-naked models, this is a fairly good CD. While it may appeal more to parents than college students, it should lead to good things and potentially, a revamping of his career.
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LongTimeFan
posted 2/28/09 @ 5:48 PM EST
Not so fast, handing Isaak over to your mother! Yes, the lyrics to some of these songs draw on his trademark emotion:heartbreak. But there are signs of hope and happiness in Big Wide Wonderful World and a bonus track online buyers get:Dream Deferred. (Continued…)
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