Search - Doug Stone :: In a Different Light

A Lighted Collection of Gems

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 04/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: How Do You Get Off the Moon, Let the Light Shine on You, Millionaire



All through the 90s, neo-traditionalist Doug Stone has garnered for himself a plethora of indelible radio hits including "(I'd Be Better Off In) a Pine Box," "Little Houses," "Jukebox With a Country Song," "Warning Labels," "I Never Knew Love" among many others. However, with the advent of the post Shania Twain-era quest for younger and more hip artists, somehow Stone's favor with country radio started to wane. And after a few missteps, namely the abysmal "Make Up in Love" CD and the largely ignored "Long Way Home," Stone is finally back with his first album of new and stellar material in years. Returning to his mother milk of spiffy romantic balladry, Stone has once again proved that he has not lost an iota of his affecting élan. Vocally at his apogee, Stone's unmistakably tenor has had never been marked by such a rejuvenated maturity that encompasses both depth and dimension.



Released under the enterprising independent Lofton Creek imprint, "In a Different Light" contains 4 evergreen pop covers, 8 new songs and 2 of Stone's big hits. Of the new songs, "How Do You Get Off the Moon" is the grand slam of romantic excavates. Invoking the quixotic mesmerism of the galactic stars, on this Randy Boudreaux, Donny Kees and Kerry K. Philips composition, Stone is all out to please his lady friend. Sung with not a modicum of pretension, "How Do You Get Off the Moon" ranks lofty as one of Stone's romantic classic. Equally heart throbbing is "Let the Light Shine on You" which is another Randy Boudreaux co-composition. Romantic intoxication has never been more sweetly deadly as this fiddle and steel guitar infused ballad. A reprise of Stone's number 1 hit ballad "In a Different Light" further enhances the romantic aura of the album. Even when it's recorded over a decade and a half ago, "In a Different Light" is still fresh and illuminating. Further in-roads to the heart are found in the plaintive big ballad "The Beginning of the End." This Rusty Van Sickle and Jeff Jones ballad that tells of the story of a suspecting husband hit by the news of a relationships end is emotionally riveting.



Of the covers, vanguard single "Georgia on My Mind" is the old Hoagy Carmichael's chestnut. Delivered at a languid pace with that after dark jazzy tavern feel, Stone's take of "Georgia" has an inveigling feel found on Willie Nelson's "Crazy." With the promptings of some sweet sounding steel guitars, the Ande Rand and Buck Ram pop classic "Only You (And You Only)" has a genial rustic appeal that could work with country radio. Lest one gets the impression that Stone is mawkishly maudlin, this Georgian native does swagger with some machismo on the bluesy "Tell It Like It Is."



Though the name Doug Stone is synonymous with romance, acute fans would also realized that he has had recorded his share of humorous paeans. Adding to Stone's corpus of drollery classics such as "She's Got a Future in the Movies," "Millionaire" is a light weight ditty has a broken hearted protagonist trying to comfort himself that his estranged wife has freed him to meet a widow of a millionaire. Tackled with a light hearted flare over a catchy tune, "Millionaire" is indeed quite fetching.



Overall, "In a Different Light" is Doug Stone's best album in years. With a heavier tilt towards romantic balladry, Stone is vocally at his best. And like his previous CDs, the songs here are meticulously chosen, melodiously superior and emotionally searching."