"I Love Everybody," is a return to Lovett's early Texas-cowboy-poet style. In fact, it's a return to those earlier songs. While all 18 tracks on the album are previously unreleased, most of them date from the 1980s when he... more » was writing far more high-quality material than anyone was interested in recording. This is sure to please his longtime fans, who believe Lovett has never written a better song than the early efforts "If I Had a Boat" and "God Will." Lovett has raided his attic trunk and has found a surprising number of lost treasures. One of those gems, "Skinny Legs," kicks things off with a confession of jealousy. If he only had skinny legs, a new Toyota and a cute rear end, the singer laments, he'd have a girlfriend like that boy over there. Lovett's dry, deadpan drawl falls on the bouncy, catchy melody with enchanting ease, and he refuses to use a single word more than he needs. The lightly swinging arrangements are as simple as the songs; Lovett and his acoustic guitar are backed by John Leftwich on stand-up bass and either Kenny Aronoff or Russ Kunkel on drums. Cellist John Hagen is added to five cuts, fiddler Mark O'Connor to six, the Tower of Power Horns to one, a gospel quartet to three, and a choir featuring Rickie Lee Jones and Julia Roberts to two others. At least half a dozen songs are slight one-liners which didn't deserve revival, and they dilute the album's impact. Nonetheless this is a welcome reward for all those who believe the funny Lyle Lovett is the best Lyle Lovett. --Geoffrey Himes« less
"I Love Everybody," is a return to Lovett's early Texas-cowboy-poet style. In fact, it's a return to those earlier songs. While all 18 tracks on the album are previously unreleased, most of them date from the 1980s when he was writing far more high-quality material than anyone was interested in recording. This is sure to please his longtime fans, who believe Lovett has never written a better song than the early efforts "If I Had a Boat" and "God Will." Lovett has raided his attic trunk and has found a surprising number of lost treasures. One of those gems, "Skinny Legs," kicks things off with a confession of jealousy. If he only had skinny legs, a new Toyota and a cute rear end, the singer laments, he'd have a girlfriend like that boy over there. Lovett's dry, deadpan drawl falls on the bouncy, catchy melody with enchanting ease, and he refuses to use a single word more than he needs. The lightly swinging arrangements are as simple as the songs; Lovett and his acoustic guitar are backed by John Leftwich on stand-up bass and either Kenny Aronoff or Russ Kunkel on drums. Cellist John Hagen is added to five cuts, fiddler Mark O'Connor to six, the Tower of Power Horns to one, a gospel quartet to three, and a choir featuring Rickie Lee Jones and Julia Roberts to two others. At least half a dozen songs are slight one-liners which didn't deserve revival, and they dilute the album's impact. Nonetheless this is a welcome reward for all those who believe the funny Lyle Lovett is the best Lyle Lovett. --Geoffrey Himes
Lisa B. (Lisa) from CTR TUFTNBORO, NH Reviewed on 3/26/2007...
Love Lyle Lovett! I think this is my favorite CD of his.
CD Reviews
Maybe this one's more for diehard fans
A. Butterfield | UK | 04/29/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"You probably already have to be a fan to appreciate this. If you're new to Lyle Lovett, start somewhere else.Then come back to this. It's a little weird in places. Some of the songs are just plain surreal, like Fat Babies, and Penguins. Others are witty, if odd, like Hello Grandma, and Creeps Like Me. Songs range from the sketch like, to the complete. They Don't Like Me, I've Got the Blues and Good-bye to Carolina are three that stand out.What this is like, is a collection of short stories by a novellist who's normally a bit more serious and wants to have a bit of fun. So if you bear that in mind when you buy it, you'll not be disappointed.The bonus is the simplicity and clarity of the recording; Lyle uses a minimum of instruments to create a very spare and focussed sound."
His best work
Kenneth W. Crites | Shelburne, VT USA | 11/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Strip away the big band, vivacious backing vocals and sometimes amusing lyrics and Lyle Lovett is still one heck of a songwriter and singer. This CD proves it -- and is probably his finest work. Simple, mellow, yet profound, its perfect Saturday morning listening music. Enjoy with your favorite coffee and pajamas."
My First Lovett - I love it
Billy J | 10/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm by no means a country music fan - I was shocked to find out that this was classified as country. Accoustically, this is a dynamic recording which adds to the dynamic musicianship going on in most of the songs.
I'm really writing this to add some praise for the song Sonja - which I find to be a fantastic example of his lyrics - alot of fun and alot more depth to it than it seems at first."
Fantastic and Diverse
Billy J | 10/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are at least six fantastic songs on this CD, including perhaps his best, "Skinny Legs". The tracks are both poignant and funny: in other words, classic Lyle Lovett. Standouts, in addition to "Skinny Legs", include "Penguins" (in which Lyle is essentially making fun of a female college friend who collected penguin-themed objects), "Record Lady", "Creeps Like Me", "Its Just the Morning", "Fat Babies", and "La To The Left". The arrangements have a spare, translucent quality that leave the listener's focus on the singer's voice, and the lyrics. And some of Lyle's best lyrics are to be found on the album, including my favorite couplet (from "Creeps Like Me") "you look surprised, you shouldn't be/the world is full of creeps like me". But the true standout, both lyrically and melodically, is "Skinny Legs", a very gentle opening track in which the singer mourns his own perceived shortcomings.The collection is odd and offbeat. There is no feeling of a central theme, as there is with "Road to Ensenada". But Lyle compensates for this in the arrangement of each song: most are feature a small combo of instruments, generally limited to acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. Each song is brief, a little musical anecdote. This may be offputting to listeners used to crowd grabbing songs like "If I Had a Boat", but to me this collection is quintessentially Lyle Lovett."
A new recruit
Billy J | 04/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have known of Lyle for some years now, though I avoided his music because of the well known country taboo associated with it. I have long been a fan of alternative music (Barenaked Ladies, The Wedding Present etc.), but with the passage of time the angst of modern alternative rock has been lost on me. I started listening to Country about a year a go and quickly tired of the melodrama of the Nasshville Stars. So I finally broke down and bought I LOVE EVERYBODY. What a treat! It was like satisfying a craving that I didn't realize I had. Though some may find the music is often slow and melodic (See review from Mystic Ct fan) his poetic treatment of lyrics and stylistic delivery carries each song. More than one listening is required to appreciate the whole album. My favorite tracks are SKINNY LEGS, RECORD LADY (with its reference to Robert Earl Keen) and I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. It truely is Transgerne music that is sure to satisfy. I also recomend the album THE ROAD TO ENSENADA to new listeners."