Search - Rodney Crowell :: Keys to the Highway

Unjustly overlooked follow-up to breakthrough LP

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 09/02/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having unexpectedly reaped huge commercial rewards (including five chart-topping singles) with his previous LP ("Diamonds & Dirt"), the lack of blistering success for this follow-up might be more disappointing if the LP itself weren't so uniformly good. Eschewing the romance-themed song-cycle of his previous LP, Crowell digs into darker subjects, and a wider variety of sounds, motivated in large part by the passing of his father.The contemplative "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway," is the sort of strong composition one is pleased to find as an album track, but as a lead-off single, it couldn't stake out ground for the album's success. The follow-up, "If Looks Could Kill," with its honky-tonk pedigree, was probably a better lure, and though both cracked the top-10, the album sank out of sight without even going gold.In the shadow of the success generated by "Diamonds & Dirt," "Keys to the Highway" has remained overlooked in Crowell's catalog. But having broken through with the former, the latter seems to reconsolidate his artistic success, rather than simply repeating the formula for commercial gain. The variety of styles, including ballads, honky-tonk, neo-rockabilly, blues, and blends of folk and soul with country roots, make this an unusually strong LP. Crowell may have been suffering under the weight of his loss, but he turned the emotional pressure into a resolve that strengthens every aspect of this album.Lucky Dog's reissue is a budget affair, including only the original twelve tracks, and no liner notes. But then, what you're buying is the music, and the music is top-notch.4-1/2 stars, if Amazon allowed fractional ratings."

Great songwriting regardless of genre...

Paul B. Hogue | Olive Branch, MS United States | 03/19/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Slightly darker than his previous release "Diamonds and Dirt," the songwriting was just as strong. His father had died during the production (don't quote me), which led to songs like "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway." Songwriting doesn't get much better than the guilty-conscience anthem "If Looks Could Kill," or the first-person confessional of attraction in "Now That We're Alone." Maybe with the re-release of "Diamonds and Dirt," we'll be seeing the same with this album to include a few extra tracks. I know people hate to read personal statements in these reviews, but here's mine: As a songwriter, nothing has influenced how I approach a song as much as this album. Thanks, Rodney."

Nothing Short of a Masterpiece

Paul B. Hogue | 04/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If one is looking for evidence that Rodeny Crowell is one of the best songwriters in the country genre of the past 20 years than one need look no further than this masterpiece of a collection which was first released in 1989.Although not quite a "song cycle," many of the songs here deal with Crowell's loss of his father, and they are the type of songs that only improve with repeated listenings and represent some of the most moving songs to come out of Nashville during the latter quarter of the 20th century. "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway," "Things I Wish I Said," and "Yove've Been On My Mind" (written by Crowell, but first recorded by Emmylou Harris on her fine "Bluebird" album) are just the tip of this monumental iceberg. Many a praise to Sony for giving this album a long overdue reissue. Curses be upon them for letting it go out of print in the first place."