Review: Dwight Yoakam return with “3 Pears”

Three pears is Dwight Yoakam’s first new release in seven years. This collaborative effort is a true work of art. But as much as this music is collaborative with other artists and genres it still retains that signature bluesy, honky tonk sound that is pure Yoakam including his signature higher pitched “whoop” at the ends of songs or words he is singing. Listening to this CD after a seven year absence feels like Yoakam was never gone. He picked up right where he left off and where we remember him best.

Yoakam says he is indebted to Beck for the whole CD. Beck not only produced two of the tracks ( A Heart like Mine and Missing Heart), but his engineer and assistant engineer played on those tracks as well. Yoakam also credits Beck with being the inspiration that led him back to the recording studio.

Yoakam wrote or co wrote 11 of the 12 tracks. Some of the more noteworthy songs on this CD are Take Hold of my Hand which he collaborated on with Kid Rock. Dim Lights, Thick Smoke has that classic fast paced honky tonk sound. The track Trying is classic Yoakam with a bluesy twist which suits him so well. A track you wont want to skip or ever stop listening to is Nothing But Love. It’s classic Yoakam, honky tonk with a bluesy twist but so very pretty, you never want this one to end.

Ashley Monroe of the Pistol Annies collaborated on Its’ Never All Right. He has line dancing, toe tapping fast paced songs too such as A Heart Like Mine. Probably the prettiest song on this CD is Long Way to Go. All Yoakam’s traits are in this song also, such as toe tapping tempo,signature “whoop” at the ends of words, as well as that bluesy, classic country sound. Another very pretty ballad is Missing Heart which has an echoing drum(Beck’s musicians). That deep echoing sound lends a very wonderful effect to that song. The song 3 pears was Yoakam’s nod to John Lennon and Long Way to Go (Reprise) is a nod to Jackson Browne . Rock It All Away is another very bluesy song with a rock influence and very pretty as well.

Dwight its’ like you were never gone, please don’t stay away that long again.